Women’s History Month: Celebrating Our Favorite Literary Heroines
I come from a long line of female storytellers and stories. As a child, my grandmother would sing me to sleep with melodic tales of Irish folklore, and lyrics that personified the country’s wild and feminine geography. My mother adopted the same ritual in her own way, reading my siblings and I the novels she grew up on, inspiring my young mind with the individuality of heroines ranging from Pippi Longstocking to Elizabeth Bennet. Female characters have been fierce, independent, and unapologetic in the verses of songs and on the pages of books before the average woman could ever dare to be. This Women’s History Month at Storyshares, we want to emphasize the importance of having strong, literary women as examples for the next generation of readers, by highlighting the characters in our own library and what we can learn from each of them.
Fayola - Bravery
In Fortunate Fayola, Fayola dares to face a powerful witch, forest spirits, and a hungry wolf to save her son and her community from famine in this retelling of Little Red Riding Hood set in an African village.
Lily - Environmentalism
In Lily’s Forest, Lily’s beloved forest is destroyed by human “progress” and she decides that one person is enough to start planting new seeds for the future.
Raven - Innovation
In Raven’s Talent, an accident ruins Raven’s plans for the school talent show, but she embraces her love of writing instead of trying to impress her classmates and finds the joy of sharing her stories with the world.
Susan - Respect
In Sabbath, a boring Sabbath dinner with her grandparents was not what Susan had in mind for Friday night, but finally learning about the long line of strong women she comes from gives her a new appreciation for her family’s past and present.
Nina - Resilience
In Trading Card Queen, Nina feels the weight of the world on her shoulders with a sick brother and a new life in a new country. With the help of supportive friends and a love of art, she holds on to hope and finds a brighter future.
This March, be inspired by Fayola, Lily, Raven, Susan, and Nina. Their stories remind us that bravery, environmentalism, innovation, respect, and resilience are not just qualities of fictional heroines—they are within all women. Explore their journeys and more in our Strong Female Characters high-low bundle today!