Because I Was a Girl: True Stories for Girls of All Ages

This collection of first-person reflections by 38 accomplished women—writers, politicians, entrepreneurs, and others—encompasses a sweeping range of voices, personalities, and experiences. De la Cruz (the Descendants series), whose own entry recounts fraught professional environments while working as a computer programmer, organizes the anthology by decade, opening each section with a list of women’s achievements in a variety of fields and pivotal legislation affecting them. Sharing stories of dreams dashed and fulfilled, racism and sexism confronted, and career paths diverted, the contributors share sound advice for teenage readers. Activist Dolores Huerta urges girls “to stand up for themselves always, and to reach out and stand up for others.” Author and literary agent Brenda Bowen underscores the importance of “finding ways around bad rules” that disadvantage and discriminate against women. And Katie Button, who quit a Ph.D. program in neuroscience to become a chef and restaurateur, advises girls to “do what you love, not what you think is expected of you.” Thoughtful, encouraging, and honest, this compilation should inspire readers looking for guidance in charting the directions their own lives take. Ages 12–up. (Oct.)