2021 Women's History Month

In Praise of Difficult Women: Life Lessons from 29 Heroines Who Dared to Break the Rules by Karen Karbo From Frida Kahlo and Elizabeth Taylor to Nora Ephron, Carrie Fisher, and Lena Dunham, this witty narrative explores what we can learn from the imperfect and extraordinary legacies of 29 iconic women who forged their own unique paths in the world. Smart, sassy, and unapologetically feminine, this elegantly illustrated book is an ode to the bold and charismatic women of modern history. Best-selling author Karen Karbo (The Gospel According to Coco Chanel) spotlights the spirited rule breakers who charted their way with little regard for expectations: Amelia Earhart, Helen Gurley Brown, Edie Sedgwick, Hillary Clinton, Amy Poehler, and Shonda Rhimes, among others. Their lives-imperfect, elegant, messy, glorious-provide inspiration and instruction for the new age of feminism we have entered. Karbo distills these lessons with wit and humor, examining the universal themes that connect us to each of these mesmerizing personalities today: success and style, love and authenticity, daring and courage. Being "difficult," Karbo reveals, might not make life easier. But it can make it more fulfilling-whatever that means for you. Check out a hard copy from RPL. Check out an ebook copy from Hoopla. Check out an audiobook copy from Hoopla. Check out an ebook copy from Libby/Overdrive.

Herstory : 50 Women and Girls Who Shook Up the World by Katherine Halligan Throughout history, girls have often been discussed in terms of what they couldn't or shouldn't do. Not anymore. It's time for herstory-a celebration not only of what girls can do but also of the remarkable things women have already accomplished, even when others tried to stop them. This uplifting and inspiring book follows the stories of fifty powerhouse women from around the world and across time who each managed to change the world as they knew it forever. Telling the stories of their childhood, the challenges they faced, and the impact of their achievements, each tale is a celebration of girl power in its many forms. From astronauts to activists, musicians to mathematicians, these women are sure to motivate young listeners of all backgrounds to focus not on the can'ts and shouldn'ts but on what they can do: anything! Check out a copy from RPL. Check out the digital audiobook from Hoopla.

Women in Science: 50 Fearless Pioneers Who Changed the World It's a scientific fact: Women rock! A charmingly illustrated and educational book, New York Times best seller Women in Science highlights the contributions of fifty notable women to the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) from the ancient to the modern world. Full of striking, singular art, this fascinating collection also contains infographics about relevant topics such as lab equipment, rates of women currently working in STEM fields, and an illustrated scientific glossary. The trailblazing women profiled include well-known figures like primatologist Jane Goodall, as well as lesser-known pioneers such as Katherine Johnson, the African-American physicist and mathematician who calculated the trajectory of the 1969 Apollo 11 mission to the moon. Check out a copy from RPL. Check out the ebook from Libby/Overdrive.

Hidden Figures: the American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race by Margot Lee Shetterly Physical copies are available from RPL in the following formats:

• Adult nonfiction - regular print
• Adult nonfiction - large print
• CD audiobook
• Children's storybook (ages 4 - 8)
• Juvenile nonfiction (ages 8-12)
• DVD - theatrical version starring Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, Janelle Monae

Digital copies are available from Hoopla in the following formats:

• Adult nonfiction ebook - English
• Adult nonfiction ebook - Spanish
• Adult audiobook - English
• Adult audiobook - Spanish
• Juvenile ebook (ages 8-12)
• Juvenile audiobook (ages 8-12)
• Children's storybook (ages 4-8)

Digital copies are available from Libby/Overdrive in the following formats:

• Adult nonfiction ebook
• Adult nonfiction audiobook
• Juvenile ebook (ages 8-12)
• Juvenile audiobook (ages 8-12)
• Children's storybook (ages 4-8)

Headstrong: 52 Women Who Changed Science — and the World by Rachel Swaby In 2013, the New York Times published an obituary for Yvonne Brill. It began: “She made a mean beef stroganoff, followed her husband from job to job, and took eight years off from work to raise three children.” It wasn’t until the second paragraph that readers discovered why the Times had devoted several hundred words to her life: Brill was a brilliant rocket scientist who invented a propulsion system to keep communications satellites in orbit, and had recently been awarded the National Medal of Technology and Innovation. Among the questions the obituary—and consequent outcry—prompted were, Who are the role models for today’s female scientists, and where can we find the stories that cast them in their true light? Headstrong delivers a powerful, global, and engaging response. Covering Nobel Prize winners and major innovators, as well as lesser-known but hugely significant scientists who influence our every day, Rachel Swaby’s vibrant profiles span centuries of courageous thinkers and illustrate how each one’s ideas developed, from their first moment of scientific engagement through the research and discovery for which they’re best known. This fascinating tour reveals 52 women at their best—while encouraging and inspiring a new generation of girls to put on their lab coats. Check it out from RPL.