The more we read about women in history the more we will realize that women were purposefully erased from history rather than not taking part. Here are more books about real women in history.

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1.Persepolis

What I love about this book is I identified with the teenage angst even though I didn’t grow up during a dangerous revolution. Her normal experiences were exacerbated by extraordinary world events.

I’m not sure this was written expressly for middle or high schoolers but this is a often times used in schools to supplement the study of the Iranian Revolution. Don’t let that fool you though. The writing is vivid and will pull you into her story.

2. Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History

I am so excited to read this with my oldest this school year. Written for grades 3 – 7, this introduces students to some amazing Black women in history history.

Don’t ignore this book just because it is a children’s book. If you can’t name five black women in history and list their accomplishment this is a fantastic introduction to expand your historical knowledge.

3. Never Caught: The Washingtons’ Relentless Pursuit of Their Runaway Slave, Ona Judge

Changing our opinions about America’s founding father’s doesn’t jeopardize our history as some claim, it attempts to push our country to be a more perfect union.

Learn about Ona Judge, the slave who ran away from George Washington when he refused to free her even in accordance with the law that he professed to love.

She risked her life and future to live a life that was hers and it needs to be honored.

4. Farewell to Manzanar

Written for middle and high schoolers, this is a retelling of a young girls memories of being forced into an American concentration camp created for Japanese-Americans during World War II. Ignored in our history books until just recently this is a must-read especially as we struggle with a repeat of this history in this country.

5. Uncrowned Queen: The Life of Margaret Beaufort, Mother of the Tudors

I had heard of her but didn’t know anything about her until I watched The White Queen on Starz where Margaret Beaufort was portrayed as extremely pious if not a little fanatical. The follow-up show called The White Princess portrayed her as so singularly focused she bordered on cruel.

Time for some real historical analysis to discover the real events and her role in them. After all, it may have been her son that founded the Tudor Dynasty but it wouldn’t have happened without her actions. She could be the real founder. Read for yourself and make up your own mind.

6. Crown of Blood

Lady Jane Grey took the throne after her cousin Edward VI’s untimely death and threw the country into chaos as the Tudor government tried to grapple with inheritance and legitimacy claims.

Learn about the Nine Days’ Queen (who reigned for 13 days but you know, math) and discover an often ignored two weeks in Tudor history.

7. Daughters of Chivalry: The Forgotten Children of King Edward Longshanks

Although it hasn’t been released when I wrote this blog I am very excited for this book. This is a time period that has often left women out of their historical accounts unless of course they are trying to “prove” how terrible a woman was. Longshanks daughter-in-law was Isabella of France, otherwise known as the She-Wolf.

Most of what I know of Longshanks family is because I have done a little research on his daughter-in-law and then I have seen the fictionalized account in Braveheart. It is often ignored by publishing houses because of the very popular Tudor period and I am psyched for a something different.

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