Posted on: 28/02/2025
In celebration of this year’s Women’s History Month, we’re thinking about the most inspirational and influential women in literature: writers and protagonists. So many stories of empowerment, calls to action and forces for change are written into literature and poetry. The powerful plots, observations, hopes and dreams of Angelou, Naido, Gorman and Gold and hundreds of other esteemed female writers leave a beautiful, indelible tattoo upon the world.
But let’s not forget the protagonists within poetry and prose who help teach children about the importance of equality and how we can all be change-makers. Our bookshelves at Literacy Tree are bursting with books written by and featuring strong female characters and stories of courage, hope and making change so we’ll simply have to find space for these 4 new books that offer the same brilliance…
Mega Robo Bros: Final Form by Neill Cameron
(DFB Phoenix, 13th February 2025)
This final instalment in the brilliant comic series by Neill Cameron is so clever. Centring around brothers Alex and Freddy, their liberty is in jeopardy when the courts decide that the granting of status as sentient beings to robots should be revoked. Dr Sharma is placed in a quandary as, to protect her robot sons, she has to design and activate a parental control that will block certain neural pathways… this is set to alter her boys’ lives forever. So when Eurasian security forces open fire on Steelhaven, the Robo Bros - having been stripped of their powers - are unable to help. Or are they? Will they be able to defeat their lifelong nemesis once and for all?
As much about the power we wield as the strength of a mother’s love, this fabulous story will have lovers of graphic novels hooked to the very end. Acutely observing pre-teen life - trying to fit in; being bullied; feeling at odds with ones parents and genuine injustice. And acutely observed also is family life and the fact we learn towards the book’s end that their parents are expecting a baby… we wonder how that will go for the Robo Bros! But the point is that women can have, and can play, many roles in their lifetime and that they should not be judged for being their authentic selves at any one time.
Perfect for children in key stage 2, especially the upper years.
Dragon Riders of Roar by Jenny McLachlan, illustrated by Alla Khatkevich with cover art by Ben Mantle
(Farshore, 13th February 2025)
The premise of this series is brilliant: a make-believe world conjured up for twins Rose and Arthur is a place for the most wonderful of adventures. As younger children, Roar was a game. And now this vividly imagined world is actually real: the characters and settings that have been written in by the twins have come to life. Roar and all the characters and creatures within can be accessed through a portal in an old camp bed. So, now that the school holidays are here and the twins have been left under the (not so) watchful eye of grandad, they are desperate to start a new adventure. Except things don’t go to plan...
Once so close, Arthur cannot believe it when he realises Rose has written in a whole new story without him knowing, involving the Dragon Rider Academy and - as the title suggests - actual dragon riding! He feels betrayed but one can’t help think that his sister needs to push against the boundaries and strike out a bit on her own. Perhaps Rose simply wants something just for herself? Will Arthur help without judgement when he realises his sister hasn’t written an ending to the story?
Fabulously fast-paced and humour-filled. Perfect for teaching children about the power we can wield and the humility that we may need to change our own behaviour. In the words of Maya Angelou, ‘If you don't like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude.’ A great Key Stage 2 read.
The Great Theatre Rescue by Judith Eagle
(Faber and Faber, 13th February 2025)
This is a drama-filled novel of epic proportions! There’s the drama of the era -jazz moderne/art deco and the glitz and glitter that go hand in hand with this; there’s the literal drama, as the book’s title suggests, and then there’s the most dramatic plot-line at the centre of which is a girl who, due to circumstance, finds her spirit being suppressed by an over-bearing, disapproving aunt who’s been tasked with her care…
Charley’s life is idyllic: she lives for spending time at Soho’s smallest theatre and, to her, it is home. The people - who she sees as family - the excitement… all of it, is a constant source of joy. But then things begin to unravel, at first with the stage-fright that scuppers her debut tap-dance and then with her father Toby (the theatre’s manager) being called away. This sparks an unstoppable chain of events resulting, ultimately, in Charley being packed off to boarding school. On receiving the news, poor Charley faints in shock. Her aunt Constance appears to hold no sympathy for this though, feeling vindicated over her point that Charley is melodramatic: ‘this sense of drama that your father seems to have encouraged’ is best ‘got rid of’.
But for Charley, too much is at stake: her family - her chosen theatre family - are at risk of losing everything. She will not be silenced and will not submit to the expectation that girls ought not to ‘show off’, be dramatic or have a voice. Will her act of courage be enough to save The Wren though? A powerful message about justice and especially about women having a voice. Perfect for children in key stage 2 (and adults obsessed with theatre and the 1920s + 30s!)
Under a Fire-Red Sky by Geraldine McCaughrean
(Usborne, 10th April 2025)
We don’t often include YA titles in our literature reviews but when it comes to women authors, Geraldine McCaughrean must be championed. And two of the plucky protagonists in this visceral thriller about the horrors of the Blitz in London are perfect examples of the resilience and determination that so many teenage girls and young women exhibited during World War II.
Like Edda in Tom Palmer’s ‘Resist’ (for which we have a Writing Root), and Olive in Emma Carroll’s ‘Letters from the Lighthouse’ (we’ve a literary Leaf for this!) the characters in Under a Fire-Red Sky want to help. They want to be a part of the war-effort - not sent away like the littler ones on the evacuation trains. And the relationships between the 4 ‘Meridians’ - living relatively near as they do to Greenwich, paints a picture of equality not gender divides. Olive and ‘Gremlin’ are taken wholly seriously by their new-found friends Lawrence and Franklin as the four adolescents forge independence for themselves. There is no glorification of war, only stark truths, but the power to help be part of the solution shines through.
We recommend this for children about to go into year 7 and up, purely because of the themes and some of the language used. It is so astonishingly well-written and Geraldine McCaughrean has always tirelessly created stories featuring strong women: an author who has genuinely changed the narrative for women and girls the world over.
Posted in: Literature Review
