My daughter is not quite a teen and wants to read serious novels with feminist themes. She’s come across a lot of people’s recommendations for the Bell Jar, but she and I both think that she should wait a while to read that one because the way topics like suicide and sexual assault are described in it. What are some alternatives that would be good for her age?
by TinyCaterpillar3217
5 Comments
How about Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson? It tells the story of an important writer’s early life. As a memoir in verse, it also offers an engagement with poetry (experience that will come in handy when your daughter gets to Plath, etc!).
I highly recommend “The Grace Year” for tweens. More mature themes, but written for young tween/teens 12-15. I work with middle school students and I felt it hit just the right tone for that age group. It didn’t talk down to them, but it presented mature subjects in an age appropriate way they could digest and relate to.
The MisAdventures of an awkward black girl by Issa Rae
I genuinely think that if you want feminist themes in any capacity. the bell jar is the exact opposite of what you’re looking for. however, if she’s looking for a (tween friendly) feminine and fascinating self-absorbed pretentious artist type of vibe (like plath) may I suggest edna st vincent millay
“The Troubled Girls of Dragomir Academy” by Anne Ursu.
This is a middle grade fantasy book but it does deal with feminism. Its about a girl living in the shadows of her brother. Everyone has high hopes and expectations of her brother but has no such things for her as she’s just a girl but then she seizes an opportunity to go to a school for ambitious young girls like her. The story goes on from there.