Strong women in new books
I've been so lucky to read some awesome middle grade fiction this week about some interesting, powerful young women, I can't wait to share them with you! The first one is called "Like Vanessa" by Tami Charles. I was mildly horrified to find that it's categorized as historical fiction because it's set in the 1980s (heeeeyyyy, wait just a cotton pickin' minute. The 80s are history? Ok, they are MY history too). Anyway, mild horror aside, this was a really great story about friendship, finding your true voice, making assumptions about people based on their appearance and working towards a goal. It's about Vanessa, who is in 8th grade. She has one true friend, but her friend is finding other interests and Vanessa is worried that they will not remain friends. Vanessa also finds that she has other interests that her friend isn't so interested in. Vanessa really wants to be Miss America. Until now, she didn't think it was possible. ...