Born a Girl: It Takes Courage

Gr 7-10–Translated from the original French, this work tells five stories of five girls in different parts of the world, where being born female can have serious consequences. Teens will read about domestic violence, menstrual discrimination, genital mutilation, and other triggering subjects. These topics, while uncomfortable, are necessary for today’s youth to know of. The world is not an easy place for girls, and learning about cultures different from one’s own can only further our understanding and empathy for our fellow humans. There are also pages of facts after each fictional story to help make the narrative better understandable. The bright illustrations and matter-of-fact language keep these tales in the realm of children’s literature, even though the subject matter is very adult at times. Back matter includes information about activists and associations as well as books and films for those who want to learn more or get involved.