Rise: A Feminist Book Project

Last updated

Rise: A Feminist Book Project, formerly known as the Amelia Bloomer Project and compiled by the American Library Association, is an annual list of books with significant feminist content that are intended for readers from birth to age 18. [1] [2] The Amelia Bloomer Project was started in 2002 and continued annually until the name change in 2020. Rise is unique from other book lists in that it selects books based on content. [3]

Contents

Researchers, librarians, and educators have used the list to recognize and select books with feminist content for young people. [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [ excessive citations ]

History

The American Library Association's Feminist Task Force (FTF) of the Social Responsibilities Round Table initiated an annual curation of the top feminist books in 2002 to promote "quality feminist literature for young readers". [12] The FTF chose to name the project after Amelia Bloomer, "an American writer and newspaper editor who campaigned for temperance, women's rights, and dress reform." [3]

In 2020, the FTF decided to rename the annual book list to Rise: A Feminist Book Project. The name change came after the FTF learned that Amelia Bloomer "refused to speak against the Fugitive Slave Law of 1850". [12] The committee stated that "librarians and libraries must work to correct social problems and inequities with particular attention to intersectionality, feminism, and deliberate anti-racism". [12] This belief prompted the 2020 name change.

Criteria

The judges consider both fiction and nonfictional, as well as illustrated books that have been published in the previous 18 months. [1]

Every year, books are judged based on three main criteria: [1]

  1. Significant feminist content
  2. Directed toward readers between ages 0 to 18
  3. Literary and artistic merit

The books selected for the project fall into six categories based on target audience and genre: Early Readers Fiction and Nonfiction, Middle Grade Fiction and Nonfiction, and Young Adult Fiction and Nonfiction. [13] [2]

Impact

In 2016, Kimberly Campbell Kinnaird selected 27 historical fiction novels from the Amelia Bloomer Project to "examine authenticity and empowerment" using "Boreen's three stages of historical authenticity (1999) and Brown and St. Clair's three levels of female empowerment (2002)". [14] Kinnaird's study found the books highly correlated with "female protagonists’ authenticity and empowerment." [14] The books included female characters that acted "courageously within society’s bounds," defied "society for personal ambition," and acted "as a catalyst for change." [14]

Honorees

The American Library Association's Feminist Task Force of the Social Responsibilities Round Table selects books annually for Rise: A Feminist Book Project in six categories based on target audience and genre: Early Readers Fiction and Nonfiction, Middle Grade Fiction and Nonfiction, and Young Adult Fiction and Nonfiction. [13]

The following lists the top ten books between 2013 and 2021. Before 2013, the Feminist Task Force did not select the top ten books.

RISE: Top Ten (2013-2021)
YearAudienceGenreTitleAuthor
2013 [15] Early ReadersNonfictionIn the Bag!: Margaret Knight Wraps It Up Monica Kulling , illus. by David Parkins
Heart on Fire: Susan B. Anthony Votes for President Ann Malaspina , illus. by Steve James
Dolores Huerta: A Hero to Migrant Workers Sarah E. Warren with Robert Casilla (Illus.)
Young AdultFictionWomanthology: HeroicVarious
Code Name Verity Elizabeth Wein
NonfictionKing Peggy: An American Secretary, Her Royal Destiny, and the Inspiring Story of How She Changed an African Village Peggielene Bartels and Eleanor Herman
Rookie Yearbook One Tavi Gevinson (editor)
Grace and Grit: My Fight for Equal Pay and Fairness at Goodyear and Beyond Lilly Ledbetter with Lanier Scott Isom
A Little F’d Up: Why Feminism Is Not a Dirty Word Julie Zeilinger
2014 [16] Early ReadersNonfictionGlobal Baby Girls Global Fund for Children
Flying Solo: How Ruth Elder Soared into America’s Heart Julie Cummins , illus. by Malene R. Laugesen
Brave Girl: Clara and the Shirtwaist Makers’ Strike of 1909 Michelle Markel with Melissa Sweet (Illus.)
Middle GradeProfiles: Freedom Heroines Frieda Wishinsky
Young AdultHowever Long the Night: Molly Melching's Journey to Help Millions of African Women and Girls Triumph Aimee Molloy
Double Victory: How African American Women Broke Race and Gender Barriers to Help Win World War II Cheryl Mullenbach
The Good Girls Revolt: How the Women of Newsweek Sued Their Bosses and Changed the Workplace Lynn Povich
I am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban Malala Yousafzai with Christina Lamb
What Will It Take to Make a Woman President? Marianne Schnall
Rookie Yearbook Two Tavi Gevinson (editor)
2015 [17] Early ReadersFictionA Pair of Twins Kavitha Mandana , illus. by Nayantara Surendranath
NonfictionEvery Day is Malala Day Rosemary McCarney with Plan International
Middle GradeFictionHidden Donna Jo Napoli
NonfictionA Woman in the House (and Senate): How Women Came to the United States Congress, Broke Down Barriers, and Changed the Country Ilene Cooper , illus. by Elizabeth Baddeley
Because I Am A Girl: I Can Change the World Rosemary McCarney with Plan International
I Am Malala: How One Girl Stood Up for Education and Changed the World: Young Readers Edition Malala Yousafzai with Patricia McCormick
Young AdultFictionMy Notorious Life Katy Manning
Tomboy: A Graphic Memoir Liz Prince
Ms. Marvel: No Normal G. Willow Wilson , illus. by Adrian Alphona
NonfictionSally Ride: America's First Woman in Space Lynn Sherr
2016 [18] Early ReadersFictionDrum Dream Girl: How One Girl’s Courage Changed Music Margarita Engle , illus. by Rafael López
NonfictionSwing Sisters: The Story of the International Sweethearts of RhythmKaren Deans, illus. by Joe Cepeda
Middle GradeVoice of Freedom: Fannie Lou Hamer: The Spirit of the Civil Rights Movement [19] Carole Boston Weatherford , illus. by Ekua Holmes
Sally Ride: A Photobiography of America’s Pioneering Woman in Space Tam O'Shaughnessy
Young AdultFictionThe Boston Girl Anita Diamant
Devoted Jennifer Mathieu
Nonfiction We Should All Be Feminists [19] Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg Irin Carmon and Shana Knizhnik
The Born Frees: Writing with the Girls of Gugulethu Kimberly Burge and Lynn Sherr
African American Women: Photographs from the National Museum of African American History and Culture
2017 [20] Early ReadersNonfictionI Dissent: Ruth Bader Ginsburg Makes Her Mark Debbie Levy , illus. by Elizabethe Baddeley
Ada Lovelace, Poet of Science: The First Computer Programmer Diane Stanley , illus. by Jessie Hartland
Young AdultFiction Burn Baby Burn Meg Medina
Exit, Pursueda Bear E. K. Johnston
The Lie Tree Frances Hardinge
NonfictionBalcony on the Moon Ibtisam Barakat
Becoming Unbecoming Una
Take It As a Compliment Maria Stoian
Trainwreck: The Women We Love to Hate, Mock, and Fear… and Why Sady Doyle
We Believe You: Survivors of Campus Sexual Assault Speak Out Annie E. Clark and Andrea L. Pino
2018 [21] Early ReadersFictionHand Over Hand Alma Fullerton , illus. by Renné Benoit
Nonfiction Malala's Magic Pencil Malala Yousafzai , illus. by Kerascoët
Shark Lady: The True Story of How Eugenie Clark Became the Ocean's Most Fearless Scientist Jess Keating , illus. by Marta Alvarez Miguens
Middle GradeFictionAhimsa Supriya Kelkar
Young AdultNoteworthy Riley Redgate
Piecing Me Together Renée Watson
Saints and Misfits S.K. Ali
The One Hundred Nights of Hero Isabel Greenberg
Nonfiction #NotYourPrincess: Voices of Native American Women Lisa Charleyboy and Mary Beth Leatherdale (editors)
Girl Rising: Changing the World One Girl at a Time Tanya Lee Stone
2019 [22] Early ReadersFictionSugar and Snails Sarah Tsiang with Sonja Wimmer
Middle Grade Crush Svetlana Chmakova
Amal Unbound Aisha Saeed
Young Adult The Poet X Elizabeth Acevedo
Speak: The Graphic Novel Laurie Halse Anderson , illus. by Emily Carroll
Damsel Elana K. Arnold
As the Crow Flies Melanie Gillman
Learning to Breathe Janice Lynn Mather
Blood Water Paint Joy McCullough
Naondel Maria Turtschaninoff
2020 [23] [24] Early ReadersFictionA Boy Like YouFrank Murphy, illus. by Kayla Harren
At the Mountain's Base Traci Sorell with Weshoyot Alvitre
The Proudest Blue: A Story of Hijab and Family Ibtihaj Muhammad , illus. by S.K. Ali and Hatem Aly
NonfictionRise! From Caged Bird to Poet of the People, Maya Angelou Bethany Hegedus , illus. by Tonya Engel
What Do You Do With a Voice Like That? The Story of Extraordinary Congresswoman Barbara Jordan Chris Barton , illus. by Ekua Holmes
Young Adult FictionForward Me Back to You Mitali Perkins
Surviving the City, Vol. 1 Tasha Spillett and Natasha Donovan
Thirteen Doorways, Wolves Behind Them All Laura Ruby
We Set the Dark on Fire Tehlor Kay Mejia
Nonfiction Shout Laurie Halse Anderson
2021 [25] [26] Early ReadersNonfictionConsent (For Kids!): Boundaries, Respect, and Being in Charge of You Rachel Brian
It Began With a Page: How Gyo Fujikawa Drew the Way Kyo Maclear , illus. by Julie Morstad
Ritu Weds Chandni Ameya Narvankar
Ruth Objects: The Life of Ruth Bader Ginsburg Doreen Rappaport , illus. by Eric Velasquez
Young Adult Fiction Clap When You Land Elizabeth Acevedo
Red Hood Elana K. Arnold
Every Body Looking Candice Iloh
NonfictionSay Her Name Zetta Elliot
Know My Name: A Memoir Chanel Miller
2022 [27] Early ReadersFictionLaxmi’s Mooch Shelly Anand , illus. by Nabi H. Ali
The Big Bath House Kyo Maclear , illus by Gracey Zhang
NonfictionBodies are Cool Tyler Feder
Young AdultFiction Firekeeper’s Daughter Angeline Boulley
Last Night at the Telegraph Club Malinda Lo
Sistersong Lucy Holland
So Many Beginnings: A Little Women Remix Bethany C. Morrow
NonfictionDisability Visibility: First-Person Stories from the Twenty-First Century Alice Wong
If I Go Missing Brianna Jonnie with Nahanni Shingoose and Neal Shannacappo (art)
Somebody’s Daughter Ashley C. Ford


Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alison Goodman</span> Australian writer

Alison Goodman is an Australian writer of books for young adults.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amelia Bloomer</span> Womens rights activist and temperance advocate

Amelia Jenks Bloomer was an American newspaper editor, women's rights and temperance advocate. Even though she did not create the women's clothing reform style known as bloomers, her name became associated with it because of her early and strong advocacy. In her work with The Lily, she became the first woman to own, operate and edit a newspaper for women.

Marianne Schnall is an American writer, interviewer, and feminist. Her interviews with Madeleine Albright, Dr. Jane Goodall, Gloria Steinem, Jane Fonda, Eve Ensler and others have been published by several magazines and websites, and she has published four books about feminism.

Carla Killough McClafferty, is an American author of non-fiction for children, writing mostly about science and history. The International Reading Association awarded the 2007 Children's Book Award for Intermediate Nonfiction to her book Something Out of Nothing: Marie Curie and Radium. The National Council of Teachers of English gave a 2008 Orbis Pictus Recommended book designation to In Defiance of Hitler: The Secret Mission of Varian Fry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Candace Fleming</span> American childrens writer

Candace Groth Fleming is an American writer of children's books, both fiction and non-fiction. She is the author of more than twenty books for children and young adults, including the Los Angeles Times Book Prize-honored The Family Romanov and the Boston Globe–Horn Book Award-winning biography, The Lincolns, among others.

M. Evelina Galang is an American novelist, short story writer, editor, essayist, educator, and activist of Filipina descent. Her novel One Tribe won the AWP Novel of the Year Prize in 2004.

Riverdale Avenue Books, located in Riverdale, Bronx, New York, is a publisher of e-books, print books on demand and audiobooks founded in 2012 by Lori Perkins. Riverdale is a member of the American Association of Publishers and publishes between 50 and 75 books a year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Isabel Quintero</span> American writer

Isabel Quintero is an American writer of young adult literature, poetry and fiction.

Elana Kuczynski Arnold is an American children's and young adult author. Her 2017 novel What Girls Are Made Of was a finalist for the 2017 National Book Award for Young People's Literature, and her 2018 novel Damsel was named a Michael L. Printz Award Honor title in 2019.


Frieda Wishinsky is a German-born Canadian educator and author of children's books.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elizabeth Acevedo</span> Dominican-American poet and author

Elizabeth Acevedo is a Dominican-American poet and author. In September 2022, the Poetry Foundation named her the year's Young People's Poet Laureate.

<i>The Poet X</i> 2018 YA novel by Elizabeth Acevedo

The Poet X, published March 6, 2018 by HarperTeen, is a young adult novel by Elizabeth Acevedo. Fifteen-year-old Xiomara, also known as "X" or "Xio," works through the tension and conflict in her family by writing poetry. The book, a New York Times bestseller, was well received and won multiple awards at the 2019 Youth Media Awards.

Kristin Sims Levine is an American novelist who authored The Lions of Little Rock, a New-York Historical Society Children’s History Book Prize winner. It is a fictional story about friendship based around true historical events of the Little Rock Nine in Little Rock, Arkansas. In September 2019, it was announced that rights to Lions was optioned for development of a featured film. Levine has written other historical fictional books, The Best Bad Luck I Ever Had and The Paper Cowboy, which take place during the United States' entry into World War I and McCarthyism era America of the 1950s, respectively. Levine's most recent book, The Jigsaw Jungle, is about a daughter who discovers a family secret. Levine currently lives in Alexandria, Virginia with her two daughters.

<i>Clap When You Land</i> 2020 young adult novel by Elizabeth Acevedo

Clap When You Land, written by Elizabeth Acevedo, is a young adult novel published by HarperTeen on May 5, 2020. The audiobook, produced by Harper Audio and narrated by Melania-Luisa Marte and Elizabeth Acevedo, was released on the same date.

<i>This is My America</i> 2020 young adult novel by Kim Johnson

This is My America is a young adult novel by Kim Johnson, published July 28, 2020 by Random House Children's Books, that explores injustices in the United States' justice system.

<i>Tomboy: A Graphic Memoir</i> 2014 autobiographical graphic novel by Liz Prince

Tomboy: A Graphic Memoir is an autobiographical graphic novel by Liz Prince, published September 2, 2014 by Zest Books.

Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers is a book list created annually by the Young Adult Library Services Association. The list identifies fiction, nonfiction, and graphic novels that may encourage teenagers who dislike reading to read.

Jennifer Mathieu is an American author of young adult fiction. Her 2017 novel Moxie was adapted into a film of the same name.

Chris Barton is an American author of children's books. His books has been included on numerous lists citing the best children's books of the year.

Mary Beth Leatherdale is a Canadian author and storyteller.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "The Amelia Bloomer Book List | Awards & Grants". American Library Association. Archived from the original on 2021-04-22. Retrieved 2021-04-22.
  2. 1 2 Meadows, Rebecca. "Children's Books: Amelia Bloomer Book List". UCF Research Guides. University of Central Florida. Archived from the original on 2021-05-27. Retrieved 2021-05-27.
  3. 1 2 Law, Jennie S.; McCoy, Maureen; Olshewsky, Beth; Semifero, Angela (Spring 2012). "All About Amelia: The Amelia Bloomer Project". Young Adult Library Services: 4–6 via EBSCOhost.
  4. Schulte-Cooper, Laura (Fall 2015). "Awards that Celebrate Diversity in Children's Literature". Children & Libraries. 13 (3): 34–35. doi: 10.5860/cal.13n3.34 via ProQuest.
  5. Buehler, Jennifer; Plumb, Daria; Walsh, Jennifer (2013). "Young Adult Literature Book Awards: A Guide for Newcomers to the Field". The ALAN Review. 40 (3). doi:10.21061/alan.v40i3.a.18. ISSN   1547-741X. Archived from the original on 2021-10-28. Retrieved 2021-10-28.
  6. Landers, Alyson. "Children's Social Justice Literature | Learning to Give". Learning to Give. Archived from the original on 2021-10-28. Retrieved 2021-10-28.
  7. McElhannon, Sherry; Rogers, Jessica (2016). "Professional Development and Classroom Resources for the Urban Elementary Literacy Educator". In Scott, Lakia M.; Purdum-Cassidy, Barbara (eds.). Culturally Affirming Literacy Practices for Urban Elementary Students. Rowman & Littlefield. pp. 163–190.
  8. Bennett, Susan V.; Gunn, AnnMarie Alberton; Peterson, Barbara J. (2021). "Access to Multicultural Children's Literature During COVID-19". The Reading Teacher. 74 (6): 785–796. doi:10.1002/trtr.2003. ISSN   1936-2714. PMC   8250665 . PMID   34230696.
  9. Rowland-Storm, Cuthbert (2018). "Creating an Appealing and Usable Library of High-Quality Diverse Nonfiction Texts". In Yenika-Agbaw, Vivian S.; Hudock, Laura Anne; McKoy Lowery, Ruth (eds.). Exploring Nonfiction Literacies: Innovative Practices in Classrooms. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. ISBN   9781475843439.
  10. Tieger, Kelly (May 2015). If I Had an F: A Feminist Picture Book for Boys (MSEd thesis). Bank Street College of Education. Archived from the original on 2021-10-28. Retrieved 2021-10-28.
  11. Kogut, Ashlynn; D’Aveta, Laura; Tabacaru, Simona (2021-05-06). "Assessment of Acquisition Methods for a Juvenile Literature Collection at a Research University". Collection Management. 47 (2–3): 87–100. doi:10.1080/01462679.2021.1919270. ISSN   0146-2679. S2CID   236593541. Archived from the original on 2023-02-21. Retrieved 2021-11-11.
  12. 1 2 3 Jarnagin, Briana (2020-01-28). "2020 Rise: A Feminist Book Project committee introduces new name and top ten feminist books for young readers". American Library Association. Archived from the original on 2021-04-22. Retrieved 2021-04-21.
  13. 1 2 Feminist Task Force (2021-02-10). "2021 Rise: A Feminist Book Project List". American Library Association. Archived from the original on 2021-04-22. Retrieved 2021-04-21.
  14. 1 2 3 Kinnaird, Kimberly Campbell (2016-05-30). Authenticity and empowerment: Female role models in historical fiction from the Amelia Bloomer Project (PhD dissertation). Texas Women's University. hdl:11274/10012. Archived from the original on 2023-02-21. Retrieved 2021-07-07.
  15. Feminist Task Force (2017-01-13). "2013 Amelia Bloomer List". American Library Association. Archived from the original on 2021-01-17. Retrieved 2021-04-30.
  16. Amundsen, John L. (2014-01-28). "2014 Amelia Bloomer List highlights feminist books for young readers". American Library Association. Archived from the original on 2021-04-30. Retrieved 2021-04-29.
  17. Feminist Task Force (2017-01-13). "2015 Amelia Bloomer List". American Library Association. Archived from the original on 2021-04-29. Retrieved 2021-04-29.
  18. Feminist Task Force (2017-01-13). "2016 Amelia Bloomer List". American Library Association. Archived from the original on 2020-06-16. Retrieved 2021-04-29.
  19. 1 2 Roy, Leila (2016-02-05). "Inspiring Young Feminists: The Amelia Bloomer List". BOOK RIOT. Archived from the original on 2022-01-22. Retrieved 2022-01-22.
  20. Feminist Task Force (2017-01-25). "2017 Amelia Bloomer List". American Library Association. Archived from the original on 2021-04-23. Retrieved 2021-04-29.
  21. Feminist Task Force (2018-02-14). "2018 Amelia Bloomer List". American Library Association. Archived from the original on 2021-04-22. Retrieved 2021-04-29.
  22. Feminist Task Force (2019-02-01). "2019 Amelia Bloomer List". American Library Association. Archived from the original on 2021-04-25. Retrieved 2021-04-29.
  23. Jarnagin, Briana (2020-01-28). "2020 Rise: A Feminist Book Project committee introduces new name and top ten feminist books for young readers". American Library Association. Archived from the original on 2021-04-24. Retrieved 2021-04-29.
  24. Yorio, Kara (2020-02-18). "2020 Rise: A Feminist Booklist for Young Readers". School Library Journal. Archived from the original on 2022-02-02. Retrieved 2022-02-02.
  25. Feminist Task Force (2021-02-10). "2021 Rise: A Feminist Book Project List". American Library Association. Archived from the original on 2021-04-24. Retrieved 2021-04-29.
  26. SLJ Staff (2021-04-22). "2021 RISE Book Project Announces Top 10 Feminist Titles for Young Readers and More | News Bites". School Library Journal. Archived from the original on 2022-02-02. Retrieved 2022-02-02.
  27. Chapman, Monica (2022-02-01). "2022 Rise Book Project presents Top Ten feminist books for young readers". American Library Association. Archived from the original on 2022-02-02. Retrieved 2022-02-02.