
About the Book
-
Authors:
- Jessica Spotswood
- J. Anderson Coats
- Andrea Roberston (Cremer)
- Y.S. Lee
- Katherine Longshore
- Marie Lu
- Kekla Magoon
- Marissa Meyer
- Saundra Mitchell
- Beth Revis
- Caroline Tung Richmond
- Lindsay Smith
- Robin Talley
- Leslye Walton
- Elizabeth Wein
Cover Story:Ā Ā Who Run The World?
The Best:Ā āEl Destinosā by Leslye Walton and āBonnie and Clydeā by Saundra Mitchell
The WorstĀ Not My Favorite Genre:Ā āHigh Stakesā by Andrea Cremer
Bonus Factors: American History, Diversity, LGBTQ
Break Glass In Case Of:Ā Dudes Dominating Your History Books
Cover Story: Who Run the World?
(Girls!) I think this cover is pretty effective in getting the āawesome girls throughout historyā point across. But letās be honest, the best thing about this cover is the title, which, according to editor Jessica Spotswood, āis actually a phrase used by President John Adams in a letter to his wife Abigail, when he was talking about involving women in the new U.S. government!ā
If I had seen this in a bookstore, I certainly wouldnāt be able to resist picking it up. And if I were that person, I wouldnāt be disappointedāevery single story in this collection is well-written. I had a hard time limiting myself to just two favorites for the purpose of this book report, because if weāre honest, I had at least five.
The Deal:
From Alaska to the Atlantic Ocean, 1710 to 1968, and everywhere in between, here are 15 tales of kickass young girls through American history. Although each tale is grounded in history, the genres arenātāthereās everything from magical realism to fantasy, with the later stories more firmly grounded in reality. Each story ends with an authorās note about the history and research involved.
The Best: āEl Destinosā by Leslye Walton
This Latin version of the Greek Fates myth is gorgeously written. Youāll want to dive into the Southwestāat least as Walton describes it.
The Best: āBonnie and Clydeā by Saundra Mitchell
I love this story of a Depression-era Robin Hood-style bank robber, who is so gleeful about her double life that you just canāt help but be charmed. Yeah, breaking the law is usually badā¦but she makes it seem awfully fun.
The Worst Not My Favorite Genre: āHigh Stakesā by Andrea Cremer
Again, this was well-written, but the magical high-stakes game was just not my favorite genre.
Bonus Factor: American History

What really sold this book for me was the breadth of history and cultures explored in each story. Thereās a lot of āunglamorousā history represented hereāsure, there are stories that involve pretty dresses and suitors in beautiful mansions, but thatās such a small chunk of what America has to offer. I loved the varied settings and socioeconomic backgrounds represented.
Bonus Factor: Diversity

As you can see in Simini Blockerās adorable print, this collection represents young ladies from multiple ethnicities and cultures.
Bonus Factors: LGBTQ

Our heroines arenāt always straight, either!
Break Glass in Case of: Dudes Dominating Your History Books
Getting a little tired of menās stories dominating the historical record? This anthology is the perfect complement to your history textbooks: fifteen fun glimpses into the lives of women over the past three centuries. You might find yourself falling in love with a different time and place than you ever expectedāand thanks to the helpful authorsā notes, you can start researching your own tale.
FTC Full Disclosure: I received my free review copy from Candlewick Press. This review was originally posted on Kirkus Reviews in exchange for monetary compensation, which did not affect or influence my opinions. A Tyranny of Petticoats: 15 Tales of Belles, Bank Robbers, and Other Badass Girls is available now.