Member Reviews

A book on strong women which compares Lady Gaga, Michelle Obama and Cleopatra, is something I never thought I would come across - but I adore nonetheless. It is a fantastic way to teach children, especially girls, that you CAN be strong, you can be powerful and you can be respected! Some of these women I had never heard of, but their stories are brilliant and are definitely ones that need to be shared with young girls to give them hope. It also teaches parts of history from women's perspectives, which is often missed in traditional history.

The book itself is a great mixture of text (told in an engaging story format), illustrations and bold colour, enough to keep the reader interested, whilst still providing enough information about each individual woman. My favourite part was at the end of the book: there are activities for the child to complete to make them feel like THEY are a leader also!

I would recommend this to all children aged 7+ (not only girls!)

Was this review helpful?

This well put together and beautifully illustrated book has been vetted by a preteen and her grandmother and gets a 5 star rating from each of us!
Featured Women Include:
*Harriet Tubman, Freedom Fighter
*Leymah Gbowee, Liberian Peace Activist
*Wilma Mankiller, Chief of the Cherokee Nation
*Xiye Bastida, Mexican-Chilean Climate Activist
*Jacinda Arden, Prime Minister of New Zealand
*Eufrosina Cruz Mendoza, the First Indigenous Woman in Oaxacan Politics
*Malala Yousafzai, Pakistani Children's Education Activist
*Melinda Gates, American businesswoman and co-founder of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the world's largest private charitable organization
*Stacey Abrams, Voting Rights Activist and US Politician
*Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Lawyer and US Supreme Court Justice and more!
Get a copy for your local library, too!
I requested and received a free temporary ebook copy from Rebel Girls via NetGalley. Thank you!

Was this review helpful?

Rebel Girls Lead is a new installment in the Rebel Girls series, including the stories of around 25 influential women throughout history. They include newly elected Vice President Kamala Harris and other current women leaders around the world. Others are fighters for the disenfranchised and for causes like climate change, both modern and historical. Some of these icons were already familiar to me, and I loved learning about those whose stories I had never heard.

All are inspiring and show women’s strength against adversity. I know that it is for young readers, but I questioned the addition of prominent historical figures such as Queen Elizabeth I and Cleopatra. I just feel that there may be more relevant and perhaps lesser known figures to learn about. There was important representation of diversity in this collection, and perhaps they could consider including non-cisgender women in future.

I love that this book is written in language that young readers can understand, and the illustrations are gorgeous. While I can’t speak to this in comparison to the others in the series, I think this would make a beautiful gift to inspire the young girls in your life.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

This is a book that all young girls should read. Many times we only see girls portrayed one way on TV or in books and so we grow up thinking we need to fit into that mold and then feel we are abnormal when we want to do something that is "not ladylike" or "not for girls" so we let go of those goals and dreams. Books like this show that it is okay to not fit into the mold, that it is often better to break that mold and make ourselves who we want to be rather than what others think we should be. The stories in this book show just how much good can be accomplished by doing the unexpected and how that can help others as well. I hope this is a book that parents read to their children, both boys and girls, to help them see that they shape who they want to be and not the other way around.

Thank you, NetGalley for the chance to read this book!

Was this review helpful?

This is a gorgeous wee book that profiles some absolutely amazing women, with quirky and creative portraits. The key message is that everyone can be a leader and the quiz at the end would be great fun (and so much better than the silly quizzes a lot of publications make for impressionable girls). This is an engaging read and easy to access. Thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for an egalley.

Was this review helpful?

The illustrations are gorgeous, just like the list of women who've made or are making history: Angela Merkel, Aly Raisman, Harriet Tubman, Elizabeth I, Michelle Obama, Melinda Gates, Malala Yousafzai, Stacey Abrams, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Oprah Winfrey, and so many others. The stories are about one page long of words and an accompanying portrait for each person, perfect for bed time reading.
At the end there are blank pages for kids to write their own story and to draw their portrait. Also, a quiz (I loved quizzes as a kid!) for young people to learn what kind of leader they are, and follow up activities to train their leadership muscle. Don't you just love that the premise of this book is that every girl is a leader?!
It would make the perfect special occasion gift for a 6-10 years old girl, or the perfect addition to a classroom library. Boys need to see girls as leaders, too!

Was this review helpful?

Rebel Girls Lead // by Francesca Cavallo and Elena Favilli

Rebel Girls has provided us with another excellent title to add to the "gift to every little girl you know" list. Although I know I'll be reading these books with my children no matter how they identify because the people covered in this book aren't just strong female leaders for women. They are strong leaders, period. It doesn't matter whether you agree with them politically, socially, etc. These women are strong, they are fierce, and they want to make the world a better place the way they feel it is possible to do so. I really like how we once again have examples of people that are still alive, with a wide variety of ages, as well as people that have already passed on, some recently and some a long time ago. The women covered in this book come from a variety of backgrounds, cultures, professions, etc. It was a fun and educational book that I am looking forward to sharing.

Thank you to the authors, publisher, and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

A fantastic books summarising the achievements of some of the world’s most diverse, powerful female leaders. From Lady Gaga to Harriet Tubman, each story is accompanied by vibrant artwork depicting each role model.
A must for every inclusive classroom

Was this review helpful?

I've been a big fan of the Rebel Girls series for a while, and I loved getting to read Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls volumes one and two and the 100 Immigrant Women Who Changed the World edition. Rebel Girls Lead is a solid addition to the series, and it's sure to introduce kids to many of the incredible women leaders around today and in history. This volume is a bit USA heavy compared to their other volumes, and I wasn't quite as smitten with it overall, but it was still a great little book anyway, and I would still recommend it.

Was this review helpful?

Wow this book is filled with so many stories of amazing women. From Cleopatra to Harriet Tubman to Kamala Harris and more. Each woman's story is told with a 'Once Upon a Time' fairy tale like beginning which is a great way to engage children and pull them into these real life stories of women doing great, amazing things. This is a must read for girls everywhere.

Was this review helpful?

A wonderfully inspiring book, not only for girls but for all. The vivid illustrations add charm to the collection and make it for a lovable read. These are tales of 25 amazing women who have shattered all kinds of ceilings, despite all adversities.

Though there is a diversity, I just wished they had also focussed non-American girls (16/25 were American). As an Indian, I really wished to see at leat one Indian woman. There are so many Indian women who have done commendable work in various fields, and their stories would be an encouragement to many.

And hopefully in future editions they would feature trans women too.

A must read for all!

Thank you NetGalley for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

I love love LOVE these books! As a mom of 3 daughters, this is the content I want them to see. I want them to read and learn about powerful and inspiring women. Presently in an easy to read format, this book is wonderful to share with a large range of ages.

Was this review helpful?

I'm a bit sceptical about reducing these women's achievements to one single page, especially when sometimes there's too much focus on their husbands and kids rather than the actual achieving. Still, this seems like a great book to introduce kids to these absolutely amazing women and every elementary school should have this book in their library. Also loved the diverse art styles, really beautiful!

Was this review helpful?

What a fantastic book, full of amazing and inspiring women! I particularly liked how each woman filled a page and on the opposite page there was a beautiful illustration of her. It is a book you could read like you read a chapter book or read about one woman each night, I preferred to read about one woman each night with my ten year old daughter as this prompted discussions. I have never read any of the other Rebel Girls books so I can’t compare but this book is brilliant and an inspiration to girls! I especially liked how Lady Gaga was in there as my daughter is a big fan and an aspiring singer.
I would recommend this book to 7 years and up it is a book you can read a loud and written in a way younger readers would understand but also great for older readers and children who read to themselves.

Was this review helpful?

This exceptional book follows the vein of the other Rebel Girls books we've read and loved - but it is focused on leaders. I loved reading these aloud to my children & learning more about these phenomenal women including Harriet Tubman, Lady Gaga, Queen Elizabeth I, and Jacinda Ardern. The illustrations, as always, are colourful and beautiful. I absolutely LOVED the "what kind of leader are you?" questionnaire in the back of the book that truly inspires anyone to be aware of how they are already a leader.

There are some great leadership training ideas at the back too! All in all, such a fun book to go through and talk about with my little women who are already changing the world each and every day :)

Was this review helpful?

I really enjoyed this book. I learnt new things and I really recommend!! Off to read the other Rebel Girls Lead books!

Was this review helpful?

So I liked this book. But it didn’t blow me away. While the women included were amazing women in hindsight knowing it’s heavy on the American i may not have picked it up. I was disappointed.

Was this review helpful?

I have just absolutely LOVED getting to read this one periodically & keep coming back to it to be inspired by the women in the pages! There's just something about all these wonderful women full of diversity compiled together in this book full of quotes, biographies and illustrations that are just fantastic!

Was this review helpful?

Kicking start the Women's History Month with this legendary book!!

thanks to netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.</i>

“Of course I am not worried about intimidating men. The type of man who will be intimidated by me is exactly the type of man I have no interest in.” – Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

I LOVE LOVE everything about this book. It's simple, inspirational and has a great impact on one's mind. The illustrations are eye-catching and beautiful. In the end, there's also a questionnaire to help you decide what kind of leader you are and exercises for activism and leadership training.

If I had to have a tad bit of complaint about the book, it would be in terms of diversity. No doubt, every single one of these women deserves to be mentioned but I can easily think as much as people from Asian- European countries who have changed the world and I think they need some recognition too. But as this book focuses on merely 25 or many many amazing women out there, I can excuse this.

bottom line, this book is great and absolutely necessary and I highly recommend it.

Was this review helpful?

We love this series and reading them aloud to our daughters. Strong female role models are hard to find, but these never disappoint! We can't get enough!

Was this review helpful?