Parents' Guide to Rebel Girls Rock: 25 Tales of Women in Music

Rebel Girls Rock cover: Red background, title in teal and purple text, illustrations of 4 women rock stars under title

Common Sense Media Review

Mandie Caroll By Mandie Caroll , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 7+

Energetic, uplifting biographies of women in music.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 7+?

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Parent and Kid Reviews

What's the Story?

Covering girls and women musicians and music industry heavyweights, REBEL GIRLS ROCK: 25 TALES OF WOMEN IN MUSIC explores their remarkable paths to success in music. Each spread includes a one-page bio and an illustrated portrait. Readers learn about the music these women created, as well the challenges they overcame and how they used their success to affect positive social and political change. The collection is produced by Rebel Girls, a global, multi-platform empowerment brand dedicated to helping raise the most inspired and confident global generation of girls. End pages include writing and drawing activities, super-short bios of other famous women in music, and advice on creating your own music. QR codes that link to longer audio stories about some of the featured musicians in the Rebel Girls app appear on several pages.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say : Not yet rated
Kids say : Not yet rated

This collection of illustrated biographies is an inspiring read for budding musicians and music-loving kids. The women's passion for music in Rebel Girls Rock vibrates off the page in inspiring anecdotes and lively portraits that kids of any gender will appreciate. Joan Jett's rousing introduction is worth reading, and for rockers who want more, the end pages feature nearly 30 more women in rock with super-short bios and thumbnail portraits. It's a joy to read about such a diverse group of successful women in music, and heartening to learn about the social good these women have done beyond music. From Dolly Parton's free books for kids program to Lizzo's body positivity and unapologetic self-love to Mercedes Sosa's political lyrics that helped inspire Argentinians to resist a cruel military dictatorship, this collection proves that music and musicians are a critical part of cultures and societies all over the world. Some readers may be disappointed to find that aside from the profile of punk rocker Laura Jane Grace, there is no other LGBTQ+ representation, but on all other counts, this slim volume is a great addition to library and home shelves everywhere.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the women and girls in Rebel Girls Rock: 25 Tales of Women in Music. Who grabbed your attention most? Why?

  • What character strengths do you see in these women? How do they model perseverance, courage, and communication?

  • Are any of your favorite women and girl musicians in this book? Who would you have included if you'd written this book and why?

Book Details

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Rebel Girls Rock cover: Red background, title in teal and purple text, illustrations of 4 women rock stars under title

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