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Parents' Guide to

The Rebel Girls Handbook

By Stephanie Morgan, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 7+

Electrifying tales of girls' positive impact over history.

Book Rebel Girls Biography 2022
The Rebel Girls Handbook Cover

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What's the Story?

THE REBEL GIRLS HANDBOOK is part of the best-sellling and award-winning Rebel Girls franchise. The pages are filled with more than 300 illustrated portraits and mini-biographies of girls and women of all ethnicities and abilities who have created positive change in the world in the areas of art, sports, science, activism, entrepreneurship, politics, and more. Each mini-biography includes a gorgeous illustrated portrait as well as background on where the girls are from, when they lived, and (new to this volume in the Rebel Girls series) the specific attributes that helped them in accomplishing so much -- aka their "superpowers." The powers listed include a vast array of positive attributes, from explorer Barbara Hillary's "kindness and warmth" to computer scientist Grace Hopper's "focus and calculation."

Is It Any Good?

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

This extensive collection of stories of girls and women who've made a positive impact on the world would be a fine addition to any girl's library. The Rebel Girls Handbook not only tells the tales of these impressive females, it also invites readers to process their stories in a variety of ways. Two sections in the beginning of the book create a clear picture of how girls have made an impact in every corner of the world and throughout history. The first is dedicated to specific regions of the world, the second to a visual timeline of female change makers, starting with the rule of Cleopatra and ending with Maya Angelou becoming the first Black female to appear on the U.S. quarter. Coming in at a hefty 400 pages, it would make a great gift for the elementary school kid in your life.

Some of the biographies contain a "Your Turn" section, detailing actions readers can take to follow in the footsteps of the woman they're reading about. And there are QR codes hidden throughout the book that take readers to free high-quality audio productions that dive even further into the lives of the role models featured via the Rebel Girls app. In the case of poet Amanda Gorman, listeners hear more about her early struggles with Auditory Processing Disorder, as well as her historic words spoken in her own voice.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the "superpowers" highlighted for each girl or woman in The Rebel Girls Handbook. Which of these attributes do you think already describes you? How can you work on developing more superpowers of your own?

  • How have each of the girls featured exhibited perseverance? Why is this an important character trait? Could they have accomplished all that they have without it?

  • What obstacles have the women featured in the book faced? How have they been discriminated against because of their race, gender, or being differently abled? How were they able to fight back?

Book Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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