Historical Fiction in Honor of Women’s History Month

The United States celebrates Women’s History Month in March; the month is dedicated to highlighting the plethora of important contributions that women have made and continue to make in our world. In the last few years, there has been a bigger push to tell women’s stories allowing people to learn about all of these amazing women who had previously been lost to history.

More and more stories about courageous and pioneering women are making their way out into the world ensuring that their stories will not be forgotten or so that more will be known about them. I hope you enjoy these four historical fiction books about women who deserve to be recognized and remembered during Women’s History Month:

Ace, Marvel, Spy by Jenni L. Walsh - Ace, Marvel, Spy follows tennis great Alice Marble from the early 1930s to the 1940s when she took the world by storm as a tennis star and then subsequently spied for the Allies under the guise of playing matches in Switzerland. While presented with numerous challenges and setbacks, Alice managed to succeed at both tennis and as a spy, and I loved learning her tale (she also subsequently edited the Wonder Woman comics). This book will be a fit for fans of stories about remarkable women and World War II tales.

Let Us March On by Shara Moon - Let Us March On chronicles the life of Lizzie McDuffie, who as a maid in FDR’s White House helped spearhead the Civil Rights Movement. After joining the White House, Lizzie managed to become indispensable to the Roosevelt family. Never shy about pointing out injustices, she advocated for the needs and rights of her fellow African Americans. This is a fascinating book – I knew nothing about Lizzie McDuffie before I read this one. FDR’s terms were such a time of change for the U.S., and Lizzie made important contributions. Let Us March On will appeal to fans of untold stories and those who enjoy reading about the Civil Rights Movement.

Let’s Call Her Barbie by Renee Rosen – When Ruth Handler pitches to her board of directors her idea for a doll unlike any the country has seen, she is met with skepticism, but she is undeterred. Unlike the other dolls on the market in 1956, this new doll looks like a grown women with a fabulous wardrobe and lots of career options. This is a stellar story of how Barbie rose to iconic status and how a strong woman who believed in herself and her dream made it happen. I was cheering Ruth on the entire time I was reading. This book is a great fit for fans of Barbie and pop culture.

The Unexpected Diva by Tiffany L. Warren - Narrated in the first person, The Unexpected Diva is a fictionalized account of the life of Elizabeth Taylor Greenfield, a Black opera singer in pre-Civil War America. Raised in the safety of Pennsylvania’s Quaker community, her life drastically changes when her white adoptive mother dies and her family disputes Eliza’s inheritance and wins. Her extraordinary three-octave voice allows her to defy societal norms to pursue her dream of becoming a professional opera singer, gaining acclaim as “the Black Swan” in the United States and Europe. While the book’s main focus is Eliza’s story, it also depicts what it was like for Black citizens in pre-Civil War America, regardless of where they lived. This book will appeal to anyone who likes to learn about someone forgotten by history as well as those who love to be transported to another time period.

For more book recommendations and bookish thoughts, see Cindy’s monthly Buzz Reads column, her award-winning Thoughts from a Page Podcast or follow @ThoughtsFromaPage on Instagram.