In March as I contemplate my (virtual) bookshelves for #WOYBS (what’s on your bookshelf) and as we observe Women’s History Month, I am sharing a list of a few of my favorite stories about difference-makers. The ten women in these stories are all real-life women who dared to make a difference. Except for The Woman They Could Not Silence which is narrative nonfiction, all the stories are biographical historical fiction.
We also celebrate that this is a list of fabulous female authors, remembering a time in history when women could not publish or had to publish under a man’s name. I’m grateful to these authors for bringing us the untold stories of real-life difference-makers.
10 Real-Life Difference-Makers
*The review links in this post contain Amazon affiliate links.
(book listed in no particular order)
Dorothy Horstmann
The Woman With the Cure by Lynne Cullen
The fascinating story of Dorothy’s work in developing the Polio vaccine (in a male-dominated field).
Elizabeth Packard
The Woman They Could Not Silence by Kate Moore
The harrowing story of Elizabeth and her fight for women’s mental health rights. (nonfiction that reads like a thriller)
Frances Perkins
Becoming Madam Secretary by Stephanie Dray
The inspiring story of Frances and her fight for workers’ rights and Social Security under FDR as the first female Secretary of Labor.
Eleanor Roosevelt and Mary McLeod Bethune
The First Ladies by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray
Extraordinary partnership and friendship between two first ladies as they fight for Civil Rights.
Truus Mijsmuller
The Last Train to London by Meg Waite Clayton
A member of the Dutch resistance risks her life to transport Jewish children out of Nazi-occupied Germany.
Andrée Geulen and Ida Sterno
Hidden Yellow Stars by Rebecca Connolly
Two real-life heroes risk their lives to hide Jewish children in Belgium from the Gestapo.
Tan Yunxian
Lady Tan’s Circle of Women by Lisa See
Fascinating fictionalized biography of the first female physician in 1400s China.
Nancy Wake
Code Name Hélène by Ariel Lawhon
A thrilling and intense story of a spy for the French Resistance Movement in WWII.
Virginia Hall
The Invisible Woman by Erika Robuck
A story based on a real-life Allied spy in the French Resistance Movement.
Mildred Harnack
Resistance Women by Jennifer Chiaverini
The risks and consequences of resisting Hitler in pre-WWII Germany.
Difference-Makers QOTD:
Do you love stories based on real-life amazing women?
What other book would you add to this list?
I’m linking up with Deb @ Deb’s World, Sue @ Women Living Well After 50, Donna @ Retirement Reflections, and Jo @ And Anyways… for the March installment of #WhatsOnYourBookShelfChallenge.
Happy Reading Book Buddies!
“Ah, how good it is to be among people who are reading.” ~Rainer Maria Rilke
“I love the world of words, where life and literature connect.” ~Denise J Hughes
“Reading good books ruins you for enjoying bad ones.” ~Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
“I read because books are a form of transportation, of teaching, and of connection! Books take us to places we’ve never been, they teach us about our world, and they help us to understand human experience.” ~Madeleine Riley, Top Shelf Text
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I haven’t read any of these but would suggest The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. In her case, she never know she made a difference but she certainly did.
Her story is remarkable and the non disclosure is sad. That book is definitely on my long list.
Nancy Wake, the Australian spy aka The White Mouse. Coincidentally I saw her autobiography on the shelf in the library the other day. I’ve just checked and Code name Helene is only available as an audiobook – sadly I can’t listen to them.
She’s a memorable woman!
Fabulous recommendations and I haven’t read any of them, Carol. Women and History what a combination! Thanks for sharing with us at #WOYBS? I think I will start with ‘The Woman with the Cure’. Enjoy your weekend. x
Thanks Sue! So many untold stories!
I’m always interested to see what themes you come up with (and books) for these monthly link-ups, and this one was no different. A great way to celebrate IWD. Thanks for linking up.
Thanks for your kind comments Jo!
Hi, Carol – I greatly enjoy stories based on real life women who were difference makers. One of our local authors, Haley Healey, has written a series of books about ‘trailblazing women of Vancouver Island.’ I found the series to be utterly fascinating. Sadly, if it had not been for Haley’s books, I would have known nothing at all about any of these women.
Thankful for authors telling the untold stories! 🙌
HIstory and remarkable women is a great combination. I have several of these on my TBR, and have only read one, The Last Train to London. Thanks for the reminder about some of these books. Great post, Carol.
I’m happy to hear you have a few of these on your tbr!
Generally, I do enjoy novels based on lives of real women, so many of these sound very interesting to me. Adding a couple to my list to check out!
I hope you enjoy them! Thanks for commenting!
Thanks Carol for sharing these inspiring women Carol. My husband is reading a book about Nancy Wake by Australian author Peter Fitzsimons and keeps telling me how much I’d enjoy it, so I’ll definitely read it. I’m also drawn to the Woman They Could Not Silence. What a great list to have put together, thanks so much for joining us for #WOYBS
Thanks Debbie! Nancy Wake is a memorable woman and an Australian! Im happy you enjoyed my list!
Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly, about the women who worked for NASA and helped win the space race! We’ve all seen the movie, which was awesome.
Yes! It’s on my long list! And the movie is fabulous!