We love supporting healthy media for girls. Thank you Pam Allyn!
Guest blogger Pam Allyn, author of The Complete 4 for Literacy, motivates children and adults to become lifelong readers and writers. Her amazing work has grown into a non-profit organization called LitWorld International, Inc. Her personal quest to bring literacy to every child and adult is portrayed here in two book reviews.
“Frankly, Frannie”
by A. J. Stern
Frannie Miller is ready for anything and would like very much to have an actual job and be an actual grown up. She does her best to behave in grown up ways, using words like “actually” and “certainly” and even doing her best to learn to like mustard. This very, very young “adult” decides that she should change her name to something more mature; on a whim she chooses Frankly. Unfortunately, Frankly winds up getting into as much mischief as Frannie does. Frankly/Frannie’s class goes on a field trip to a local radio station and things go awry when she decides to fill in for the DJ and take callers’ questions about her town’s upcoming mayoral election. Poor Frankly finds herself in more trouble than Frannie ever was. With the help of her teacher and parents, Frannie realizes that she must take responsibility for her actions and apologize to those who she hurt, however unintentionally. Stern creates a host of believable and recognizable characters that help Frannie through her impish exploits and remind her and young readers alike that righting wrongs can feel hard but their efforts will be rewarded. Frannie is a loveable heroine that will have you and your girl laughing and cheering at every turn!
“Seven Brave Women”
by Betsy Hearne
Seven Brave Women celebrates the accomplishments of seven women in different generations of the author’s family. Though so much of history is discussed through the lens of war, Hearne shows how seven brave women in her family did not fight in any wars but served a vital purpose in helping their families survive and also made an impact on the world they lived in at the time. Each woman’s life is remarkable, though in different ways. One of Hearne’s ancestors started a hospital for women in India, another lived in the same house her whole life and cared for many family members and neighborhood animals. Anderson’s beautiful oil painting illustrations enhance the themes of feminism, pacifism and the celebration of women’s accomplishments that run parallel to the recorded historical events that Hearne describes. Girl readers will feel empowered by the amazing things each woman was able to do, and the love that each inspired in those around her. It is a wonderful way to begin a conversation about the quiet, peaceful ways that we can all impact our world. This history may even inspire some curiosity about your own genealogy and the brave women in your family!
