Who-What-When:
Books
Contributed by Jackie G.
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 Did you ever hear about the time a 17-year-old girl pitched against the New York Yankees, striking out baseball greats Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig? 
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Mighty Jackie: The Strike-Out Queen
Author: Marissa Moss
Publisher: Paula Wiseman Books
Type of Book: Nonfiction, for children K-3rd grade
This book chronicles the life of Jackie Mitchell, from her early interest in baseball and her father's encouragement to always follow her dreams. The narrative insightfully explores the feelings one girl encounters while taking on a huge challenge. It is an enjoyable, fun story to read and shines some light on a relatively unknown and often-neglected history of women in professional baseball.
Contributed by Jackie G.
Still Kicking: My Dramatic Journey as the First Woman to Play Division One College Football
Author: Katie Hnida
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Adult Publishing Group
Type of Book: Autobiography
In this an awe-inspiring autobiography, Hnida describes her rocky road into football history. Following a career ending injury at 14-years-old, Katie took her soccer kicking skills to the football field where she excelled throughout high school and was recruited to play at the University of Colorado. Hopes were high for her forthcoming chance to be the first woman to play Division 1 college football, but sexual harassment and other serious problems shook Katie's dreams. Forced to re-evaluate her choice to be a female football player, she switched to the University of New Mexico. Through perseverance and strength, she found a new team, a family within that team, and a place in the history books as she kicked her way through barriers. This is a great, heart-wrenching read for anyone who has encountered obstacles, and is particularly inspirational for women in pursuit of their own–sometimes challenging–dreams.
Contributed by Natalie
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If it were not for Title IX, physical education classes might still only be comprised of boys ...
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Let Me Play: The Story of Title IX: The Law That Changed the Future of Girls in America
By: Karen Blumenthal
Publisher: Atheneum
Type of Book: Nonfiction
Remember back when girls could not play sports at school? Probably not. Believe it or not, there was a time decades ago when girls were not able to be involved in athletics at school. Then Title IX came, and that changed everything. In Let Me Play: The Story of Title IX: The Law That Changed the Future of Girls, Blumenthal traces the history of Title IX — its creation, the legislation, its opposition, and many of the questions and criticisms it faced in the 1960's.
As girls in today's society, it is important to remember, rather than forget, how people in the past have made an impact on future generations. If it were not for Title IX, physical education classes might still only be comprised of boys, and we might not be able to play the sports we do today. From this book, we see a great example of how women of the 60's, and earlier, paved the way for the girls and women of today.
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants
By: Ann Brashares
Publisher: Mass Market Paperback
Type of Book: Fiction
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants weaves the tale of four very different young girls who are best friends, tied together by the power of a pair of pants that unexpectedly fits each of them. As they embark on different journeys during their the summer – whether it be to a camp, a foreign country, or the local pharmacy, Tibby, Carmen, Bridget, and Lena encounter different struggles that are a part of growing up and seeking their true identity. While some seek out their roots, others attempt to untangle their problems, build new relationships, and bury the past. Both apart and together, the girls ultimately discover the power of sisterhood and the importance of forming supportive bonds that will last forever. Brashares presents an empowering novel of friendship and growth that makes us laugh, cry, and remember how lucky we are to have sisters.
A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier
By: Ishmael Beah
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Type of Book: Nonfiction
In the colorful world that we live in today, everyone has his/her own story to tell. In A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier, Ishmael Beah tells his story – a touching and very personal account of a young boy growing up in war-stricken Sierra Leone. Barely an adolescent, Beah is swept into the war as a soldier and must face the ravaging, destructive effects of combat. He is eventually rescued by the United Nations and is brought to the United States to live. In his memoirs, Beah reflects on a time of both emotional and physical turmoil and serves as an inspiration to anyone who faces a struggle, no matter how small or large the scale. Though we are often sheltered and protected in American society, these memoirs are an encouragement to become globally aware and informed.
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