New Moon Girls magazine‘s July-August theme is Inspiration All Around. And it’s chock-full of stories of inspiring and inspired girls. If her passion is writing, art, science, friendship, sports, business, fantasy or activism, these books will inspire her!
Girlish by Alana Wulff
Whether you’re looking for inspiration from rad women like Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg or advice on how to stay true to yourself, this is the ultimate inspirational handbook. It’s full of girl-power quotes, feminist facts, tips for loving and accepting yourself, and even space to record your own thoughts about it all. When it comes to inspiration, this colorful, edgy book really does have it all!
Brave the Page: A Young Writer’s Guide to Telling Epic Stories by Rebecca Stern & Grant Faulkner
Do you want to write, but find yourself getting stuck? Whether coming up with story ideas or losing the spark halfway through your project, this book has you covered. It includes tons of story prompts, ideas for planning, suggestions for plot twists if you get stuck, advice for creating a writing routine, “pep talks” from successful authors, and more. Although the book was created for kids who are doing National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) — a challenge to write a whole novel in the month of November — it’s helpful for all fiction writers.
Smithsonian STEM Lab by Jack Challoner
This is the book for you if you want some inspiration of the science, technology, engineering, and math variety. Each of the 25 projects includes full-color photos and step-by-step instructions. Build a miniature suspension bridge, make a wind turbine using paper plates, perk up a room with homemade air fresheners, and generally create your way toward becoming a top-notch engineer!
Briar and Rose and Jack by Katherine Coville
Have you ever been inspired by a good story? People scorn Lady Briar for her looks and adore Princess Rose for hers. Both girls might carry a curse that requires true love to break. But they don’t have time to worry about that — they’re too busy planning the downfall of the giant who terrorizes their kingdom! Using a mashup of “Sleeping Beauty” and “Jack and the Beanstalk,” this book explores prejudice, justice, and true love — it doesn’t get much more inspirational than that!
The Mighty Heart of Sunny St. James by Ashley Herring Blake
When Sunny receives a heart transplant, she decides a new heart = a new life. She sets some big goals for herself, like doing all the things she couldn’t do when she was sick, finding a new best friend, and kissing a boy. But when she meets Quinn — who might just be the girl to fulfill her dream of a new best friend — she wonders whether she really wants to kiss a boy after all. Whether you can relate to Sunny’s health problems or not, this is a book to remind all of us about the strength of our hearts.
More Inspiring Books
And here are some more recommendations:
For some entrepreneurial inspiration, check out Payback on Poplar Lane and President of Poplar Lane by Margaret Mincks about sixth-grader Rachel and Peter’s business rivalry on their block.
The Graphic Library series includes graphic novels of true sports victories for women, like the Billie Jean story in A Win for Women or the U.S. Women’s 1999 World Cup win in Soccer Showdown, both by Brandon Terrell and Eduardo Garcia. A perfect read on the heels of another FIFA World Cup win for U.S. women!
In Legacy and the Queen by Annie Matthew, tennis carries magic — and Legacy is determined to use her tennis skills to win a match that will bring her enough money to keep open the orphanage where she cares for younger kids.