My Top 10 List of awesome fantasy books for the empowerment of girls (aka, Books I’d Give My Daughter).

I’ve been lucky enough to have people in my life who encouraged me to read when I was little, many of whom gave or recommended me books with strong female protagonists.  I am convinced that reading about empowered women and “atypical” gender roles is an extremely important part of raising a girl to be independent, well-informed, and unafraid to speak her mind.  

In light of the recent regression in modern children’s/YA literature toward dependent, unimaginative female leads (I’m looking at you, Twilight), I figured I should take the time to make a list of books that I read as a kid, and which I’d like to someday give to my future nieces, daughters, etc.  I will always be thankful for my parents, cousins, and teachers for their roles in the formation of my own identity as a woman, and hope to be able to do some of the same for the girls in my life.  

Little girls are, for better or for worse, socialized to like stories about princesses and other highborn ladies.  These are books with some of the baddest-ass princess/fancy girl protagonists I can think of, so don’t look at me if your kid suddenly decries the tyranny of bedtime or decides she wants to learn fencing after this…
(note:  lol putting together those cover collages took way WAY too long)

(In order of enjoyment…which was a very tough thing to do): 

01.  Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine
02.  The Immortals Series by Tamora Pierce
03.  The His Dark Materials Trilogy by Philip Pullman
04.  The Song of the Lioness Quartet by Tamora Pierce  
05.  Sabriel by Garth Nix 
06.  The Enchanted Forest Chronicles by Patricia C. Wrede
07.  The Two Princesses of Bamarre by Gail Carson Levin
08.  The Gemma Doyle Trilogy by Libba Bray
09.  Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George
10.  True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi