Female biographies suitable for a twelve year old

If you go the Amazon site and search under books ‘female biographies for girls’ a list will come up.

I had a similar book when I was about 12 with the lives of Florence Nightingale, Emiline Pankhurst etc which I loved - I also had one about reforming men such as Shaftesbury and wilberforce.

Have a look on the Book People website, they have a section for children's autobiographies and they have suitable ages on them. I would say something like Malala might particularly interest her

Thanks for that welshwife I will look on the site now x

Thanks grannyben don't know why I didn't think of that x

How about The Story of My Life by Helen Keller. I can remember this being read to us at junior school and everyone was fascinated by her story and achievements.

Let it Go . The memoirs of the incredible Dame Stephanie Shirley.

www.penguin.co.uk/books/313/313672/let-it-go/9780241395493.html

Hilary and Chelsea Clinton have a book out:

It is called Gutsy Women

As already mentioned Malala and Emmeline Pankhurst. Anne Frank is an obvious one and ties in with KS3 History, also Mother Theresa, Marie Curie, Edith Cavell. If she is interested in animals try Joy Adamson, if she is interested in dance try Margot Fonteyn or even Darcy Bussell .... you almost have to think of her interests and then try to link in the female role model.

Michelle Obama's biography is very readable.

"The Hiding Place" by Corrie Ten Boom is another good one.

Corrie grew up in a Dutch Christian family. Her family hid Jews during the Second World War. One night, they were raided by the Gestapo. Corrie, her sister Betsy, and their father were arrested. Their father died in prison, and Corrie and Betsy were sent to a concentration camp. Betsy, who was in poor health already, died in the camp. Corrie survived, and went on to write her autobiography.

I will give you a heads-up - it's about as real and raw as they come. One passage that has always stayed with me was about how at one point, each woman had to strip, walk naked past ten men, and enter another room where she came out wearing a thin prison dress and a pair of shoes, nothing more. Corrie was trying to find a way to hide Betsy's sweater and vitamins, and their Bible. While watching the scene, she said to Betsy, "They took His clothes, too." Betsy responded, "Oh, Corrie, and I never thanked Him."

We have bought our similarly aged dgd a book by Greta Thunberg (sp).

Last time I was in Waterstones they had a whole display about amazing women aimed at that sort of age. Their website is very good.

Don't forget Dr Elsie Inglis. Best possible role model for a girl!

If you input 'Role Models for Girls' on Amazon loads come up. You can then read reviews etc and buy from Waterstones, their website or an independent bookshop.

Chinese Cinderella and follow up is excellent. The little house on the prairies series also.

Thanks to all of you for your suggestions, I'm spoilt for choice

The website A Mighty Girl has some great ideas.

www.amightygirl.com/books/mighty-girls-women/role-models

I don’t know whether there’s a U.K. version of the site.

If I was buying for a twelve-year-old, I would go for the biography of someone who is still alive, and preferably someone who is still relatively young, to increase the chances of such a young reader being able to relate to them.

Does she have any hobbies that might link to someone interesting? I remember reading biographies of equestrians but if she doesn't like horses, what about gymnasts, athletes, musicians etc. Carefully vetted in some cases, perhaps!

Good night stories for rebel girls is a compendium of women and girls who made a difference both now and in the past.
Can recommend.

My gd of this age loved Michelle Obama so can recommend that, and recently read the diary of Anne Frank, recommended by school I think. Now D3 is ambitiously giving her Testament of Youth (tho not as a Christmas present).

Yes, ww, Anne Frank is a very good one to impress at interviews for schools, even unis.

I'd go with "Goodnight Stories for Rebel girls" Short readable accounts of women from all walks of life. Beautifully illustrated as well by women! It's a book to read and treasure. There's a volume 2 as well!!

Rebel girls is very good. Michelle Obama’s book is so interesting and Anne Frank is a must just so young people understand just how bad things were