BOOKS

Rad Reads

Fab books that entertain and inform

Looking for the perf new read that will help you learn more about the world around you? Check out our fave list of books that entertain *and* inform.

Moxie by Jennifer Mathieu

Irritated with sexist and problematic boys at her school, Vivian Carter takes a page out of her former Riot Grrrl mother's book and starts a feminist zine. Though she originally creates it to blow off steam, other girls start responding with their stories and experiences. Read this book to feel empowered with all the #girlpower!

Image: Instagram.com/spilling_books

The Exact Opposite of Okay by Laura Stevens

Izzy O'Neil is just your average girl: she lives with her grandma and Dumbledore (the cat, not the all-powerful wizard) and is an aspiring comedian. However, her reputation is the one thing she can't laugh off when explicit pictures with her and the son of a politician are leaked and she's in the center of a national scandal. This book shies away from no topic: revenge porn, white privilege, slut-shaming, double standards, and so much more.

Image: Instagram.com/booksandmyotherweaknesses

Turtles All The Way Down by John Green

Yes, this book was written by the same guy who wrote The Fault In Our Stars and yes, it will make you just as emotional. In this story, John Green takes us into the mind of a 16-year-old girl struggling with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. This is a great book for girls who want to understand what it is like to live with a mental illness.

Image: Instagram.com/thebookishletters

Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie by Jordan Sonnenblick

This tearjerker novel tells the story of a family coping with the uncertainty of their youngest child's leukemia diagnosis. If you want to understand what it is like for families who are trying to live their lives and deal with the complications associated with chronic illness, add Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie to your must-read list.

Image: Instagram.com/yourclichenerd

Rules by Cynthia Lord

Rules is the story of Catherine, a 12-year-old trying to navigate the world with an autistic little brother by her side. I learned a lot about how autism affects the way people think and the hardships families with interabled members face every day by reading this book when I was a tween. Rules is *totes* a heartwarming novel that is def going to increase your compassion and understanding for interabled people.

Image: Instagram.com/wintersteareading

Dumplin' by Julie Murphy

Willowdean Dickson (or as her mother calls her "Dumplin") is a Dolly Parton fan, Texas gal, and self-proclaimed fat girl. Though she is normally incredibly confident, her self-esteem wavers when she starts dating Beau, her super cute co-worker. To get herself back on track, Willowdean does the scariest thing she can imagine: competes in the town's beauty pageant. As she takes back her confidence, she also learns a lot about herself. A perfect read if you've ever felt uncomfortable in your own skin.

Image: Instagram.com/andimjulie

Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper

Meet Melody Brooks, a ten-year-old girl, who can't speak and who uses a wheelchair because of a condition called cerebral palsy that affects muscle coordination and movement. Anyone who has felt like they struggle to fit in or express themselves will def relate to this story. Plus, it's a great way to learn about a condition that approximately 10,000 babies are born with annually.

Image: Instagram.com/afictionreality

Love, Hate, and Other Filters by Samira Ahmed

Maya Aziz has two paths ahead of her. One is the path her parents planned out for her: married to a "proper" Indian husband (hand-selected by her parents), attending college close to the family house. And the other is *her* path, living in NYC, going to film school, taking a chance with the boy of her dreams. As she's trying to figure life out, she also has to deal with the bigotry, prejudice, and Islamophobia thrown at her by the world due to acts beyond her control. Add this book to your list if you're hungering for another The Hate U Give.

Image: Instagram.com/natalyareads

Rebel Girls by Elizabeth Keenan

A staunch feminist and punk rock lover, Athena Graves couldn't be more different from her pretty, popular and pro-life sister Helen. However, when Helen is accused of having an abortion, the sisters band together to try to clear her name, regardless of what she did or didn't do. This book tackles the abortion debate, especially relevant today with Roe v. Wade in the news.