Born a Girl - by Alice Dussutour (Hardcover)

About the Book

This illustrated book for young readers shares the stories of five girls growing up around the world and some of the injustices they face.

Book Synopsis

★"This informative and inspiring offering should help teens assert their rights."-- Booklist, starred review

When you're born a girl, some parts of the world are kinder places to grow up in than others.

Meet Kaneila, Jade, Mahnoosh, Makena and Luisa. They are five girls in five different countries whose lives are overshadowed by violence and injustice, just because they are female. These girls navigate the challenges and horrors of period poverty, female genital mutilation, lack of access to education, body shaming and femicide. The stories are heartbreaking but also inspiring, as the girls are surrounded by people who bring hope and speak out for equality.

Following each story is a section that explains the real-life circumstances for girls in many parts of the world, important terms, and what girls and women are doing to take action today.

For these girls, their individual experiences of being born a girl may be different, but their desire for freedom and equality is universal.

Review Quotes

"This resource serves as an inspiration of hope, highlighting the ongoing global advocacy and actions towards achieving gender equality...A critical analysis of the issues and possible reactionary culture shifts are discussed."

-- "BC Books for Schools"

"Inspiring...Young teenagers, parents, teachers, and so many others, of both genders, could benefit from reading this book and then by using the knowledge from these powerful sad stories to go forward and make changes to help empower women and girls worldwide. This book could be a great way to start a discussion in a book club about gender equality."

-- "Children's Literature Comprehensive Database (CLCD)"

"Celebrates the courage and resilience of [the] girls who are working to create change in their communities...This book is highly recommended for public and school library collections."

-- "Canadian Children's Book Centre (CCBC) Canadian Children's Book News"

"These topics, while uncomfortable, are necessary for today's youth to know of...Difficult but necessary, this work is both triggering and empowering."

-- "School Library Journal (SLJ)"

"[Explores] important issues that everyone, regardless of gender, should be familiar with. The experiences of each girl and the barriers the girls face can seem insurmountable, but the critical analysis and cultural change that is needed, or is already happening, found at the end of each story provides inspiration and hope and drives home the message that change and work toward gender equality are everyone's responsibility. Highly Recommended."

-- "CM: Canadian Review of Materials"

★"Engaging artwork belies the series content of the book, a look at five contemporary misogynistic cultural practices...Each character does stand up for herself and finds support through other women. This informative and inspiring offering should help teens assert their rights."

-- "Booklist, starred review"

"Saturated, vibrantly colored illustrations highlight the girls and symbolic items in their life. The book celebrates those who are working for change from within their cultures. Celebrates girls' resilience, courage, and initiative."

-- "Kirkus Reviews"

About the Author

Alice Dussutour is a French illustrator and author. Her work is colorful, feminist and joyful. After studying art direction for five years, she developed her passion for illustration and published her first book, Naître fille, the original French version of Born A Girl, in 2022. Alice lives in Paris.