The Amelia Bloomer List: A Selection of the Best Feminist Literature for Young Readers

You may have heard of the Caldecott, Newbery or Coretta Scott King awards for children’s literature, but you may not have heard of the Amelia Bloomer Project. Named after women’s rights advocate Amelia Bloomer, the Amelia Bloomer List is created every year by a committee of professional librarians who select the best feminist literature for young readers ages 0-18.

Being a Committee Member

In January 2019, the committee (made up of ten librarians) met at the American Library Association Midwinter Meeting in Seattle to discuss, debate, and ultimately select which books (published within the last eighteen months) would make the list. As a committee member I can tell you that this experience is both exhilarating and exhausting. Throughout the year leading up to the Midwinter Meeting, committee members must read and nominate potential titles. This past year, we had a total nomination of 100 titles with 68 titles making it onto the official 2019 list.

How Do We Choose?

There are several factors that we must consider before adding a title to the list. First and most important, we must evaluate whether or not the book has significant feminist content. There are hundreds of books published each year featuring stories with strong female characters as well as biographies depicting remarkable women in history. However, these books do not always convey a feminist message. There are many key questions we must take into account. For example: Does the book challenge gender stereotypes? Do girls and women empower others? Does the book highlight underrepresented voices? It is also important that the book be well written, accurate and well-illustrated (if a picture book).

The List and Top Ten

Books that the committee unanimously agree should be on the list are put in the running for our top ten. Our top ten selections represent the strongest works of literature that contain clear and significant feminist content for young readers. The 2019 Amelia Bloomer Top Ten (in alphabetical order by title) are:

Acevedo, Elizabeth. The Poet X. Gr. 8-up.

Anderson, Laurie Halse. Speak: The Graphic Novel. Illus. by Emily Carroll. Gr. 8-up.

Arnold, Elana K. Damsel. Gr. 9-up.

Chmakova, Svetlana. Crush. Gr. 4-8.

Gillman, Melanie. As the Crow Flies. Gr. 7-up.

Mather, Janice Lynn. Learning to Breathe. Gr. 9-up.

McCullough, Joy. Blood Water Paint. Gr. 9-up.

Saeed, Aisha. Amal Unbound. Gr. 4-8.

Tsiang, Sarah. Sugar and Snails. PreS – Gr. 2.

Turtschaninoff, Maria. Naondel. Gr. 10-up.

To view the entire 2019 list and lists from previous years, please visit: https://ameliabloomer.wordpress.com/

Photo: Youth Librarian Melissa Nemitz pictured standing second from the right. 

- Melissa Nemitz, West Windsor Branch