Celebrate Women's History Month

In 1987, the National Women’s History Project helped Congress to pass Pub. L. 100-9 to designate the entire month of March as “Women’s History Month.”  Today, I share with you some great female characters and authors you can check out at PWPL.

Captain Marvel

By Kelly Sue DeConnick, Dexter Soy, Emma Rios

YA Graphic Novels

 Carol Danvers starts her career off in the U.S. Air Force, but after her DNA is infused with Kree genes, she is given super powers. She made her debut as Ms. Marvel in 1977. In 2012, Danvers donned a new costume and became Captain Marvel, the cosmic avenger.  As Danvers comes to grips with her enhanced powers, she explores what comes with the long history of Captain Marvel. Kelly Sue DeConnick’s writing is top notch she truly understands the military aspects of Captain Marvel’s character.

The Galaxy Game

By Karen Lord

Sci-Fi Collection

Karen Lord is a phenomenal science fiction writer from the United Kingdom. Her work has been nominated for several major awards including the World Fantasy Award, John W Campbell Award for Best New Writer, Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Adult Literature, and others. Often compared to Ursula K. Le Guin and China Mieville, if you like space fantasy, you’ll love The Galaxy Game. Rafi, a teenager with psionic powers, attend Lyceum, a school for teens like him. At Lyceum, he meets two friends, Serendipity and Ntenman. Unlike Rafi, they come from communities where psionic powers are highly valued. At the school, students are seen as assets for good or bad, waiting to pick a side. Explore this far out world in The Galaxy Game.

Resilience: Two Sisters and a Story of Mental Illness

By Jessie Close

Adult Non-Fiction Collection

 Sister of actress Glenn Close, Jessie Close has struggled with mental health issues her entire life. A childhood spent living in New York, Switzerland, Connecticut, Zaire, and Los Angeles only exacerbated her mental health issues. As an adult, Close’s life is difficult to manage, her mental health issues have led to substance abuse, failed marriage, and suicidal thoughts. With short essays from Glenn, this book provides helpful insight for people who support and live with someone with mental illness.

Evergreen

By Rebecca Rasmussen

Adult Fiction Collection

 Rebecca Rasmussen is a true Midwestern writer, even though she now resides in California. Her first book, The Bird Sisters takes place in in Spring Green, WI and Evergreen is set in the wilderness of Minnesota. A young couple moves into a rundown, wild haven in 1938 with their small child. However, when the husband must leave to care for his sick father, the unthinkable happens. A stranger arrives at the cabin and the mother becomes pregnant. Giving the baby girl up for adoption, years later, the son wishes to reunite the family. However, his sister may be too wild to ever integrate back into her birth family. If you are looking for a family drama about love and hope, Evergreen is a great pick for you.

She-Hulk volume 1: Law and Disorder

By Charles Soule

YA Graphic Novel Collection

 She-Hulk is an amazing, underrated comic book character. Jennifer Walters is a powerful attorney, putting villains away using the law. However, after a near fatal shooting, she must receive a blood transfusion from her cousin, the Hulk, Bruce Banner. Jennifer gets all the side effect of the Hulk, minus the rage, making her an even more powerful hero for justice.  In Charles Soule’s most recent iteration of this iconic superhero, She-Hulk, former member of the Avengers and Fantastic Four, attracts a new client at her own law firm, Kristoff Vernard, son of Victor von Doom! How will She-Hulk balance her skills as a lawyer and superhero to battle von Doom? What is inside the mysterious Blue File? You’ll have to read She-Hulk to find out.

Broken Monsters

By Lauren Beukes

Adult Mystery Collection

 Lauren Beukes is a break out author from South Africa and has written both novels and comic books. Her latest novel Broken Monsters has ties to the state of Michigan. Detroit detective Gabriella Versado is investigating a criminal who creates giant paintings in abandoned Detroit warehouses. The first body is discovered, but it is a gruesome sight, a body and deer fused together. But as Detective Versado becomes more obsessed with the case, we are introduce to her daughter Layla, Jonno a former writer and a homeless man named TK. Their separate narratives eventually come together to make one complete story. Beukes is a talented horror author who also has the ability to integrate humor into her tales. If Broken Monsters sounds appealing to you, check out Zoo City and The Shining Girls.

If you’d like to learn more about Women’s History Month, see Amelia Earhart’s Flight Suit, or would like information to use in a classroom or other education setting, I urge you to visit www.womenshistorymonth.gov.  

--Tracy Boehm, Technical Services Librarian