Diane Magras (she/her)I'm hearing a lot these days about how elementary and middle school boys are treating girls in their classes, and it makes me think why I wrote my debut novel for those kids. The Mad Wolf's Daughter is a medieval adventure about a girl who goes off to rescue her male war-band family when they're kidnapped by enemy knights.
She's incredibly strong, confident, and capable, and, like so many kids her age, uses what she knows to make quick and confident decisions. Sometimes she makes mistakes, but usually she can work her way out of them. She's also outwardly fearless, and that helps her bluff her way through all kinds of dangerous situations.
I've heard a lot from girls (and many boys, too) how much this book meant to them,. It's a fast-paced adventure modeling gender equality on every page.
I heard just the other day that a 6th grade class has been reading it each year for their #Medieval unit, and it's been hugely popular each year. That's deeply fulfilling to me, but also heartening. I think this kind of story can change perspectives. Or, at the very least, it can encourage kids to talk about strong girls doing extraordinary things.