A Tyranny of Petticoats: 15 Stories of Belles, Bank Robbers and Other Badass Girls

Gr 9 Up—Fifteen notable YA authors come together to write enthralling short historical narratives starring ambitious young women. The contributors include Leslye Walton, Marie Lu, Beth Revis, Elizabeth Wein, Kekla Magoon, and Robin Talley. The stories are arranged chronologically—from British North America in 1710 to Chicago in 1968—and address several eras in American history. Throughout, strong female leads have resilient motives and less than genteel demeanors. In addition, there are no happily ever after endings, but most do leave room for hope. Topics range from societal expectations to racial issues to less than eligible suitors to sexuality to women's contributions to historical movements. Furthermore, most stories are woven with various folklore and myths and are inspired by real people or events. Each entry is strong on its own, and the characters' voices are unique in each tale. Teens will be hard-pressed to choose a favorite, and even those who are not fans of historical fiction might find a genre-blended tale worth reading. Overall, the pacing for each selection is steady, and the conclusions have enough punch to make the characters and their situations memorable.