March is Women’s History Month and Miss Jessica has come up with some J books that are about some awesome women in history!

Journey to Freedom, 1838 by Winston 
Winter 1838–Kentucky. Determined to save her toddler son from being sold as a slave, the woman who became known as Eliza Harris trekked through the forest, in the dark of night with wild animals on her heels. Her goal: cross the Ohio River, the boundary between the North and the South, between slavery and freedom. Although the journey would be perilous, Eliza looked out at the treacherous frozen waters and quickly decided she couldn’t let fear stop her, especially when a new life–a free life–waited just on the other side. 

Ada Lovelace Cracks the Code by Purtill 
Growing up in nineteenth century London, England, Ada is curious about absolutely everything. She is obsessed with machines and with creatures that fly. She even designs her own flying laboratory! According to her mother, Ada is a bit too wild, so she encourages Ada to study math. At first Ada thinks: Bleh! Who can get excited about a subject without pictures? But she soon falls in love with it. One day she encounters a mysterious machine, and from that moment forward Ada imagines a future full of possibility. 

Madam C.J. Walker Builds a Business by Millner 
Sarah is the first in her family to be born free in Delta, Louisiana. But being free doesn’t mean that Sarah doesn’t have to work. She cooks, she cleans, she picks cotton, she does laundry, and she babysits. And when she works, she wraps up her hair. One day, Sarah’s hair starts to fall out! It’s itchy, crunchy, patchy, and won’t grow. Instead of giving up, Sarah searches for the right products. And then she invents something better than any shampoo or hair oil she’s used before. Her hair grows and grows, so she decides to start her own business. 

Finding Wonders: Three Girls Who Changed Science by Atkins 
A biographical novel in verse of three different girls in three different time periods who grew up to become groundbreaking scientists. 

Charlotte Bronte Before Jane Eyre by Fawkes 
A graphic novel biography of Charlotte Bronte, following her and her siblings from childhood to the publication of Jane Eyre. 

Survivors of the Holocaust: True Stories of Six Extraordinary Children by Shackleton 
In a time when people were ruthlessly persecuted and killed, some were able to make it through alive. Whether it was thanks to lucky twists of fate or the loving sacrifices of others, they lived to tell their stories, which serve as reminders to never allow such a tragedy to happen again. These are the unbelievable true stories of six children, in their own words, of how they survived one of the darkest times in human history. 

Struttin’ With Some Barbecue: Lil Hardin Armstrong Becomes the First Lady of Jazz by Powell 
This is the true story of Lil Hardin Armstrong: pianist, composer, and bandleader in the early days of jazz. Ahead of her time, Lil made a career for herself–and for Louis Armstrong, her modest, unassuming husband … Scat-inspired verse celebrates how Lil overcame race and gender barriers to become the first lady of the Chicago jazz scene. 

I Got This: to Gold and Beyond by Hernandez 
Gold medal-winning Olympic gymnast and Dancing with the Stars favorite Laurie Hernandez shares her story in her own words in this debut book for fans of all ages. At sixteen years old, Laurie Hernandez has already made many of her dreams come true–and yet it’s only the beginning for this highly accomplished athlete. A Latina Jersey girl, Laurie saw her life take a dramatic turn last summer when she was chosen to be a part of the 2016 US Olympic gymnastics team. After winning gold in Rio as part of the Final Five, Laurie also earned an individual silver medal for her performance on the balance beam. Nicknamed “the Human Emoji” for her wide-eyed and animated expressions, Laurie continues to dance her way into everyone’s hearts while competing on the hit reality TV show Dancing with the Stars. Poignant and funny, Laurie’s story is about growing up with the dream of becoming an Olympian and what it took to win gold. She talks about her loving family, her rigorous training, her intense sacrifices, and her amazing triumphs. Be prepared to fall in love with and be mesmerized by America’s newest sweetheart all over again. 

Life in Motion: an Unlikely Ballerina by Copeland 
Determination meets dance in this middle grade adaptation of the New York Times bestselling memoir by the first African-American principal dancer in American Ballet Theatre history, Misty Copeland. Life in Motion is a story for all the kids who dare to be different, dream bigger, and want to break stereotypes in whatever they do. 

More Girls Who Rocked the World:  Heroines from Ada Lovelace to Misty Copeland by McCann 
From the inspiring author of Girls Who Rocked the World comes another comprehensive collection of true, inspiring profiles of successful young women throughout history who made their mark on the world before turning twenty. Young women today crave strong, independent role models to look to for motivation. In the follow-up to the bestseller Girls Who Rocked the World, More Girls Who Rocked the World offers a fun and uplifting collection of influential stories with forty-five more movers and shakers who made a difference before turning twenty. From Annie Oakley and Queen Victoria to Malala Yousafzai and Adele–each with her own incredible story of how she created life-changing opportunities for herself and the world–you’ll get to know these capable queens of empires and courageous icons of entertainment. Also included are profiles of gutsy teenagers who are out there rocking the world right now and personal aspirations from today’s young women.