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March is Women’s History Month in the U.S.! Women’s History Month began in California in 1978 as “Women’s History Week.” It was kicked off the week of March 8, International Women’s Day. In 1987, Congress designated March as Women’s History Month. It’s kind of crazy to me that Women’s History Month isn’t even 40 years old yet! 

Women’s History Month is a time to celebrate the achievements and contributions of women that have often been left out of history books. It’s also a time to celebrate the women and girls leading us into the future. 

Quick note: There won’t be a book list for April, but you’ll be getting extra for May.

Nonfiction

Jane Against the World: Roe v. Wade and the Fight for Reproductive Rights by Karen Blumenthal 

I can think of no topic that’s as controversial or ignites as many passionate debates than abortion. But how did we get here? How did women get abortions and reproductive care before Roe vs. Wade? And what comes after it? Jane Against the World looks at the history of abortion and birth control in the United States, reform and repeals, and Roe vs. Wade. The book is broken into four parts. Restrictions is dedicated to the history of abortion and abortion providers in the United States from the 1800s to the 1960s, and highlights the Comstock Act of 1873, about which much debate has arisen following the Dobbs vs. Jackson Women’s Health Organization in 2022. Reform covers reform of abortion laws, legal gray areas of performing abortions, and the beginnings of the pro-life movement, and the road to Roe v. Wade. In part 3, Roe v. Wade, Blumenthal breaks down the complex case in a way that every reader can understand, and goes into detail on court memos, opinions, especially Justice Harry Blackmum’s contribution to the Court’s decision. After Roe chronicles the pushback against Roe v. Wade, including violence against abortion providers and laws that restrict abortion at the state level. Written in 2019 and published in 2020, this book does not include the Dobbs decision that overturned Roe in 2022. While abortion is not an easy topic to read about or discuss, it’s very important to understand how we got to where we are today. 

Fiction

When the Mapou Sings by Nadine Pinede

This novel in verse begins in 1936, two years after the United States ended its occupation of Haiti. While things are still dangerous for those who would speak up against the government, Lucille and her best friend Fifina have big plans of their own. Hungry for knowledge, they dream of opening up a school for girls. Lucille’s world crashes down around her when Fifina’s father is imprisoned, Fifina disappears, and Lucille’s beloved Mapou tree is cut down by the section chief. After receiving a dream from the Mapou, Lucille confronts the section chief, hoping to find Fifina. This act of defiance puts her and her family in danger, and Lucille is forced to leave her home. She works first as a maid for a wealthy Haitian woman, and then for an American woman in Haiti for research. Lucille doesn’t know quite what to make of Mamzelle Hurston, but the two develop a special bond during their time together. Working for Mamzelle Hurston opens up new doors for Lucille, even though it may lead her into danger and hard decisions. This is a fictionalized account of the real servant of Zora Neale Hurston during the time Hurston lived in Haiti, working on Their Eyes Were Watching God. Fictionalizing real people can be a touchy subject, but the setting and themes are thought-provoking. While I thought the ending tied things up just a little too neatly, I wanted to highlight this book because it takes place during a unique time in history which gets very little attention.