Books about great women- HELP?!

[tarotgal]

Okay, so I've been trying to figure out what to get my boss' daughter for her Bat Mitzvah. I'm going to Iowa next week so I need to shop this week if I'm shopping. I'm torn between:
1. A small check for her and a donation for an equal amount in her name to a charity (possibly something animal-related) since she's a VERY generous girl and has a very loving heart.
2. The donation alone (an adopt an animal program, possibly)
3. A book and either a check or donation depending on the cost of the book.

Does anyone have any recommendations for books about great/strong/amazing women? I'm not looking for a chicken soup for the soul type... and I don't want to bore her with a biography about just one woman or a set of biographies (I have a bunch of those I've read that I can choose from already) but something a little more interesting. Possibly fictional. But not *too* long (i.e. not as long as Little Women) as she doesn't have a lot of time to read. Something enjoyable and interesting and which will impart some great life lessons without being boring. I have exactly one possibility on my list at the moment (Anne of Green Gables) and I'm not sure about it.

She gets bored so easily, this girl. I'm almost tempted to get her a good book of puzzles or something...

Does anyone have anything they could recommend in the great women category? I'm asking now so I can rush out to the library and read through it before I buy it. If I decide to buy a book, that is.

Anyone?

Comments

[tarotgal]

Bat Mitzvah = 13
Thanks for the suggestion. I hadn't remembered SP&T! I'm still hesitant to get her a historical-type novel, or anything longish at all. But I'll absolutely add that to my list of possibilities!

I'm pretty sure she has read all the HP books and has them all in hardback already.

[tarotgal]

Oh gods, neither am I. 3 hours and 40 minutes of sleep last night. Head is splitting. Hense the weird comment about SP&T being long when it's not. *rolls eyes* Yeah. ANYWAY... thank you! It is a great book. And a great Halmark movie also.

[vatergrrl.livejournal.com]

I'd be tempted to go with your "adopt an animal" idea -- quick to register for and purchase online, and you *might* be able to find a program at a local (to her) zoo or wildlife refuge. All the books I could name about strong women are on the long side (_Helen and Teacher_ by Joseph Lash is a veritable doorstop, and Zora Neale Hurston's _I Love Myself When I Am Laughing_ is also long and not terribly suited to the early teen crowd), but something about Dianne Fossey or Jane Goodall, even just a documentary videotape, might fit her animal-lover side.

[tarotgal]

I'd be tempted to go with your "adopt an animal" idea -- quick to register for and purchase online, and you *might* be able to find a program at a local (to her) zoo or wildlife refuge.
As we live about 20 minutes outside of DC, it makes sense to me to adopt something at the National Zoo. A traditional monetary gift for a Bat Mitzvah is $18 or $36 (and other multiples of 18, since that's a number that means Chai=life) and the basic, no-frills sponsorship is $40, so that's only 4 dollars more. Not bad. So many animal choices, though. I'm not good with choices! http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Support/AdoptSpecies/
I am confident she won't enjoy sponsoring a 'Goliath Bird-eating Tarantula ' however. Golden Lion Tamarins are my favorite animals in the world so I might go with that... and everyone loves the pandas...
The only other thing I'm worried about is the fact that a few times when she was bored, my boss suggested he take her to the zoo and she turned him down each time. I think it was more of a joke thing though (who actually stops in the very middle of the day and suddenly goes to the zoo on a spur of the moment trip?)

I've heard of 'I Love Myself When I Am Laughing' and agree. But that's an excellent idea about Fossey and/or Goodall! Thank you!! :-)

[paperishcup.livejournal.com]

There's a book called "Number the Stars" by Lois Lowry -the same woman who wrote the 'Anastasia Krupnik' books, but this one was a more serious book. I think it would be about the right length- a novel, but not a particularly chunky novel. I loved it when I was about 12 but I haven't read it since so I'm trying to remember...It's about a girl who has a friend who is Jewish, and she and her family help her friend to escape from Denmark when the Nazis invade. Am fairly sure it ends happily but I can't actually remember for sure..I imagine I'd remember if it was sad, though. Anyway, from what I can recall both girls are pretty amazing and powerful. Might be a bit serious and sad a topic for a Bat Mitzvah, though, reminding her of the way Jewish people were oppressed..or it might be particularly poignant, I'm not sure...

Other than that, can't think of anything in particular. Anne could be lovely as you've got a personal connection with that book (or there's "Emily of New Moon" if she's read Anne...I loved Emily to bits!). Whatever you do I'm sure will be brilliant..all the things you've listed sound like great options!

~laughing_newt

[tarotgal]

I've not read the 'Anastasia Krupnik' books but I know Lowry and I read 'Number the Stars' when I was in 6th grade. I remember loving it and writing a review of it for the library book club... and oh my GODS I was a geek and a half even back then! LMAO! But that's an excellent suggestion! You're right, it might be a bit serious. Some sites I visited suggested Anne Frank boxed sets, though and I DEFINITELY thought that would be too sad and depressing. If I go the book route, I'm probably going to get one serious book and one puzzle/game book so that might balance things out a little. So 'Number the Stars' might be perfect. Thanks so much for the suggestion! Man, I wish I weren't so indecisive! LOL

Good point about 'Emily of New Moon' also, and the personal connection aspect. She knows I read & write a lot (she's asked me twice what 'Slash' is because of my car's bumper sticker, but I give her the G-version answer) so I think a book from me makes the most sense. Though I am also putting together an acrostic poem-type thing with her name using quotes I've found to be inspirational so far in my life... UGH! Yes, I'm a total geek now. LOL

Thanks again! *bounces happily*