The premise of A Mad, Wicked Folly is something I can get behind – a young woman trying to find her voice at a time when such a notion was unconscionable. I discovered immediately that the writing wasn't as strong as I'd prefer (frequently pulling me out of the story, which was jarring), but its insight into the women's suffrage movement in the UK was worthwhile.

It's normal to feel detached from that time period, but with this story I could feel the crushing censorship of women in every corner of society (from Parliament to the dinner table), and it became real to me how much women struggled and sacrificed to be truly heard. A century later, women still face a culture that routinely disempowers and undervalues them, but the fact that I can even have that opinion and verbalize it is something that shouldn't be taken for granted. At least I can voice my truth and follow my dreams without risking everything (my family, reputation, etc.). That was the reality for many.

I also wanted to point out that the use of art as a medium for rebellion added a great dimension to the story. First, as the main character's personal rebellion against her father and societal norms that kept her from her passion, and then as a political tool to sway opinion in favor of women's rights. Historically, art has continued to serve as an alternative means for marginalized voices to be heard, and this was subtly portrayed in A Mad, Wicked Folly.

Now I'm curious to seek out more in-depth, non-YA novels on the topic of women's suffrage. I welcome any recommendations!

Barbie has gotten a lot of flack over the years. She's been accused of causing anorexia, promoting vapid materialism, and reinforcing gender stereotypes. If you're on board with that and genuinely believe that Barbie is going to have such a negative influence on your children that you simply can't bear to associate with the brand, this book is obviously not for you. Personally, I think that's a shame. Even if you aren't a strident member of the cult of Barbie, The Front Window is a pretty great book for introducing young children to feminism.

Over the years, Barbie dolls have been produced that presented the characters as a teacher of American Sign Language, an American football coach, a surgeon, a paratrooper, the United States president, an astronaut, a NASCAR driver, and many, many other careers ranging from traditionally feminine roles to ones that break gender barriers. Here, Barbie becomes an even more impressive feminist icon: an 1800's crusader for women's right to vote.

In the story, Barbie's teenage sister, Skipper, is working on her school's paper with Becky, the paper's wheelchair-bound adviser. When she's tasked with writing a story on "women in business", she's disappointed; businesswomen are old news. What's interesting about women running businesses? But her research leads her to Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and their paper, The Revolution. And she discovers that back in the late 1800's, Susan B. Anthony even made a visit to Skipper's town!

From there, she learns the story of The Front Window, a short-lived feminist newspaper run by a local female dress shop owner upset with the mainstream local newspaper's refusal to write about Anthony and her beliefs. So when she drifts off to sleep in the library, what could she possibly dream about but the story of The Front Window?

What The Front Window--the book, that is--boils down to is an All Just a Dream historical fiction story that casts Barbie as a women's rights crusader in an attempt to teach children about the women's suffrage movement and the prejudice women faced in the 1800s.

I highly recommend the book to Barbie fans, though sensitive children unfamiliar with the concept of sexism might be more upset than educated. For those children that can handle the subject matter, I would advise complementing this with some nonfiction about the women's suffrage movement, as it doesn't cover a ton of actual history; it also fails to address modern sexism, leaving a younger reader with the impression that there's no such thing. If you feel your child's old enough to be introduced to that particular issue, you might want to look into following this up with some books addressing second-wave and modern feminism. Unfortunately, I haven't read much on the subject and can't recommend anything in particular.

Also, be sure to check out other Barbie books in this series, if you enjoy this one. They're adorable, fun, and often educational; great reading for young children.

A slim collection of poems mocking common sexist thought and arguments. Pointed and hilarious, like an early Dorothy Parker. Each poem is accompanied by a quote of a recent legal decision or editorial that provides context for the piece--and they are so sexist that they're both laughable and terrifying. I originally found this through the Hairpin's review.

A personal favorite, which still seems a bit too applicable:
Chivalry:

It's treating a woman politely
As long as she isn't a fright:
It's guarding the girls who act rightly,
If you can be judge of what's right;
It's being—not just, but so pleasant;
It's tipping while wages are low;
It's making a beautiful present,
And failing to pay what you owe.