Inspiring Women Biographies

Mary Sanders was handed an Olympic dream by her father from the moment she was born. Determined to follow in his footsteps, the young gymnast struggled through training setbacks, financial hardships, and personal rivalries, under a cloud of grief, to compete in the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. But that achievement was only the beginning for a woman determined to reinvent herself and consistently raise her own standards for success.

Discover the extraordinary life of Ada Lovelace, the pioneering mathematician who laid the foundation for modern computing. Born in an era when women's potential was often overlooked, Ada defied societal expectations with her brilliance and imagination, creating the first algorithm intended for a machine.

Discover the extraordinary life of Marie Curie, the pioneering scientist who broke barriers and made groundbreaking discoveries in the fields of physics and chemistry. "The Woman Who Won Two Nobel Prizes: Marie Curie" takes young listeners on an inspiring journey through Marie's life, from her early days in Poland to her groundbreaking research in Paris and her enduring legacy.

In Sue Bird: The Inspiring Story of One of Basketball’s Greatest Point Guards, you'll learn the inspirational story of one of women's basketball's greatest point guards, Sue Bird. Sue Bird has been playing in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) since 2002. She is best known for playing with the Seattle Storm and the only WNBA player to ever win a championship in three different decades. She has won WNBA titles, World Championships, Olympic gold medals, and even a EuroLeague championship.

In this extraordinarily honest book, Dr Amanda Nickson shares personal stories from 12 inspiring women who have faced challenges yet found hope for the future. Hope for the Future candidly captures their life experiences, including living with disability, injuries, and medical conditions; abuse as children; grief and loss; raising children with complex disabilities; experiences of violence; dyslexia, anxiety and depression; and defying role expectations and taking bold steps of faith.

A comprehensive biographical and critical reading of the works of American poet and memoirist Maya Angelou (1928-2014). Linda Wagner-Martin covers all six of Angelou's autobiographies, as well as her essay and poetry collections, while also exploring Angelou's life as an African American in the United States, her career as stage and film performer, her thoughtful participation in the Civil Rights actions of the 1960s, and her travels abroad in Egypt, Africa, and Europe.

The story of the pandemic is the story of women. This riveting narrative offers an account of COVID-19, reminding us of women's leadership and resilience, reflecting back hope and humanity as we all figure out a new normal, together. Through intimate portraits of Canadian women in diverse situations and fields, Women of the Pandemic is a gripping narrative record of the early months of COVID-19, a clear-eyed look at women's struggles that highlights their creativity, perseverance, and resilience as they charted a new path forward during impossible times.

Simone Biles was raised by a single mother with addiction issues, forcing her grandparents to intervene. But Simone soon discovered balance beams and gymnastics mats, setting her on a path toward Olympic greatness. Carli Lloyd, meanwhile, believed her youth soccer career was really starting to take off, only to be cut from her team. Instead of quitting the sport she loved, Carli rebuilt her confidence, ultimately becoming one of the leaders on the World Cup Champion US Women's Soccer team. The athletes featured in this book met earth-shaking challenges head on, and went on to conquer the sports world.

Jane Goodall is a celebrated scientist for her studies of chimpanzees in the forests of Africa. Before she observed chimps and helped save them from losing their home, Jane was a curious kid who loved learning about animals. She showed people that women could be scientists, just like men, and fought to follow her dream of working with wild chimps. Explore how Jane Goodall went from being a young nature lover in England to the most important chimpanzee expert in the world.

Averil Mansfield established herself as a pioneer in every sense of the word when she qualified as a surgeon in the early 1970s. At the time just two per cent of her colleagues were female, and she was often met with surprise, bordering on disbelief and amusement, when telling people what she did. But time and again, Averil proved herself more than capable of the role which had been her greatest dream since the age of eight. After a formidable operating career in Liverpool and London, she went on to became the UK's first ever female professor of surgery.

Discover a remarkable journey of triumph in The Tornado's Daughter, a gripping nonfiction memoir. This poignant tale unravels the tumultuous family history of Charlotte Gwalt, interwoven with political assassinations, violence, betrayal, and the harrowing horrors of human trafficking. Against all odds, Charlotte rises above these adversities, defying the darkness that threatens to consume her. At its heart, this book is a testament to the unyielding resilience of the human spirit--a true story that showcases how even amid the darkest moments, one can forge a path to happiness and inner peace.

Malala Yousafzai became a brave activist while she was still a young girl. Before she fearlessly fought for girls’ right to education, she was a thoughtful kid who enjoyed school, sports, and daydreaming. Then, Malala was told that girls would no longer be able to go to school. But she didn't let that stop her. Find out how Malala stood up for equal rights and became the youngest person ever to receive the Nobel Peace Prize.

Before Jackie Robinson broke Major League Baseball's color barrier in 1947, Negro Leagues Baseball was the only game in town for black athletes. And those leagues owed their existence and success to savvy businesspeople like Effa Manley, the black female co-owner of the Newark Eagles. Effa was the team's business manager, leading her team to win the Negro World Series in 1946. But this victory was bittersweet: Integration was on its way, and the demise of the Negro Leagues would soon follow.

In Lisa Leslie: The Inspiring Story of One of Basketball’s Greatest Centers, you'll learn the inspirational story of one of basketball's legends, Lisa Leslie. Over the course of her twelve year career, Leslie won two WNBA Championships, two WNBA Finals MVP Awards, three WNBA MVP Awards and was selected to eight All-Star games. These awards, along with many others not mentioned, make her one of the greatest women’s basketball players of all time.

In Diana Taurasi: The Inspiring Story of One of Basketball’s Greatest Guards, you'll learn the inspirational story of one of basketball's greatest guards, Diana Taurasi. In 2004, Taurasi was drafted by the Phoenix Mercury, where she immediately made her mark as a rookie by winning the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) Rookie of the Year Award. Not only did she win that award, but over her career she has also won three WNBA championships, five Olympic gold medals, one WNBA Most Valuable Player Award, and two WNBA Finals MVP Award

In Serena Williams: The Inspiring Story of One of Tennis' Greatest Legends, you will learn the inspirational story of one of tennis' premier legends, Serena Williams. Williams is arguably the greatest women's tennis player of all-time. At the time of this writing, she holds the most Grand Slam singles titles in the Open Era with 23. Fans from across the world adore Williams and with good reason: she serves as an exemplary role model for how to behave on and off the tennis court. She is not only elite in skill, but also in her sportsmanship. In this unauthorized biography, we'll explore Williams' journey to becoming one of the greatest, and learn what it has taken her to reach where she is today.

The Cinderella Monologues Edition shares a collection of true stories from real-life Cinderellas to inspire, energize, encourage, and empower those who have had similar experiences. Most women have a version of a Cinderella tale to tell. Once these stories are told, the healing begins, along with the opportunity to help others.

A FARMING LIFE shares the uplifting stories of women from six rural families as their resilience is tested by personal loss, illness, fractured relationships, natural disasters and the challenges that come with working in a traditionally male-dominated world. These women are all hands-on farmers - in fact, most are responsible for managing their own farms - and their defiance, tenacity and genuine humility shines through, as does their hope for the next generation of young women already lining up to follow in their footsteps.

The Will of Heaven is the powerful true story of how one woman overcame a debilitating addiction - rising from the courtrooms of her past to the grass plains of Kenya as a conservation research scientist. It was there she could finally fulfill her lifelong dream of working with wild elephants.

At the height of the Great Depression, Sam Babb, the charismatic basketball coach of tiny Oklahoma Presbyterian College, began dreaming. Like so many others, he wanted a reason to have hope. Traveling from farm to farm, he recruited talented, hardworking young women and offered them a chance at a better life: a free college education if they would come play for his basketball team, the Cardinals. Despite their fears of leaving home and the sacrifices faced by their families, the women followed Babb and his dream.