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      • BehindTheShelves
      13
      May 2021

      Categories

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      Teen Books That Smash the Patriarchy

      by BehindTheShelvesAttention: This post is over 3 years old and the information may be out of date.Attention: This post is over 3 years old and the information may be out of date.May 13, 2021

      Written by Leah, staff member, Halifax Public Libraries

      "There is no force equal to a woman determined to rise" – W.E.B. DuBois

      With stories that are timely, honest, and poignant, teen books are filled with strong female leads standing up, speaking out, and smashing the patriarchy.

      For more than 35 years, The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood has stood as an eerie warning of a future filled with oppression, control, and power, and a testament to the ability of women to stand up and say "enough." And although this novel takes place within a dystopian future, Atwood's use of real-life social and political events has ensured its continued relevance and importance through the decades.

      The Handmaid's Tale was written for an adult audience, so, while perusing my local Library over the last year, I have been very excited to see that the themes explored within are finding a new home in the world of teen fiction, a home that has quickly become my favourite.

      Featuring characters who rise up to fight against the status quo for a better future for themselves and their loved ones, I call this genre "smashing the patriarchy." The books written under this umbrella explore a variety of genres; fantasy, dystopian, contemporary —but the one thing that they share is strong, teenaged female protagonists leading the charge for a better world.


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      Moxie by Jennifer Matthieu

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      For more great reading ideas, check out NoveList—a free Library recommendation tool!

      View all cards in feminism View all cards in reading recommendations View all cards in Staff Blogger Leah View all cards in Young Adult
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