Reach for the Sky {Girl Power Pt. 1}

An update on my WoW commenting spree-- I didn't make it. I hit 128 out of 274 and couldn't do anymore. 1) It took too long and 2) I was busy with loads of other stuff too. Sorry, guys! Maybe next time. 

On the other hand, I just found out that March is Women's History Month. So I'm going to celebrate it by talking about women, both from history and myths, that have done amazing things. Aaand, I'm going to try to find at least one novel and/or movie for each woman, or if I can't find that specific person I will just put books that have similar characters and settings. I also want to do women from different countries (that probably correspond with a continent each), but it would be way too long if I did it all in one post. So you can look forward to more Girl Power posts starring different countries in the future.

This is also a way to discover new book genera. I know most of us are dystopian lovers but it's neat to branch out into new areas (that's how I discovered dystopian). I'm also gonna put a disclaimer here: I have not read all of the books I've put in this post, so I don't know if you'll like them or if they're any good at all.


United States

Kate Warne

Allan Pinkerton formed the Pinkerton Detective Agency in 1850. In 1856, he hired Kate Warne, the first female detective in the U.S.


       “ In my service you will serve your country better than on the field. 
                   I have several female operatives. If you agree to come aboard you will
                   go in training with the head of my female detectives, Kate Warne. She 
                   has never let me down. ” - Allan Pinkerton

Kate Warne was a widow who had come for a secretary position at the Agency, but got hired as a private eye. She played a huge part in the prevention of Abraham Lincoln's assassination around 1860, when plans to assassinate Lincoln as he passed through Baltimore on his way to take the presidential office were discovered (also known as the "Baltimore Plot"). Kate secured berths on a train, and Lincoln pretended to be her sick brother. She guarded him with firearms all the way to Washington D.C. 

No pictures of Kate exist. 

Fictional book(s) with Kate Warne:

She's a secondary character.

I think it's a similar time period, but it's in Great Britain.

Annie Oakley
Annie Oakley was born Phoebe Anne Moses. She was a sharpshooter, who eventually worked in Buffalo Bill's Wild West show. She did many amazing tricks and had deadly aim with guns. Some of the tricks she did were splitting a playing card, edge-on, many times and standing with her back to the target, using a knife as a mirror to see the target.

In her twenties.

“My mother and sisters thought my prowess with the gun was just a little tomboyish.”

“I ain't afraid to love a man. I ain't afraid to shoot him, either!”

“I aim to misbehave.”  - Annie Oakley

                
I've read the first book, but I just found the second one with Google. There are bound to be a lot of Annie because she's pretty famous in America.

Here's another book that is fictional but very similar in setting and character. I'm sorry if I don't put a lot of fiction here because, truth is, YA fiction doesn't have a lot of westerns right now. ;)

  

Riding the Pony Express by Deborah Kent (Middle-grade)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nancy Ward aka Nan 'yehi
Nancy Ward was an extremely influential woman from the Cherokee tribe (Native American). In a tribe that already respected women above men, Nancy was a Ghigau. She had a voice in the General Council, lead the Women's Council, prepared and served the ceremonial Black Drink, had the job of an ambassador of peace, and had the right to save the life of a prisoner condemned to die. She also took the place of her husband when he died in a war against the Creek Indians and lead her people to victory.

She was the ultimate warrior woman.

Drawing from manataka.org

    

I am all for girl power, guys (hehe), so I was really excited to find out about this month from an email sent to me by my college. I love books with strong female characters, who can kick-butt without the help of a guy. If you have any book suggestions, totally let me know in the comments below.

Anything a guy can do, a girl can do better. :D