LIST: Princess-Free Stories

[Ryan Goble]

From Wired Magazine - of interest perhaps?

Princess-Free Stories by Rachel Swaby

Geeks come in all shapes, sizes, and genders. So why do publishers assume that girls are just princesses-in-training? Here are a few books that can teach your daughter—or son—that girls can geek out too.

Violet the Pilot
Who needs a starter kit when you’ve got a family-owned junkyard? Violet engineers DIY flying machines using cast-off parts. Can an Arduino obsession be far behind?

Akiko and the Missing Misp
This sixth grader uses her formidable skill set—creating manga, piloting spaceships, solving puzzles—to defend the planet Smoo.

Amulet
Emily’s gadget attachment goes well beyond iPhone worship; she’s physically tied to a powerful amulet around her neck. It’s super-helpful in a bind, but data charges are severe.

Secrets, Lies, and Algebra
Math may get confusing, but it’s nothing compared to the routine humiliations of eighth grade. Tess uses her algebraic mastery to help her navigate some tougher-than-average preteen problems.

Breadcrumbs
Being a sci-fi geek has its benefits. When Hazel finds herself in a modern-day version of The Snow Queen, she relies on her detailed knowledge of The Golden Compass‘s Lyra Belacqua and A Wrinkle in Time‘s Meg Murry.