Formidable Female Leads

From fantasy to non-fiction, women take center stage in these page-turners

Haben Girma, Haben: The Deafblind Woman Who Conquered Harvard Law

“Haben: The Deafblind Woman Who Conquered Harvard Law.” is a memoir/autobiography by advocate Haben Girma, the first deafblind graduate of Harvard Law and is available through Charleston County Public Library. Although the book deals with a heavy subject—inclusion and overcoming barriers—the chapters are short and stand alone. The observations Girma makes and the insights she imparts provide fodder for dinner or evening-walk conversations…a fantastic choice to read separately or for a book club to come together to explore. Haben provides an awareness of inclusion and the pitfalls of ableism and how technology has helped to lessen the chasm between disabled and non-disabled worlds. Girma’s story is eye-opening, her spirit contagious, her experiences both frustrating and funny. — Margaret Hollar

Kristina Forest, The Partner Plot

The Partner Plot, the second book in the Greene Sisters series, focuses on Violet. Fresh off an embarrassing engagement where her fiancé cheated on her with one of her clients, Violet’s fortunes change when she reconnects with her high school sweetheart, Xavier, in Las Vegas on his birthday. Xavier, an English teacher and a basketball coach at their old high school, wants a way out of the small city any way possible. After a night on a town and waking up to a fake ring, they realize that their “fake marriage” can be a great way to get their goals accomplished, not knowing their past feelings for each other will come back to surface. — Chakana Samuel, Adult Services Associate, Keith Summey

Adele Myers, The Tobacco Wives

Adele Myers tells the story of a young dressmaker, Maddie Sykes, in the tobacco empire of North Carolina during the 1940’s post-war era. Maddie is unexpectedly thrown into a world of beautiful people and big business. During this time, the tobacco factories are being run by the women while the men are still at war. Women’s rights in the workplace are being challenged and the women are ready to take a stand. Bright Leaf, North Carolina is the Tobacco capital of the South where big business and hidden secrets mean money. As the story evolves, the reader will be immersed in the lives of beautiful socialites, grand celebrations, and elegant dresses. As Maddie works hard to fit in, the story takes a turn when she discovers a dangerous secret, that if told will change the lives of everyone in the town of Bright Leaf. Will Mattie have the courage to take on corporate greed? This debut book will have you wanting more. — Alice Shawen

Brandon Sanderson, Tress of the Emerald Sea

Pirates, explosions, talking rats and a sea that isn’t wet: for fantasy genre lovers looking for a rollicking good time, Brandon Sanderson’s Tress of the Emerald Sea may hit just the spot. The tale follows Tress, an ordinary girl who finds herself swept up in the drama of a pirate crew when she decides to leave her island to rescue the man she loves. As they sail across a dangerous sea made of spores, she faces mutiny, dragons and the dangerous sorceress who waits for them at their voyage’s end. The book boasts an entertaining and diverse cast of secondary characters, as well as a truly unique, yet not entirely unfamiliar, world. This Princess Bride-esque tale isn’t exactly a short novel, but it is an easy read, and its tongue-in-cheek tone keeps the plot moving at a clipping pace. And, while it ties into the rest of Sanderson’s *Cosmere* universe, it works perfectly well as a standalone, so commitment is at a minimum. — Hayden Wand