In the political turbulence of Edwardian Britain, three young women from very different walks of life hear the call for equality and justice in Nicholls' stunning novel about the suffragette movement, permeated with personal as well as social drama.
Shortisted for the YA Book Prize 2018
Shortlisted for the CILIP Carnegie Medal 2019
Through rallies and marches, in polite drawing rooms and freezing prison cells and the poverty-stricken slums of the East End, three courageous young women join the fight for the vote.
Evelyn is seventeen, and though she is rich and clever, she may never be allowed to follow her older brother to university. Enraged that she is expected to marry her childhood sweetheart rather than be educated, she joins the Suffragettes, and vows to pay the ultimate price for women's freedom.
May is fifteen, and already sworn to the cause, though she and her fellow Suffragists refuse violence. When she meets Nell, a girl who's grown up in hardship, she sees a kindred spirit.
Together and in love, the two girls start to dream of a world where all kinds of women have their place. But the fight for freedom will challenge Evelyn, May and Nell more than they ever could believe.
As war looms, just how much are they willing to sacrifice?
100 YEARS, 100 BOOKS:
READ OUR SUFFRAGETTE BLOG.
Publisher: Andersen Press Ltd
ISBN: 9781783446735
Number of pages: 432
Weight: 370 g
Dimensions: 198 x 129 x 31 mm
"Nicholls has brought alive the young women of the past to empower the next generation" - Alex O'Connell, The Times, Children's Book of the Week
"Each voice is distinct, resonant and authentic... uniquely special" - Imogen Russell Williams, Guardian
"Romantic and inspiring" - Nicolette Jones, Sunday Times, Best Books of 2017
"[A] chocolate box of a novel ... books such as this are all the more to be prized" - Telegraph
"A perfect balm to a frustrating world" - Buzzfeed
"Timely, informative and hugely enjoyable... the book excels at what fiction is best at: inviting empathy and understanding for others" - Irish Times
"Things A Bright Girl Can Do is relevant for every generation" - Evening Standard
"A richly textured novel" - Geraldine Brennan, Observer, Best books of 2017
"Inspiring and infuriating in equal measures, Things A Bright Girl Can Do is an utterly captivating novel. Sally Nicholls deftly weaves history and politics into the narrative with such a lightness of touch, it was impossible to stop reading. Immensely enjoyable" - Louise O'Neill
"Fantastic. Conveys all the intricacies of the political and social situation in a way that's vivid, hard-hitting, funny and emotionally compelling. It feels like we're living it, rather than just learning about it." - Frances Hardinge
"Hurrah for Sally! This is a lovely and engrossing novel about three girls caught up in the Suffragette movement and WW1. It's Sarah Waters for teens, pitch-perfect, historically accurate, very romantic and a jolly good read." - Robin Stevens
"Tough, unsentimental and well realised" - Amanda Craig, New Statesman, Best Books of 2017
"An incredible read for any young person, that teaches the importance of equality" - Natasha Harding, The Sun
"A fascinating and emotive read for any budding feminist" - Scotsman
"A captivating YA novel... Things a Bright Girl Can Do explores sexual identity, the grim realities of poverty and war and the fraught nature of first love. Its appeal will reach readers of any age." - Sarra Manning, Red Magazine
Three young women join the fight for female votes.....the first world war is about to start...
Just how much can change and at what cost to these young women?
Brilliantly well written and so very informative!
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Sally Nicholl's, the much-loved children's and YA author of Ways to Live Forever and Season of Secrets (the latter being one of my favourite reads), has returned with this most inspiring and gripping novel.... More
Yet another of my #feministlitfeb reads and another 5 star rating. This challenge has brought some truly exceptional books with it. I picked up this particular book randomly at a small independent bookshop in London... More
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