Things a Bright Girl Can Do

Where it came from

Sally Nicholls (1983 – present) always wanted to be a writer, and for this novel she wanted to write a book that felt like an Edwardian children’s book, that was also about the suffragette movement. The suffragettes were an organisation founded in 1903 by Emmeline Pankhurst, who protested for women to have the basic right to vote. Their motto was ‘deeds not words,’ and they were sometimes put in prison for their actions, but their brave approach eventually won all women the vote through two laws in 1918 and 1928.

Where it went next

Things a Bright Girl Can Do sold well when it was first published, and was shortlisted for several awards, including the CILIP Carnegie Medal (2019) and the YA Book Prize (2018).

Associated stories

Other books by Sally Nicholls include Ways to Live Forever (2008), which won the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize, Season of Secrets (2009), All Fall Down (2012), An Island of Our Own (2015), The Silent Stars Go By (2020) and Yours from the Tower (2023). 

She has written a number of picture books, including The Button Book, llustrated by Bethan Woollvin (2022) and  The Nose, Toes and Tummy Book, illustrated by Gosia Herba (2023).

Her chapter books for younger readers, include Billy Button, Telegram Boy, illustrated by Sheena Dempsey (2016) and the In Time series of time-slip adventures, illustrated by Rachel Dean: A Chase in Time (2020), A Christmas in Time (2020), A Secret in Time (2021), An Escape in Time (2021).

In recent years, many books about suffragettes, both fiction and non fiction have been published for children. Suffragette: The Battle for Equality by David Roberts is a beautifully illustrated history of women’s suffrage. Emmeline Pankhurst, one of the Little People, Big Dreams series, tells the story of one of the leaders of the suffrage movement. Novels include Opal Plumstead, by Jacqueline Wilson, Hazel by Julie Hearn and Polly’s March by Linda Newberry.