1. CHIMAMANDA NGOZI ADICHIE
JHUMPA LAHIRI
Wrote: Interpreter of Maladies & The Namesake
Often writes about: The Indian-immigrant experience in the US
Fun fact: In 2000, Lahiri became the first person of South Asian origin to win an individual Pulitzer Prize.
CHIMAMANDA NGOZI ADICHIE
Wrote: Americanah & We Should All Be Feminists
Often writes about: Race, coming of age, Nigerian history
Fun fact: Her TEDx talk, “We Should All Be Feminists” was sampled in Beyoncés song “Flawless.”
Click through to learn more about each writer! Afterwards, play the memory game!
Learn more:
Jhumpa Lahiri (
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (

2. Wrote: Beloved, The Bluest Eye, Jazz
TONI MORRISON
Wrote: Beloved, The Bluest Eye, Jazz
Often writes about: The experience of the Black woman in the US
Fun fact: In 1993, Morrison became the first Black woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize in Literature.
OCTAVIA BUTLER
Wrote: Parable of the Sower & Kindred
Often wrote about: Themes of racism within science fiction motifs like time travel & dystopian futures, Afrofuturism
Fun fact: Among her many accomplishments, Butler also has a mountain on one of Pluto’s moons named after her.
Learn more:
Toni Morrison (
Octavia Butler (

3. Wrote: The Left Hand of Darkness & A Wizard of Earthsea
URSULA K. LE GUIN
Wrote: The Left Hand of Darkness & A Wizard of Earthsea
Often wrote about: Social & political themes within futuristic & speculative universes
Fun fact: Even though she is considered one of the best science fiction writers of her generation, Le Guin preferred to be referred to as an “American Novelist.”
ISABEL ALLENDE
Wrote: The House of the Spirits & Paula
Often writes about: Her personal experiences through the lens of magical realism
Fun fact: Allende writes all of her books in Spanish. They have been translated into 35 different languages.
Learn more:
Ursula K. Le Guin (
Isabel Allende (

4. Wrote: Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret & Blubber
JUDY BLUME
Wrote: Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret & Blubber
Often writes about: Coming of age stories from the perspective of teenagers
Fun fact: Blume was one of the first YA authors to address topics such as menstruation & birth control, leading to the banning of many of her books by schools & libraries.
J.K. ROWLING
Wrote: The Harry Potter series & The Casual Vacancy
Often writes about: The wizarding world and mysteries
Fun fact: Rowling based the character of Hermione after her 11 year old self.
Learn more:
Judy Blume (
J.K. Rowling (

5. Wrote: Everything I Never Told You & Little Fires Everywhere
CELESTE NG
Wrote: Everything I Never Told You & Little Fires Everywhere
Often writes about: Dynamics of the American family, racism
Fun fact: Ng’s first book, Everything I Never Told You, took nearly 6 years to write.
JESMYN WARD
Wrote: Salvage the Bones & Sing, Unburied, Sing
Often writes about: Black families in the South, marginalized Black communities
Fun fact: Ward almost gave up her writing career to become a nurse before her first book was accepted by a publisher.
Learn more:
Celeste Ng (
Jesmyn Ward (

6. Fun fact: Before she authored a book, Thomas was a teen rapper.
ANGIE THOMAS
Wrote: The Hate U Give
Often writes about: The lives of African Americans & the effects of police brutality on Black communities
Fun fact: Before she authored a book, Thomas was a teen rapper.
SANDRA CISNEROS
Wrote: The House on Mango Street & Caramelo
Often writes about: Chicana identity, coming of age
Fun fact: Even when Cisneros writes in English, she inserts Spanish words where she feels that they will better convey the intended meaning.
Learn more:
Angie Thomas (
Sandra Cisneros (

7. Women Who Write! Show All Jhumpa Lahiri Isabelle Allende J.K. Rowling
tekhnologic
Jhumpa Lahiri
Isabelle Allende
J.K. Rowling
Toni Morrison
Octavia Butler
Ursula K. Le Guin 1 10 3 12 7 5
Jesmyn Ward
Celeste Ng
Judy Blume
Judy Blume
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Celeste Ng 2 8 4 11 2 4
Octavia Butler
Toni Morrison
Ursula K. Le Guin
Use your mouse to click on a square to reveal the name of an author or a picture.
Click on a second square. If you reveal the name of an author and their picture, you win a point and get to go again!
If the picture and the name do not match, click on them again to hide them. It’s the next person’s turn.
When all the squares are revealed, count up points to determine the winner!
When you want to continue on, press the left arrow key or the space bar.
Angie Thomas
Jhumpa Lahiri
Jesmyn Ward 6 1 3 10 8 7
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Enter your text here
Angie Thomas
Sandra Cisneros
J.K. Rowling
Sandra Cisneros
Isabelle Allende 9 11 5 6 9 12
Show All
Hide All

8. YOUR TURN! - WRITING PROMPTS
What is one problem in our world that needs to be fixed? How would you fix it?
What was the greatest gift you’ve ever received? Why was it so memorable?
Since your last birthday, how do you think you have changed?
Choose five symbols or objects that represent you. Why did you choose these items?
Who is your personal hero? Why did you choose this person?
Now that you & your child have learned about some incredible women writers, use the inspiration to do some writing of your own!
Discover more prompts & writing tips on our BLOG!