A Tyranny of Petticoats: 15 Stories of Belles, Bank Robbers & Other Badass Girls

History is commonly looked at from the experience of men, but what about the experiences of women, and more specifically the girls, usually right alongside them? What about their experiences, their restrictions, wants, and desires? How did the American experience affect them? A Tyranny of Petticoats: 15 Stories of Belles, Bank Robbers & Other Badass Girls edited by Jessica Spotswood is a collection of short stories that looks at history from a different perspective — from that of the young women involved in key moments in American history. In this anthology, we hear their stories, spanning from ship wrecks to gold fields, told by many acclaimed writers from YA literature of today.

This is a very tight, well-told collection of stories. They range from playful to somber, thoughtful as well as humorous. They show many perspectives, voices, and span a great range of American history. The characters are feisty and memorable, the narratives well-told and unique. This is a very pleasing collection that will likely appeal to those of all ages, maybe especially those who loved, or love, American Girl stories.