I am a female author who is dedicated to crafting stories that touch young hearts, and also an educationalist who has seen how books can uplift or limit a child’s sense of possibility, that’s why this cause moves me deeply.
I wholeheartedly join the call to end the sexism that has too long shaped our school reading lists. Let’s move into the present and finally end this discrimination of women and girls to ensure that 50% of all whole-class taught novels and reading lists are written by women, and that 50% feature girls and women as lead protagonists.
Every student, regardless of sex, should find inspiration, empathy, and belonging in the pages they study together.
Joyce Efia Harmer is a British-Ghanaian novelist. Her historical time-travel debut novel HOW FAR WE’VE COME was critically acclaimed:
‘One of the most impressive young adult debuts of the year.’ The Observer.
‘Both hopeful and heartbreaking.’ The Guardian.
‘A seriously impressive debut.’ The Irish Times.
‘Exceptional.’ The Times.
Joyce Efia enjoys exploring the themes of friendship, resilience and hidden voices.
Her forthcoming second novel, the cassette-letter epistolary LETTERS TO KWEKU, set between 1970s London and Ghana, is published by Simon & Schuster in October 2026.