Discover what you can - and will - achieve.

Hi! I'm Amy Richards, the author of this book.

Many of the people in this book did amazing things, like run for president and start a magazine. But when they were your age, they were just like you: young people with BIG dreams.

In We Are Makers, you'll read about women who've influenced things you probably do every day, like play sports or use a computer. For example, Maria Pepe wasn't allowed to play in Little League, but she fought for the rights of girls to be able to, and Reshma Saujani, founder of Girls Who Code, is helping girls all over the U.S. learn how to code. Some stories might shock you, some might make you cry - but I guarantee that all of them will inspire you to achieve great things.

As I started watching the stories that MAKERS was gathering, I realized how many of us have common experiences, like being afraid of failure, being influenced by our family, and wanting to make the world a better place. So rather than organize the book chronologically or by jobs, I decided to weave it together around themes - like being the first to do something, standing up for what's right, and dreaming big. You might be surprised at how many themes you identify with!

You’ll see that I tried to include as many voices as I could, whether it was famous people like Oprah and Alicia Keys, or women you might never have heard of, like construction company owner Linda Alvarado, or break dancer Ana “Rokafella” Garcia. You’ll also find information about important historical moments, and you’ll hear about kids doing amazing things in the “Young & Bold” sections. And don’t miss the “A Kid’s Take” quotes from kids just like you who were inspired by the women in this book.

Note that the women included in this book are by no means a comprehensive view of all women who’ve had a big impact in our world; there are more on Makers.com, and many others. Still, in these pages, I hope you’ll meet someone who has the same fears that you have (and has learned how to overcome them!) or discover a job you never knew existed. But most importantly, I hope you’ll think differently about what you can—and will—achieve.