Youth Inc. Recommends: Must-Read Books for Parents of Female Athletes

Watching your daughter fall in love with sports is one of the great joys of parenting. But it also comes with big questions: How do we help her stay confident through tough seasons? How do we support her dreams without adding pressure? How do we guide her through moments when the world feels like it wasn’t built for girls who play big? These books are filled with wisdom, real stories, and powerful advice to help you be the steady, empowering presence your daughter needs—whether she’s stepping onto the field for the first time or chasing her biggest goals. 

Strong Like Her: A Celebration of Rule Breakers, History Makers, and Unstoppable Athletes by Hayley Shapley  

What it is: A vibrant and powerful celebration of female strength—both physical and mental—throughout history. Haley Shapley highlights women who broke barriers and redefined what strength looks like, from early pioneers to modern-day athletes. 

Why we like it: This isn’t just a history lesson. It’s a reminder that strength, courage, and determination have always been part of girls’ DNA. It gives both parents and daughters a bigger, richer context for why playing sports—and pushing limits—is such an important and natural part of who they are. 

Good for a Girl: A Woman Running in a Man’s World by Lauren Fleshman

What it is: A raw, honest memoir from one of the best distance runners in American history. Lauren Fleshman pulls back the curtain on what it’s really like growing up in a sports system built around male bodies and male expectations—and how that system often fails girls. 

Why we like it: Fleshman's story hits close to home for any parent of a girl athlete. She doesn’t just share her journey—she gives us a blueprint for how we can better support our daughters, especially during the critical adolescent years when so many girls start to feel unseen or broken by the system. 

What Made Maddy Run: The Secret Struggles and Tragic Death of an All-American Teen by Kate Fagan 

What it is: A heartbreaking, powerful true story of Madison Holleran, a Division I track star who, from the outside, seemed to have everything going for her—until she took her own life. Kate Fagan uses Madison’s story to explore the pressures young athletes face in a world where perfection is prized above all else. 

Why we like it: This book will shift how you think about success, social media, and mental health. It’s a must-read for any parent who wants to look beyond the wins and losses and truly understand the emotional landscape their daughter is navigating every day.

The Confidence Code for Girls: Taking Risks, Messing Up, and Becoming Your Amazingly Imperfect, Totally Powerful Self by Katty Kay, Claire Shipman, and JillEllyn Riley 

What it is: A smart, fun, and relatable guide designed specifically for young girls, helping them understand that real confidence comes from doing hard things—not from being perfect. 

Why we like it: This book meets girls where they are and gives them practical, empowering tools for building confidence that lasts. It’s especially great for parents looking for ways to encourage their daughters to stretch, stumble and get back up even stronger. 

Strong Is the New Pretty: A Celebration of Girls Being Themselves by Kate T. Parker 

What it is: A stunning photo book featuring girls in their natural, unfiltered moments—running, jumping, climbing, playing—with joy, grit, and fierce spirit. 

Why we like it: It’s an emotional reminder of why we want our daughters in sports in the first place. Every page shouts: strength is beautiful. Passion is beautiful. Imperfection is beautiful. This book belongs on every coffee table where girls and their parents can see it daily. 

Warrior Girls: Protecting Our Daughters Against the Injury Epidemic in Women’s Sports by Michael Sokolove 

What it is: A deep and important exploration of why girls are at such high risk for serious sports injuries—and what parents, coaches and leagues can do to keep them safer. 

Why we like it: If you want your daughter to thrive in sports for the long haul, this is a must-read. It will change the way you think about training, health and advocacy for female athletes’ bodies. 

The Price She Pays: Confronting the Hidden Mental Health Crisis in Women's Sports by Katie Steele and Dr. Tiffany Brown 

What it is: A powerful, newly released book that takes a hard look at the hidden mental health struggles plaguing female athletes today, from anxiety to depression to burnout. 

Why we like it: This book feels urgent and necessary. It doesn’t just raise awareness—it gives parents clear ways to be part of the solution. If you care about your daughter’s whole-person wellness, this is essential reading. 

Raising Our Athletic Daughters: How Sports Can Build Self-Esteem and Save Girls' Lives by Jean Zimmerman and Gil Reavill 

What it is: A foundational book about the transformational power of sports in girls’ lives, packed with research, stories, and encouragement. 

Why we like it: Even though it’s been around for a while, its message is timeless. It validates everything we believe about what sports can do for girls—and it gives parents hope and motivation to keep supporting their daughters, no matter what.