SQUAD UP!

A modern girl is nothing without her band of besties. But don't let all the hashtags fool you- the #girlsquad has been around for a long, long time. In this engaging and well-researched boo, Sam Maggs takes you on a tour of some of history's most fascinating and bravest BFFs, including:

• Anne Bonny and Mary Read, the infamous lady pirates who sailed the seven seas and plundered with the best of the men
• Sharon and Shirley Firth, the Indigenous twin sisters who went on to become Olympic skiers and barrier breakers in the sport
• The Edinburgh Seven, the band of gal pals who became the first women admitted to medical school in the United Kingdom

And more! Spanning art, science, politics, activism, and sports, these 20 diverse profiles show just how essential female friendships have been across history and around the world.