She Did It! 21 Women Who Changed the Way We Think

In a dense and historically detailed volume, Caldecott Medalist McCully profiles 21 women of influence, from investigative journalist Ida Minerva Tarbell to scientist Temple Grandin. McCully casts a wide net, featuring familiar fighters for women’s suffrage alongside lesser-known figures, including Barbara Gittings, the “mother of the gay rights movement,” and astronomer Vera Rubin, who discovered dark matter. McCully describes each individual’s upbringing, early influences, and legacy, and significant blocks of text place each woman’s contributions within historical context: “The American public was ready to listen to Carson’s warnings about the dangers of pesticide. They had seen other examples of substances that had harmed humans,” she writes about Rachel Carson. Portraits of each subject, rendered in washes and finely detailed lines, resemble affectionate caricatures. A rich and multilayered celebration of women’s innovation and perseverance. Ages 8–12. [em](Nov.) [/em]