Fight of the Century: Alice Paul Battles Woodrow Wilson for the Vote

Using a framework based on boxing match rounds, Rosenstock describes the pitched battle between two complicated historical figures. Alice Paul, a fierce advocate for the passage of the 19th Amendment, granting women the right to vote, faces the conservatism of President Woodrow Wilson, who blocked the amendment for years (it was ratified in 1920). Rosenstock’s fidelity to the boxing metaphor (“So he ducks. He dodges,” “Alice spins and catches Woodrow off guard”) creates a rigid framework that sometimes distracts, and Paul and Wilson’s personal motivations remain opaque—supplemental materials help somewhat and note Paul’s compromised legacy due to her support of discriminatory practices against black suffragists. Stylized, colorful illustrations by Green are accented with bold black lines and incorporate boxing motifs. Ages 7–10. (Feb.)