She Persisted Around the World: 13 Women Who Changed History
By Jan Carr,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Inspiring tales of great women who followed their dreams.
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What's the Story?
SHE PERSISTED AROUND THE WORLD: 13 WOMEN WHO CHANGED HISTORY opens with art picturing young girls of various races doing research in a library. The text says, "It's not always easy being a girl -- anywhere in the world. It’s especially challenging in some places," and encourages girls not to listen to voices that tell them to "be quiet" or "have smaller dreams." Each of the following spreads profiles a woman who's "persisted," with a paragraph about an inspiring, accomplished female, her illustrated portrait, and an inspirational quote. The fields the women excelled in represent various sciences, the arts, sports, and advocacy for women's rights. Women are from Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, South Asia, Europe, and North America (Canada). It ends, as the first book did, with the message, "They persisted, and so should you."
Is It Any Good?
This book features short bios of 13 inspiring and impressively accomplished women from across the globe, many refreshingly new to American readers. The women in She Persisted Around the World: 13 Women Who Changed History are diverse, representing different races and countries. One used a wheelchair, as does a young girl pictured. The formula for each is that the woman has a dream, others stand in her way, but she persists. Each person is covered in one paragraph, which doesn't always feel long enough to introduce new figures from cultures that may be unfamiliar, and readers may latch onto small human details to help the stories stick to the ribs. In the first bio, Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz of Mexico wanted to disguise herself as a boy so she could go to university. And soccer star Sisleide "Sissi" Lima do Amor grew up in Brazil when it was against the law for girls to play soccer.
The art by Alexandra Boiger contributes significant warmth and charm. Boiger sometimes pairs her portraits with illustrations of the women when they were young, helping to humanize them. The opening pages show girls at what appears to be a library where the bookshelves are crammed with books by and about the women, including ones from the first book. The message is trumpeted clearly: "They persisted, and so should you."
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the accomplished women in She Persisted Around the World: 13 Women Who Changed History. Had you heard of any of the women before? Which ones? Which stories are new to you?
Which stories are most inspiring to you? Why? Did any of the women have dreams or interests that are similar to yours?
Do you ever feel that people are telling you to give up your dreams? What are some of the ways you've reacted? How can you persist?
Book Details
- Author: Chelsea Clinton
- Illustrator: Alexandra Boiger
- Genre: Picture Book
- Topics: Sports and Martial Arts, Arts and Dance, Great Girl Role Models, History, Science and Nature
- Book type: Non-Fiction
- Publisher: Philomel
- Publication date: March 6, 2018
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 4 - 8
- Number of pages: 32
- Last updated: September 28, 2021
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