From School Library Journal
Gr 6-10-Herstek's admiration for her subject is clear, yet generally restrained in her portrayal of the woman who survived a difficult childhood to devote her life to the plight of the mentally ill. The author emphasizes Dix's strict religious upbringing and early rebellion against her parents, leading to her conversion to Unitarianism and development of compelling compassion for the downtrodden of society. She paints a portrait of an individual compulsively driven in her dedication, to the point of seriously endangering her own health. She traveled constantly, inspecting hospitals and schools, and lobbying fiercely for legislative protection for the insane. Little personal warmth or humanity shines through in this volume, but the record of the social worker's achievements is staggering in both volume and impact. Ironically, even laboring in her role as superintendent of women nurses for the Union during the Civil War, Dix consistently sidestepped the issue of slavery. The occasional grim-faced photograph of a notable figure involved in her crusade breaks up the text as do several sidebars explaining historical context. The writing is clear but rather dry, conveying little excitement for this remarkable woman. However, the research is sound and thorough, making this a good choice in support of reports.
Joyce Adams Burner, Hillcrest Library, Prairie Village, KS
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
