From School Library Journal
Grade 7-10–A well-researched, well-organized biography. The fearless feminist was born in Ohio in 1838 into a troubled family. What money they had was sometimes obtained through nefarious means. Woodhull often worked as a medium and healer; one of her customers was Cornelius Vanderbilt, who gave her and her sister the funds to open their own Wall Street brokerage business. At about the same time, Woodhull became active in the suffrage movement, and she ran for U.S. president in 1872. Her fascinating and full life is expertly detailed in this narrative. What could have been confusing and dense, especially the descriptions of the many scandals surrounding her, is instead clearly explained and logically presented. The book is full of crisp black-and-white illustrations and photos that capture the times. This entry fills the gap between picture books and adult materials and is useful for reports.–Kristen Oravec, Cuyahoga County Public Library, Strongsville, OH
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
From Booklist
There are few resources for youth about Victoria Woodhull, a fascinating, controversial figure who began advocating for women's rights in the nineteenth century and then became the first woman to run for president of the U.S. Havelin's prose, while sometimes bland and straightforward, is serviceable and never sensationalizing, and Woodhull is such an inherently interesting figure that the very facts of her life will spark interest in readers. The numerous quotes from primary sources, including Woodhull's own words, and archival images enhance the text, as do Havelin's attempts to put Woodhull's complicated story into cultural context. A list of source notes closes this welcome title in the Trailblazer Biography series. Also suggest Jacqueline McLean's Victoria Woodhull: First Presidential Candidate (1999). Gillian Engberg
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
