The Ballot Box Battle (Hardcover)

~ (Author) "All the summer of 1880, Cordelia's job was to go next door, feed Mrs. Stanton's horse, and clean out the stall..." (more)
Key Phrases: Pastor Hosack

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Following her tribute to proto-feminist 19th-century millworkers in The Bobbin Girl, McCully weaves a story around Elizabeth Cady Stanton. It is Election Day in 1880, 32 years after Stanton organized the first women's rights convention in Seneca Falls, N.Y., yet 40 years before the 19th Amendment granted women the vote. The activist takes time out from writing The History of Woman Suffrage to give riding lessons to Cordelia, whose brother disdainfully states that she will not be a true horsewoman until she jumps a four-foot fence. Stanton tells Cordelia about her own childhood goals to be as "learned and courageous" as her only brother and to convince her father that she was as good as any boy. Her father's refusal to acknowledge her achievements "taught me to go on fighting. And I have!" Reluctantly accompanying her mentor to the polls, Cordelia watches as the election officials ridicule Stanton, who flings her ballot at the hand covering the slot in the box. And though Stanton's triumph on this day is hardly complete, Cordelia's is: goaded by her brother, the girl jumps onto her horse and sails over a high fence. In sometimes misty paintings that seem to fade in and out of focus, McCully deftly portrays two time periods, distinguishing Stanton's flashbacks with round-edged pictures seen as if through a telescope to the past. Stanton has a worthy message for contemporary girls?and boys, and McCully's art and story, aided by a succinct concluding note, deliver it gracefully. Ages 3-8.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 2-4?History, the subtle and not-so-subtle oppression of women, and the redoubtable character of Elizabeth Cady Stanton are made real and alive in this colorfully illustrated story set in the summer of 1880. Cordelia loves to ride on Mrs. Stanton's old horse and hear the stories of her neighbor's own girlhood. Despite her efforts to ride and excel in Greek, young Elizabeth's only praise was to hear "Oh, my daughter, you should have been a boy!" Cordelia's brother puts her down in the same way when he makes fun of her desire to prove herself a courageous rider. On election day, the children accompany Mrs. Stanton on her yearly attempt to cast a vote in the local contests. Seeing her friend's courage in facing the taunts and scorn of the men gathered at the polls, and angry at the teasing of the local boys, Cordelia makes her own protest by taking the old horse over a four-foot fence in a daring and dangerous leap forward. McCully's richly hued, softly textured paintings beautifully evoke the late 19th-century era and the small-town world of Tenafly, NJ, where the widowed Stanton spent her last years. Skillfully weaving fact and story, The Ballot Box Battle offers a history lesson pleasingly framed in a story about an independent young girl. A full-page author's note gives further information on Stanton and on the creation of the book.?Shirley Wilton, Ocean County College, Toms River, NJ
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers (July 9, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0679879382
• ISBN-13: 978-0679879381
• Product Dimensions: 11.2 x 9 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #2,279,783 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful and imaginative pictures., March 16, 1999

By A Customer

This story takes place in the late 1800's when Mrs. Stanton-the famous women's rights activist-was still alive. It deals with a young girl, Cordelia, who wants to ride Mrs. Stanton's horse. Mrs. Stanton instead of letting her ride the horse tells her about her childhood experiences. Mrs. Stanton also also makes a great impact on Cordelia when she tries to vote and is not allowed. This in turn inspires Cordelia to stand up for herself.

It is a well-written story that shows what life was like for women before they got to vote. It shows that injustices can be overcome when we put our minds to it and when we don't let what others say get in our way of realizing our dreams. This would be a good story to read to 5th and 6th graders as an introduction to American history in this century.

The pictures are beautiful. They recall images of a by-gone era. It is interesting that men and boys are painted in darker colors, while Cordelia wears lighter colors.