Sisters in Strength: American Women Who Made a Difference (Hardcover)

by Yona Zeldis McDonough (Author), Malcah Zeldis (Illustrator) "Although Powhatan had many children by different wives, his favorite daughter was the young Pocahontas..." (more)
Key Phrases: New York, United Nations, Elizabeth Cady Stanton (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
McDonough (Eve and Her Sisters: Women of the Old Testament) shines the spotlight on 11 examples of girl power in this picture-book history volume. The life and key achievements of such influential figures as Eleanor Roosevelt, Harriet Tubman, Amelia Earhart and Margaret Mead are distilled into brief profiles that include some little-known facts and quotes from historical resources. Unfortunately, McDonough's uneven writing style and emphasis often give these respected women short shrift. The truncated, sketchy biographies contain too little information to serve as solid reference, and some passages are confusing. (For example, it's unclear that Minty and Harriet Tubman are the same person, and the number of Margaret Mead's husbands stands out more than her accomplishments.) Further detracting from the reading experience, the text and art make an uneasy pairing. Zeldis's full-page, folk-art-inspired portraits, rendered in bright acrylics, appear bulky and mask-like, creating a jarring contrast to the revered, very human subjects. For those eager to read more about these famous figures, a time line and bibliography are included. Ages 6-10. (Mar.)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal
Grade 1-3-This title fails to provide an adequate introduction to the diverse contributions of the 11 women profiled: Pocahontas, Harriet Tubman, Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony, Clara Barton, Emily Dickinson, Mary Cassatt, Helen Keller, Eleanor Roosevelt, Amelia Earhart, and Margaret Mead. Though McDonough's respect for her subjects is obvious, her two-to-three page essays do not do justice to the complexities of her subjects' lives. Dickinson's decision to withdraw from the world is treated as a charming quirk and Cassatt's struggle to fulfill her artistic ambitions is compressed into a single sentence. The impact of sexism and discrimination is implied, but the true import of these women's triumphs cannot be understood without a more thorough discussion of the obstacles they faced. Zeldis's bright, primitive acrylic paintings and borders are decorative and eye-catching, but offer no additional insight into their subjects. Children will be better served by introductory biographies of these or other strong women.
Lisa Dennis, The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, PA
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Hardcover: 48 pages
• Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) (March 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0805061029
• ISBN-13: 978-0805061024
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: No customer reviews yet. Be the first.
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,562,302 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)