Little People Big Dreams: Hedy Lamarr

 Yes, that Hedy Lamarr. Yes, the actress considered one of the most beautiful women of her day happened to develop the technology used as the foundation of today’s wifi. I became fascinated with Hedy Lamarr’s story after learning about her from the National Women’s History Museum. Naturally, I was interested in seeing how this complex story played out in one of the Little People, Big Dreams books for young children.

The text is straightforward, but does not oversimplify Hedy’s life. She is portrayed as curious about her world and brave for challenging society’s expectations for women. The illustrations are detailed, but not fussy. I could easily see an adult reading the book to a young child, then having a conversation about the action and emotion in the illustrations.

I would recommend this book for young children and their families. It would be particularly good for families wanting to share diverse lives early on. 

Thanks to #NetGalley and Francis Lincoln Children’s Books for providing a copy of “Hedy Lamarr” for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

The Adventures of Ruby Pi and the Geometry Girls

 I’m always looking for engaging historical fiction with strong female characters to add to my classroom library. The five stories in “The Adventures of Ruby Pi and the Geometry Girls” fit the bill. These vignettes into time and place each feature a strong girl who uses her brain to solve problems. Whether solving mysteries, bettering village life, or trying to stop a famine before it happens, these young women get the job done.

Each bite-sized story can be read in one sitting. Each of the characters is distinct in her time and place in the world. Some of the characters work within society’s constraints and others seem to work against barriers. I found some of the transitions in time a bit jarring, but this may have been because the Advanced Reader’s Copy didn’t have clear chapter divisions within each story. Really, each of these adventures could be expanded to a much longer telling of the tale.

I liked that the girls used practical applications of mathematics to solve problems in a no-nonsense way. Tom Durwood makes complex math accessible in these tales.

This book would be great for middle school and high school readers looking for bite-sized stories and strong female characters. I will get a copy of this for my classroom.

 

Thanks to #NetGalley and #BooksGoSocial for a copy of “The Adventures of Ruby Pi and the Geometry Girls” for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

I Could Not Do Otherwise: The Remarkable Life of Dr. Mary Edwards Walker

 How did I not know about Dr. Mary Walker? 

Sara Latta’s “I Could Not Do Otherwise” demonstrates that Walker was a consequential figure in the early fight for women’s suffrage. She was at the forefront of women’s dress reform. She spoke extensively on both subjects. She served during the Civil War. She had access to the movers and shakers of the federal government for decades. Mary Walker did not compromise on her values and made enemies along the way. In short, her story is a fascinating example of someone who has nearly been erased from history.

The narrative of Mary Walker’s life smoothly flows throughout this book targeted to middle grade and teen readers. Latta provides some support for unfamiliar vocabulary terms and there are ample, clearly marked asides to help put Walker’s story in the context of her time. An extensive bibliography is provided for those who might wish to learn more about Mary Walker.

This telling of Dr. Mary Walker’s life is thorough and engaging. The reader learns about both her public and private life, including her quest to improve life for women, the poor, and veterans. I appreciate that the book does not sugar-coat aspects of Walker’s personality that made her difficult for others to deal with and, at the same time, dogged in pursuit of her causes.

I would recommend this book to teens and plan to get a physical copy for my classroom. This book is particularly good for teens who don’t conform to typical social norms.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #ZestBooks for a copy for review consideration. All opinions are my own.