Strangers Assume My Girlfriend Is My Nurse by Shane Burcaw

In Laughing at My Nightmare, Shane Burcaw described growing up and striving for (and often achieving) a normal life despite his spinal muscular dystrophy, a condition causing his muscles to gradually waste away.  His follow-up, Strangers Assume My Girlfriend Is My Nurse, mostly focuses on his adulthood, including his love life’s challenges and rewards.  Just as young Shane strived for normalcy as a child, twentysomething Burcaw maintains a large degree of normalcy as a young adult.  It is inspiring to read about someone fighting the urge to give into despair by depending on his loved ones without resenting them, living his life actively, finding hope where he can, and most memorably, using humor.  Laughing at My Nightmare found the ridiculousness in Burcaw’s situation, including, sometimes graphically and hilariously, scatological matters; Strangers Assume does the same but adds sex as well.  As the title suggests, some of the book’s humor comes from strangers not knowing how to react to a man with a full-sized head but a child-sized body in a wheelchair leading a functional adult life, including his love life.

Strangers Assume has serious moments as well, notably when Burcaw expresses anger over a viral story about Jerika Bolen, the girl who wished and received crowd-sourced support for a make-believe prom followed by her planned death.  Burcaw did not find the story as inspirational as many apparently did.  “After it ran its fleeting course and the hoopla fizzled out,” Burcaw recalls, “a child was dead and the disabled community had been dealt a serious blow.”  Another (happier and funnier) thought-provoking chapter explains what happens when events occur requiring Burcaw and his girlfriend Hannah, who assists him with many daily tasks, have to switch roles temporarily and Shane comes to understand Hannah and the joys of caregiving better.

If the idea of reading books about someone with a debilitating disease sounds depressing, rest assured that there is a lot more triumph—and comedy—than tragedy.

Recommended by Andrew

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Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Set in the mid sixties – late seventies, Daisy Jones & The Six transports readers to the most iconic age of rock n’ roll. The atmosphere and story composition create and authentic tale that I almost refuse to believe isn’t real! Taylor Jenkins Reid is a master of fiction – her characters possess an uncanny ability to charm readers and settle into their hearts. Her novels are multi-faceted and unlike any other books I’ve read, especially due to the oral history storytelling of Daisy Jones. (Side note – the audiobook? SPECTACULAR. If you have access to the audio version, you will not want to miss this experience) Full of timeless quotes, glamorous scandals, and heart-breaking loss, you will find yourself having a hard time to put this one down.

The women in this book are all so powerful and dynamic. There are so many strong messages about women empowerment, supporting other women, and demanding credit where it’s due. Even the smaller side characters are them much more layered than most supporting characters, as we explore their own storylines. Plus the relationships between all of the women, (Karen & Daisy, Karen & Camila, Camila & Daisy – even Daisy and little Julia made my heart swell!) are wholesome, unique, and authentic. Especially for a story with a bit of a love triangle, I could not be happier with the superb study of the experience of women.

I also was left so touched by the exploration of addiction. Taylor Jenkins Reid captures the dark, devastating nature of the disease without a hit of judgement.  The story of both Billy and Daisy’s respective addictions bring light to the glamorization of drugs of this time, while not glamorizing it themselves. This book exposes the truth about substance abuse while simultaneously carrying an air of hope and recovery for those who may be in a similar situation.

Recommended by Monica Shine

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My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite

Set in Nigeria, amid a corrupt system of law and order, Korede is forever coming to the aid of her beautiful, but kooky, younger sister, Ayoola, who has a bad habit of killing her boyfriends. She always claims self-defense, but she’s never injured, and her conscience never seems to suffer. 

Korede, is a borderline, antisocial nurse, more comfortable around her comatose patient, to whom she bears her soul, than with anyone else. She has a crush on Tade, a doctor she works closely with. However, when Ayoola shows up at the hospital to visit her sister, Tade is immediately smitten with her. So, not only is Korede hurt emotionally, with her sister’s history with men to consider, this development is quite troubling. 

Deep down, Korede is angry, jealous of her beautiful, favored sister, but she always comes to her rescue. Ayoola is self-absorbed, flaunting her beauty, and appears not to notice the stress and strain she causes Korede. Both sisters are flawed, with abominable character traits, but at the same time, they both managed to, inconceivably, elicit sympathy from me. The author creates a unique brand of suspense, an ever- present sense of dread, while toying with the readers' emotions. The social commentary could be at the core of the story, perhaps playing a key role in the sisters’ pathos. 

There’s much to ponder on in this amazing debut novel. Kordede’s stoic inner thoughts stole the show for me, though. The story is meant to be dark, meant to be taken seriously, but so sardonic, it is morbidly funny at times. 

But, one thing is for certain, this author has done an incredible job creating these wickedly entertaining characters, adding rich layers to the story, while keeping the prose pointed and sharp, even minimal, and still manages to add the rarity of humor into the mix with perfect balance and poise.

Recommended by Monica
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The Boneless Mercies by April Genevieve Tucholke

The Boneless Mercies is a rare find: a fantastic read for the dead of winter. It is a tale of bitter cold, fearsome beasts, and untimely death, but burning at its heart we find the fierce mercenary Frey and her companions, on a quest for glory. Set in a thinly-veiled fantasy replica of ancient Scandinavia, the story follows a young band of Mercies (female mercenaries) who decide to leave their lives as death-traders behind to hunt down a rampaging beast and win fame and fortune. Along the way they become embroiled in plots beyond their comprehension, involving magic as ancient as the earth, sea, and wind. Nothing is as simple as it first appears, a lesson Frey and her friends must learn the hard way. In the end, Frey must confront the true meaning of heroism, and decide what price she is willing to pay for it.

Tucholke’s fourth novel reads like an ancient northern legend, in which the elements play as much a part as the characters. It is a testament to Tucholke’s powers of description that I found myself wishing for a roaring fire to sit beside, or a snow-covered pine forest to explore. Her previous books proved her gift for enchantment, and The Boneless Mercies does not disappoint. Prepare to be bewitched.

Recommended by Sophie
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Unmarriagable by Soniah Kamal

If marriage is the prize, you’d better be skilled in the art of “grabbing it,” it being an eligible bachelor. In her Pride and Prejudice adaptation, Soniah Kamal transports Jane Austen’s narrative to early-2000s Pakistan, imbuing the often-reimagined story with a fresh lexicon. Unmarriageable proves the timelessness of Austen and how her centuries-old plotline finds a home in many cultures.

The Binat family has fallen far, deceived out of their fortunes by Mr. Binat’s own brother, and have been making due with reduced circumstances for more than a decade. To Mrs. Binat’s chagrin, her two oldest daughters must work, finding employment as teachers at the local school. All five Binat girls—Jena, Alys, Mari, Qitty and Lady—await their (mother’s) longed-for fate of a good marriage.

Though her prose lacks Austen’s sardonic bite and subtlety, Kamal paints endearing relationships between Jena and Alys, and between Alys and her best friend, Sherry Looclus. Due to the lack of well-developed chemistry, love matches between Alys and Valentine Darsee, and Jena and Fahad “Bungles” Bingla, unfortunately fall flat, but the real spark to Kamal’s writing comes whenever Mrs. Binat opens her mouth. The mother’s hysterics over appearances and the father’s frequent retreat to his garden (plants can’t talk, after all) provide much of the comic relief. Kamal skewers Pakistani society over their obsessions and hypocrisies much in the same way Austen did hers. Alys, told at one point by the condescending Beena dey Bagh that it must be hard for her mother to have two 30-year-old daughters unmarried, retorts that it “seems to be even harder on absolute strangers.”

As an admirer of Austen’s work, I appreciate how others want to emulate her. It is a truth universally acknowledged, however, that it is quite the undertaking. Altogether, Unmarriageable is light and entertaining. Meddling mothers, conniving sisters, arrogant men and a marriage-minded society provide plenty of fodder, and in the end, class clashes and societal expectations transcend the ages as well as geography.

Recommended by Monica

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*Portions of this review was originally published in the January 2018 issue of BookPage.  It was published with their consent. 

A Shot in the Dark by Lynne Truss

In the 1950s, Brighton, England, was bucolic and lovely—if you disregard the hooligans, Teddy Boys and other criminal mischief- makers lurking about. In A Shot in the Dark, author Lynne Truss of Eats, Shoots and Leaves (2003) fame introduces Inspector Steine, a police captain who wants nothing more than for crime to simply relocate itself so he can enjoy his ice cream in peace. When a well-known theater critic is gunned down just before he’s supposed to share crucial evidence in an old case, earnest Constable Twitten is determined to buck departmental tradition and actually solve a crime. This farcical tale is packed with interwoven plotlines, clues strewn about like confetti and a comically oblivious chief inspector. It reads like a stage comedy, and in fact Truss has written four seasons’ worth of Inspector Steine dramas for BBC Radio. There are no dark and stormy nights here, just gorgeous seaside views marred by occasional corpses. The ’60s are coming, but for now, women are still largely ignored; this turns out to be its own kind of liberation, since who would suspect them? Sharp and witty, A Shot in the Dark is a good time. 

Recommended by Monica Shine
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*Portions of this review was originally published in the November 2018 issue of BookPage.  It was published with their consent.

Dream Country by Shannon Gibne

This epic but fast-moving novel focuses on several members of the same multigenerational family, starting with Kollie, a Liberian-American teenager in 2008 Minnesota struggling with his school, community, and family.  The novel moves between the United States and Liberia and backward and forward in time ranging from 1826, soon after African-Americans settled in the new African country, to 2018.  Gibney only spends a few chapters with each group of characters, and I would have been happy to read more about any of these parents, children, soldiers, and lovers, but the book’s relative brevity speeds it along.  All major characters’ stories are compelling, even as they face terrible hardships and losses.  The final section ties these tales together in an especially satisfying way.   Gibney is both a gifted author—her prose is poetic but realistic—and an authority on the subject: she is a professor of English and African diaspora (and she offers a helpful historical timeline at the end of the book). 

Recommended by Andrew Gerber
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Won't You Be My Neighbor? (Documentary - 2018)

The film is a beautiful heartwarming tribute to Fred Rogers and Mister Rogers' Neighborhood - a show which changed children's television forever. The film highlights Rogers' humanity and decency and shows how he could bring his message of decency to children. Few documentaries have been able to capture the spirit, humanity, and works of a person this well.

The tone of the movie is set almost immediately; old footage plays showing a much younger Rogers playing the piano and giving reason for his ambitions. He doesn't seem to be too full of himself, and the concept he has in mind is one that is both humble and sweet. Even before he's given the ability to use his talents, he seems as if he's right next to them. The strong point of this film, for sure, is it's humane portrayal of Rogers. It doesn't just linger on the fact that he did good things, it explores what made him want to do those good things. His motivations make sense, and he, as a person, nearly brought tears to my ears several times. It made me nostalgic for the days when I would stay home with Mr. Rogers and his beloved friends from his Neighborhood.

Recommended by Monica Shine
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A Spark of Light by Jodi Picoult

Picoult sets her story in Jackson, Mississippi—all the action taking place over one long day at the Center, a women’s clinic for those who had “run out of time and had run out of choices.” Picoult begins her riveting saga at the end of the story, when George Goddard—a distraught, anti-abortion father whose teenage daughter recently had an abortion at the Center—storms inside, fires several shots and takes an unknown number of hostages. Hostage negotiator Hugh McElroy has been called to the scene to confront George.

Picoult then moves backward in time, hour by hour, gradually filling in the details of those who came to the Center that day and why they came. She approaches this divisive issue from all sides—not blaming or condoning, but shining a perceptive light into the lives of those now hoping to survive the hostage situation.

Izzy, a nurse, struggles with the dilemma of whether or not to tell her boyfriend about her newly discovered pregnancy. She’s risen from a childhood of poverty and doesn’t want to rely on him, “the prince from the entitled family.” After the shooting, Izzy tends to the leg wound suffered by Dr. Ward, whose own mother died from an illegal abortion. Dr. Ward regularly travels between four states to provide abortions for women living where almost all such clinics have closed.

Joy completed her abortion before the shooting starts—and although she wanted the procedure, she’s still in mourning for what she’s lost. She lived in foster care for 10 years and didn’t want another child to go through the same miserable experience.

Janine is at the Center faking a pregnancy—she’s an anti-abortion activist trying to prove the clinic doesn’t offer prenatal care. She lives with the guilt of her own abortion after she was raped at a fraternity party. In Picoult’s words, Janine has “white-washed the stain with years of pro-life activism.”

Also inside the Center that morning are Hugh’s teenage daughter, Wren, and his older sister, Bex, who has helped raise Wren since Hugh’s wife left them years ago. Wren is there for a prescription for birth control pills, and she asked Bex to accompany her so she wouldn’t have to walk alone past the line of protesters.

Interspersed with these stories of how each character came to be at the Center are the ongoing negotiations between Hugh and George, heightening the tension throughout the novel, even though most of the denouement occurs in the opening chapter.

A Spark of Light is another winner for Picoult—a provocative exploration of an issue that is in the spotlight now more ever before.

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*Portions of this review was originally published in the October 2018 issue of BookPage.  It was published with their consent.

November Road by Lou Berney

Novels revolving around the assassination of John F. Kennedy have become a genre unto themselves. There are plenty, and likely even more conspiracy theories to boot. So at first take, November Road, the new thriller from author Lou Berney, may seem like just another book to add to the stack. Berney, though, is not just another author. Through gorgeous prose, the Edgar, Macavity and Anthony Award-winning author of The Long and Faraway Gone elevates an otherwise simple cat-and-mouse story into a heartfelt journey of hope and discovery for two characters running from their pasts.

While the loss of the president is certainly felt throughout November Road, it only serves as a backdrop to what is essentially a story of redemption. The novel follows Frank Guidry, an enforcer for mobster Carlos Marcello, whose hands are all over JFK’s death. Frank is tasked with retrieving and disposing of a getaway car parked near the scene of the crime in Dallas, and a hit man has been tasked with disposing of Frank once the job is done. Aware that his life is in jeopardy, Frank makes a desperate dash for freedom along Route 66.

At the same time, young mother Charlotte Roy, along with her two daughters, is making her escape from a failed marriage in Oklahoma. Naturally, the storylines eventually cross as Frank encounters Charlotte, whom he sees as a way to throw off his pursuer. What begins as a convenient way to cover his tracks evolves into a serious romance between the two characters. But with a killer after Frank, the suspense builds toward a fateful showdown.

In the end, November Road is more than the sum of its parts—a thrilling plot, an iconic period piece and unforgettable characters. Above all, it’s an American novel not to be missed.

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**Portions of this review was originally published in the October 2018 issue of BookPage.  It was published with their consent.

I Feel Pretty (Comedy - 2018)

Amy Schumer delivers a smart, heart-warming, and absolutely hilarious piece of comedy in her new movie "I Feel Pretty." She is raw and real and in true Amy Schumer fashion, holds nothing back.  A refreshing comedy with great laughs throughout the film.  Renee is working as a sysadmin for a Lili LeClair, a large beauty conglomerate. But she longs to be part of the action at the company's 5th Avenue headquarters.  There's only one problem, Renee doesn't look like the waifish model-types who grace the halls of Lili LeClair.  Lacking self confidence, she decides to let a dream job opportunity pass her by until a well timed wish "to be pretty" gives her the some mojo and she decides to follow her dream. Schumer displays brilliantly what it feels like to be bigger in this society and what it feels like to lack self confidence. A hilarious movie that wasn't just inappropriate raunchy jokes the whole time. This film gives laughs the whole time, provides a great message, and will leave you smiling long after the movie is finished.  

Recommended by Monica Shine

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Meg, Jo, Beth, Amy : The Story Of Little Women And Why It Still Matters by Anne Boyd Rioux

A passionate and serious writer, Alcott dreamed of literary success, but she didn’t imagine she would attain it with a children’s book. She wasn’t above writing for the sake of money, though, and so Alcott accepted her publisher’s request that she write a book for girls. This project would eventually become Little Women.

In the generations since its release, the book has been adapted for stage and film and has influenced children’s literature and produced literary heroines who follow in Jo March’s footsteps (Katniss Everdeen, anyone?). Little Women’s feminist undertones also continue to encourage readers to reimagine expectations for women and girls.

Rioux’s extensive research invites lifelong Little Women fans and new readers alike to dive deeply into the worlds of Alcott and the Marches. Along the way, they’ll uncover the novel’s inspiration and influence and grow to appreciate its ongoing significance, even 150 years later.

Recommended by Monica Shine

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*Portions of this review was originally published in the September 2018 issue of BookPage.  It was published with their consent.

The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris

Perhaps the three scariest words in the history of human imagination were cast in iron atop a gate leading directly into the closest approximation of hell ever erected on earth: ARBEIT MACHT FREI. “Work sets you free.” The banal words that were nothing more than a cruel and tragic joke for thousands turned out to have a deeper meaning for Lale Sokolov, an Auschwitz survivor and the real-life hero of Heather Morris’ extraordinary debut novel, The Tattooist of Auschwitz.

Like the Nobel Prize-winning author Elie Wiesel’s Night, Morris’ work takes us inside the day-to-day workings of the most notorious German death camp. This tale weaves a heart-rending narrative of a Jew whose unlikely forced occupation as a tattooist put him in a position to act with kindness and humanity in a place where both were nearly extinct.  

Just as a flower can grow through a sidewalk’s crack, so too can love spring and flourish in the midst of unspeakable horror, and so it is that Lale meets his lifelong love, Gita, when he inscribes the number 34902 on her arm.  Amidst the horrors of the camp, Lale and Gita must figure out how to survive and keep secrets in this ruthlessly cruel environment.

For decade upon decade, Lale’s story was one that desperately needed to be told. And now, as the number of those who witnessed the terror that was Nazi Germany dwindles, it is a story that desperately needs to be read. The disgraceful words that once stood over Auschwitz must be replaced with others: Never forget. Never again.

Recommended by Monica Shine
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*Portions of this review was originally published in the September 2018 issue of BookPage.  It was published with their consent.

Caraval and Legendary by Stephanie Garber

Caraval and its recently released sequel, Legendary, have the transporting quality that makes me consume a book in only one or two sittings.  Open them and you will step into a jewel-bright fantasy world full of intrigue, complex heroines, and their dashing consorts.  Each novel is a mystery set during Caraval, a week-long, invitation-only game set up in a magic-filled arena of the creator’s (Legend’s) design.  Caraval centers on Scarlett, oldest daughter of the governor of a remote island.  Scarlett receives a coveted invitation to Caraval, but is reluctant to risk the wrath of her abusive father by going.  When Scarlett’s younger sister, Donatella, is apparently kidnapped and taken to the Caraval arena, Scarlett’s choice is made for her.  Thus begins her quest to free Tella from Legend’s clutches; a tale of sisterly love and devotion reminiscent of Disney’s Frozen.  Of course, nothing within the walls of Caraval is as it seems, from the bewitching dresses to the mysterious young man who dogs Scarlett’s footsteps.  Scarlett must not lose herself, however—if she doesn’t win the game, she may never see her sister again.

What a delight it is, as a reader, to be swept away by the high-stakes mystery and romance of Garber’s storytelling. The metaphors are often heavy-handed, and the descriptions a little florid, but what is Caraval if not steeped in excess at every turn?  The bright, saturated settings are matched by the protagonists’ keenly-felt emotions, which are often overly angst-ridden for my taste, but these are teen novels, after all.  If you are a lover of enchantment, you will find something to enjoy in the lands of Caraval and Legendary.  

 

Recommended by Sophie

The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

The tale of Achillies and the Trojan War (as chronicled in Homer’s Epic Poem “The Iliad”) told from the point of view of his steadfast companion Patroclus. Starting from their shared childhood, it presents a comprehensive view more than could ever be told in that classic tale. “The Iliad” tells only the events that happen in the last year of the Trojan War. So Madeline Miller’s “The Song of Achillies” is a refreshing and totally innovative retelling of the great hero throughout his childhood and his relationship with the man that would bring about his fate prophesied since birth. Their friendship and love for each other transcends the eons and is still “sung” of today in this brilliant novel. (I’ll mark this as a spoiler even though the poem dates back to the 8th Century BC just as a precaution) Even after Patroclus’ death on the fields of Troy, the novel lives on through his ghost. Told with longing, and often heartbreaking prose this book should live on as long as the poem and a true testament to not only the great hero Achillies, but of his friend, lover and closest confidant, Patroclus.

Recommended by Monica Shine
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The Woman in the Window by AJ Finn

A taut and eerie thriller from debut Author AJ Finn. This was dubbed “One of the best books of the Year” and rightfully so. This reader flew through the audiobook in a mere two days because it was impossible to put down (or hit pause in my case). Anna is agoraphobic, and has not left her brownstone in almost a year. She spends her days watching her neighbors, playing chess, attempting to help others like her online and drinking red wine. The the Russell’s move across the park from her. She becomes obsessed with their comings and goings and even makes friends with the lady of the House, Jane Russell. When she witnesses a crime from her window, everything she knows is cast into doubt. The parallels to a Hitchcockian film are really justified here. There’s the unreliable narrator, mistaken identity, and most importantly, the single tension filled setting. Recommended by Monica Shine Click here to view in the catalog.

Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan

This was a fun read--well, listen. I picked up this title because the third in the series just came out and it has been optioned for a movie. It will make a fantastic movie. This is the story of Rachel, an ABC--American Born Chinese (except she isn't), taken to Singapore by her long-term boyfriend Nick for the wedding of his best friend. He doesn't tell her many things--it's the wedding of the year (so she brought one dress to an event that required four); his family is filled with gossip and distrust of anyone they haven't known for generations; he and his family are crazy rich--not just rich, crazy rich; and most of all the family puts the "Fun" in Dysfunction (as the saying goes). As to be expected--things go wrong and get bad (and will make you laugh out loud). In an effort to not spoil, I'll say this is a good, fun, read that made me want to read book two right away. 

Recommended by Monica Shine
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Archival Quality by Ivy Noelle Weir

 This brand new graphic novel is a must-read for anyone who loves museums, ghost stories, or creepy mental hospital lore.  Our protagonist is troubled yet persistent Cel, who takes a questionable job as an archivist at a medical museum after losing her long-time job as a library assistant due to a mental breakdown.  Even though no one ever seems to visit the museum, Cel is required to work outside opening hours (i.e. in the middle of the night) and is encouraged to live in the windowless basement apartment that used to house tortured patients.  Oh, and her boss is clearly hiding something from her.  Add in artifacts that move around when no one’s looking, mysterious writing on the walls, and a girl who keeps visiting Cel in her nightmares, and you have all the ingredients for a story that should only be read by daylight.

Despite its many elements of horror, at its heart this is really a story about a young woman’s reckoning with her own inner demons.  As our cultural conversation begins to include more and more about mental health, it’s interesting to watch the impact this has on all literary genres, including the graphic novel.  The minimalist illustrations are colorful and expressive; I’ll definitely be waiting impatiently by the next work by both author (Weir) and illustrator (Steenz).

Recommended by Sophie 

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Professor Marston and the Wonder Women (Drama)

With some exception, Hollywood pretty much makes two distinct kinds of biopics. The first kind are the ones that almost seem obligatory –  movies about historical giants who did truly incredible things with their lives, incredible things that should be projected on the silver screen for the world to see. 

Then there are the ones about the others – your oddballs, your misfits – the characters that history books often ignore but are nevertheless important in the way our world is shaped. Professor Marston is certainly one of the latter folk. Outside of DC comic devotees and polygraph historians, William Moulton Marston is not a name people know. Marston is the creator of Wonder Woman, the most famous female comic-book hero ever, but did you ever wonder (pun intended) how she was thought up?

Professor Marston and the Wonder Women is a biopic unlike any I've seen in recent memory, intriguing, sexy and a unique story about what it means to love.  In the 1920's Marston and his wife Elizabeth work in the psychology department at Tuft's University where they meet undergraduate Olive Byrne, hired on to be Marston's research assistant.  The attraction between the three is like a lightning bolt and they soon strike up a polyamorous relationship.  But this is the 1920's, and they are shunned from academic society for their love. 


We follow Byrne and the Marston's through the years as they struggle to have a functional family unit all while keeping their arrangement secret from the world.  Marston uses these two strong women in his life as inspiration to create Wonder Woman (arguably one of the most recognizable superheroes of all time).

What stands out for me in this film is a story about three people trying to be in a loving relationship with one another in a world that's still not really ready for what is going on here. So, it was a romance film done differently, under a mask of  the drama and the biography( How very Superhero-like of them).

Recommended by Monica Shine
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She Persisted: 13 American Women who Changed the World by Chelsea Clinton

Just in time for Women's History Month comes Chelsea Clinton's "She Persisted", a picture book which features 13 amazing American women who dreamed big, reached for the stars and cemented their place in history.  The women featured in this book belong to all races, creeds and professions and have done some truly inspirational things.  

Against all the odds, women like Harriet Tubman, Clara Lemlich, Virginia Agpar and Claudette Colvin never took no for an answer and are now celebrated as trailblazers who all are equally deserving to grace these pages.  The illustrations by Alexandra Boiger are beautiful and poignant as well and will keep even hold the pickiest reader's attention. 

This isn't just a book for girls, but for everyone who ever had a dream.  To open doors, children need to know there are others who have opened doors and we can now step through. 


Recommended by Monica Shine
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