About This Book
Reach for this book when your child starts noticing that their history textbooks focus on only a few famous names or when they express a desire to see themselves reflected in the stories of American progress. This vibrant collection moves beyond the standard narrative of the women's suffrage movement to spotlight the Black, Indigenous, Latina, and Asian American women who were often sidelined or excluded from the mainstream history of the 19th Amendment. Through engaging biographies and rich illustrations, it explores themes of justice, intersectional identity, and the relentless pursuit of equality. It is a perfect choice for parents who want to foster a sense of civic responsibility and help their middle-grade reader understand that change is driven by a diverse chorus of voices, not just a select few.
What Parents Should Know
Sensitive Topics
The book depicts instances of systemic racism, including the impact of Jim Crow laws on Black women's voting rights and the exclusion/mistreatment of women of color by white suffrage organizations. This includes being forced to march at the back of parades. The approach is direct and historical, framed within a secular social studies context. The resolution is realistic: it celebrates the 19th Amendment while acknowledging that the fight for voting rights continued long after 1920 for many communities.
