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A Woman in the House (and Senate): How Women Came to the United States Congress, Broke Down Barriers, and Changed the Country
For the first 128 years of our country’s history, not a single woman served in the Senate or House of Representatives. All of that changed, however, in November 1916, when Jeannette Rankin of Montana became the first woman elected to Congress—even before the Nineteenth Amendment gave women across the U.S. the right to vote.
Beginning with the women’s suffrage movement and going all the way through the results of the 2012 election, Ilene Cooper deftly covers more than a century of U.S. history in order to highlight the influential and diverse group of female leaders who opened doors for women in politics as well as the nation as a whole. Featured women include Hattie Caraway (the first woman elected to the Senate), Patsy Mink (the first woman of color to serve in Congress), Shirley Chisholm (the first African-American woman in Congress), and present-day powerhouses like Nancy Pelosi and Hillary Clinton. The book is filled with lively illustrations and archival photographs. It includes a glossary, index, and chart of all the women who have served in Congress.
Praise for A Woman in the House (and Senate)
STARRED REVIEW
"It is no small task to create a book that summarizes over a century of U.S. history, gives a crash course in civics, and provides succinct, pithy biographies of numerous women who have served in the legislative and judicial branches of government. Cooper pulls it off."
—Kirkus Reviews, starred review
Beginning with the women’s suffrage movement and going all the way through the results of the 2012 election, Ilene Cooper deftly covers more than a century of U.S. history in order to highlight the influential and diverse group of female leaders who opened doors for women in politics as well as the nation as a whole. Featured women include Hattie Caraway (the first woman elected to the Senate), Patsy Mink (the first woman of color to serve in Congress), Shirley Chisholm (the first African-American woman in Congress), and present-day powerhouses like Nancy Pelosi and Hillary Clinton. The book is filled with lively illustrations and archival photographs. It includes a glossary, index, and chart of all the women who have served in Congress.
Praise for A Woman in the House (and Senate)
STARRED REVIEW
"It is no small task to create a book that summarizes over a century of U.S. history, gives a crash course in civics, and provides succinct, pithy biographies of numerous women who have served in the legislative and judicial branches of government. Cooper pulls it off."
—Kirkus Reviews, starred review
144 pages, Hardcover
First published March 11, 2014
2 people are currently reading
162 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
March 27, 2017
I checked this book out from the library, thinking my daughters might be interested. However, I found myself reading it from cover to cover. It tells the stories of many women and the circumstances of their time in congress. In providing context, it hits a lot of the main discussions and controversies in US history.
One of my favorite stories in this book was that of Senator Margaret Chase Smith, who spoke up against Joseph McCarthy's exploitation of fear, bigotry, ignorance and intolerance. She said, "The American people are sick and tired of being afraid to speak their minds lest they be politically smeared as 'Communists.'"
A few tidbits from the book and my subsequent google searches: Most of the early women in congress were appointed by governors to take their husbands' seats when they (the husbands) died. Some of these women were re-elected in their own right after the initial term ended. There is still quite a bit of this happening today, of women being appointed or elected to a seat previously held by a husband or father. In 1991, there were only 2 women in the Senate, with 4 more elected in 1992. Out of curiosity, I looked it up and found that currently, the House and Senate are about 20% women. In 1992, there was 1 African American woman in the Senate, Carol Moseley Braun. I looked up African Americans in the Senate and found that throughout all of US history, there have been a total of 10 African American Senators, male or female. Currently, there are 3.
One of my favorite stories in this book was that of Senator Margaret Chase Smith, who spoke up against Joseph McCarthy's exploitation of fear, bigotry, ignorance and intolerance. She said, "The American people are sick and tired of being afraid to speak their minds lest they be politically smeared as 'Communists.'"
A few tidbits from the book and my subsequent google searches: Most of the early women in congress were appointed by governors to take their husbands' seats when they (the husbands) died. Some of these women were re-elected in their own right after the initial term ended. There is still quite a bit of this happening today, of women being appointed or elected to a seat previously held by a husband or father. In 1991, there were only 2 women in the Senate, with 4 more elected in 1992. Out of curiosity, I looked it up and found that currently, the House and Senate are about 20% women. In 1992, there was 1 African American woman in the Senate, Carol Moseley Braun. I looked up African Americans in the Senate and found that throughout all of US history, there have been a total of 10 African American Senators, male or female. Currently, there are 3.
June 1, 2023
This is not the most engaging history book I've read recently (I'd love to see Steve Sheinkin take on this topic!), but it's likely one of the most important.
The book covers women's entry into American politics through its publication date in 2014 (I read the original, not the edition revised and updated in 2020). And while women have continued to make inroads in attaining political position and power, it is helpful to remember those who have come before to make today possible.
interesting quotes:
Mark Hanna: "There are two things that are important in politics. The first is money and I can't remember the second." (p. 23, 25)
"Hattie Caraway didn't care for public speaking, even though she was a witty woman. When asked why she avoided giving speeches, she once said wryly, 'I haven't the heart to take a minute away from the men. The poor dears love it so." (p. 34)
"[Margaret Chase] Smith then stood up to make what she called a 'Declaration of Conscience.' She accused Joe McCarthy of 'selfish political exploitation of fear, bigotry ignorance, and intolerance.'" (p. 38) (sounds familiar?)
Clare Boothe Luce: "[M]en have decided to die together because they are unable to find a way to live together." (p. 40)
Helen Gahagan Douglas: "I became active in politics because I saw the possibility, if we all sat back and did nothing, of a world in which there would no longer be any stages for actors to act on." (p. 42)
"And in 1970, Martha Griffiths got the votes needed to bring the Equal Righrs Amendment to a vote in the House of Representatives. The ERA, as it was called, said neither local, state, nor federal law could deny equal rights on account of six. Getting the vote was the first step in making the ERA a part of the United States Constitution." (p. 55) (this happened before I was born - will I ever see it ratified?)
Barbara Jordan"'We, the people.' It's a very eloquent beginning. But when that document was completed on the seventeenth of September in 1787, I was not included in that 'We, the people.' I felt somehow for many years that George Washington and Alexander Hamilton just left me out by mistake. But through the process of amendment, interpretation, and court decision, I have finally been included in 'We, the people. '" (p. 66)
"In this election year, we must define the 'common good' and begin again to shape a common future. Let each person do his or her part. If one citizen is unwilling to participate, all of us are going to suffer. For the American idea, though it is shared by all of us, is realized in each one of us." (p. 67)
"Now that women throughout American society were demanding their rights instead of asking for them, many men were getting hostile. This was true in Congress as well. When Pat Schroeder was appointed to the Armed Services Committee, thechairman, Edward Hébert from Louisiana, actually made her and Ron Dellums, an African-American representative from California, share one chair during the first meeting because, he said, 'women and blacks were worth only half of one regular Member' and deserved only half a seat!" (p. 73)
"For our daughters and granddaughters, the sky is the limit. Anything is possible for them." (p. 103)
The book covers women's entry into American politics through its publication date in 2014 (I read the original, not the edition revised and updated in 2020). And while women have continued to make inroads in attaining political position and power, it is helpful to remember those who have come before to make today possible.
interesting quotes:
Mark Hanna: "There are two things that are important in politics. The first is money and I can't remember the second." (p. 23, 25)
"Hattie Caraway didn't care for public speaking, even though she was a witty woman. When asked why she avoided giving speeches, she once said wryly, 'I haven't the heart to take a minute away from the men. The poor dears love it so." (p. 34)
"[Margaret Chase] Smith then stood up to make what she called a 'Declaration of Conscience.' She accused Joe McCarthy of 'selfish political exploitation of fear, bigotry ignorance, and intolerance.'" (p. 38) (sounds familiar?)
Clare Boothe Luce: "[M]en have decided to die together because they are unable to find a way to live together." (p. 40)
Helen Gahagan Douglas: "I became active in politics because I saw the possibility, if we all sat back and did nothing, of a world in which there would no longer be any stages for actors to act on." (p. 42)
"And in 1970, Martha Griffiths got the votes needed to bring the Equal Righrs Amendment to a vote in the House of Representatives. The ERA, as it was called, said neither local, state, nor federal law could deny equal rights on account of six. Getting the vote was the first step in making the ERA a part of the United States Constitution." (p. 55) (this happened before I was born - will I ever see it ratified?)
Barbara Jordan"'We, the people.' It's a very eloquent beginning. But when that document was completed on the seventeenth of September in 1787, I was not included in that 'We, the people.' I felt somehow for many years that George Washington and Alexander Hamilton just left me out by mistake. But through the process of amendment, interpretation, and court decision, I have finally been included in 'We, the people. '" (p. 66)
"In this election year, we must define the 'common good' and begin again to shape a common future. Let each person do his or her part. If one citizen is unwilling to participate, all of us are going to suffer. For the American idea, though it is shared by all of us, is realized in each one of us." (p. 67)
"Now that women throughout American society were demanding their rights instead of asking for them, many men were getting hostile. This was true in Congress as well. When Pat Schroeder was appointed to the Armed Services Committee, thechairman, Edward Hébert from Louisiana, actually made her and Ron Dellums, an African-American representative from California, share one chair during the first meeting because, he said, 'women and blacks were worth only half of one regular Member' and deserved only half a seat!" (p. 73)
"For our daughters and granddaughters, the sky is the limit. Anything is possible for them." (p. 103)
March 3, 2017
Teacher notes: A biography collection designed to show the influence women have had on our national Congress. The authors do an excellent job showcases women from both political parties in a positive light.
March 4, 2014
Written with a middle school reading level in mind, this collection of “sheroes” in the political arena is sure to offer many young girls inspiration and motivation. Chapters are short and mainly dedicated to one or two women. Several chapters are grouped into sections pertaining to the most important decades or movements (suffrage, World War II, civil rights, etc). The tone is light and more difficult vocabulary or concepts are well defined with easy to follow examples. The book has both black & white and color photography along with a colorful page layout, resembling more a picture book than a biography compilation. The appendix offers an excellent overview of our government’s legislative design and function as well as a complete list of all women who have served in Congress. While students may not choose to read this book cover to cover, the table of contents and index will allow them to jump around through time to learn about the great women who shaped or are shaping our nation.
Highly recommended, grades 6-9.
Highly recommended, grades 6-9.
September 8, 2014
There's not a ton of substance in this book, and it is kind of an odd mix. It almost requires a young reader to have basic knowledge in the history of American politics while at the same time being extremely basic itself. The subtitle would be better as "Women Who Came to the United States Congress..." because "how" isn't really covered, the book doesn't have the depth of that. As far as a book of short biographies of congresswomen, though, it was pretty enjoyable.
November 23, 2014
It wasn't quite as good as I had hoped. Not quite as in-depth as I wanted, a little bit too much emphasis on appearance. I wish that had been addressed. However, I learned some stuff about past female representatives and senators that I didn't know already, and that's always good.
September 16, 2014
Very interesting read. I learned a lot and appreciate what these went through to get where they did.
March 11, 2017
As former U.S. Senator Olympia Snowe writes in the forward to this book geared to ages 10-14, “The total number of woman senators and representatives in America’s history is 296. That’s out of a total of 12,099 individuals who have served in Congress.”
Ilene Cooper takes readers from the first Congress in 1789 through the Congress of 2010; from the beginnings of the women’s suffrage movement to a Congress with a woman Speaker of the House. She tells you what life was like for American women in the early 1800s, and about the trail-blazing women who fought for women to have the right to vote. (The 19th Amendment, stating that the right to vote shall not be denied on account of sex, was passed in 1920.) She continues through the eras, first introducing a bit of the sociopolitical background and then highlighting the females who struggled against sexism and racism to serve in Congress.
Many notable women are introduced to the reader: from Jeannette Rankin, the first woman to serve in Congress (in 1917); to the women who came to Congress to finish out the terms of their husbands or fathers; to Margaret Chase Smith, who served in both the House and the Senate; to Patsy Mink, the first woman of color and first Asian American woman to be elected to the House of Representatives; and Shirley Chisholm, the first black woman to serve in the Congress.
Older readers may remember the colorful Bella Abzug of New York, known for her hats and her courage in taking on powerful men, and Millicent Fenwick, considered the inspiration behind Lacey Davenport, a fictional character in Garry Trudeau's comic strip Doonesbury.
In 1992, four women won Senate races, bringing the total number of women in the Senate to six, the highest number ever serving at one time.
From recent times, readers may recognize the name of Geraldine Ferraro, the first woman to run for vice president from one of the two major parties. Barbara Boxer, Dianne Feinstein, Elizabeth Dole, Elizabeth Warren, gained national reputations as did Olympia Snowe and of course Hillary Rodham Clinton. Gabrielle Giffords was a well-known representative from Arizona even before she was shot in 2011 at a meeting with her constituents in Tucson. Tammy Baldwin became the first openly gay U.S. Senator, and Mazie Hirono the first Asian American female senator.
The position of Speaker of the House of Representatives, one of the most important positions in the U.S. government, went to a woman in 2006, Nancy Pelosi, currently serving as Minority Leader of the House.
The author concludes:
“Today, most American women have choices about how to spend their lives. They can be at home taking care of their families. They can also be out in the working world. Many, many women do both. For some of those women, their work will be in political office, helping to shape and make the laws of the United States.”
Illustrations by Elizabeth Baddeley include both pictures and quotes accentuated by a comic-books style manner.
The book also features photographs, an appendix that explains terms, institutions, and procedures mentioned in the book, bibliography, and a chart highlighting every woman who has served in the U.S. Congress.
Evaluation: This valuable compendium full of photos, entertaining facts, and catchy artwork is an excellent addition to histories that are so heavily weighted with a focus on famous men. Young girls will be inspired by all of their foremothers who worked hard to break the governmental “glass ceiling” (an unofficially acknowledged barrier to advancement in a profession, especially affecting women and members of minorities).
Ilene Cooper takes readers from the first Congress in 1789 through the Congress of 2010; from the beginnings of the women’s suffrage movement to a Congress with a woman Speaker of the House. She tells you what life was like for American women in the early 1800s, and about the trail-blazing women who fought for women to have the right to vote. (The 19th Amendment, stating that the right to vote shall not be denied on account of sex, was passed in 1920.) She continues through the eras, first introducing a bit of the sociopolitical background and then highlighting the females who struggled against sexism and racism to serve in Congress.
Many notable women are introduced to the reader: from Jeannette Rankin, the first woman to serve in Congress (in 1917); to the women who came to Congress to finish out the terms of their husbands or fathers; to Margaret Chase Smith, who served in both the House and the Senate; to Patsy Mink, the first woman of color and first Asian American woman to be elected to the House of Representatives; and Shirley Chisholm, the first black woman to serve in the Congress.
Older readers may remember the colorful Bella Abzug of New York, known for her hats and her courage in taking on powerful men, and Millicent Fenwick, considered the inspiration behind Lacey Davenport, a fictional character in Garry Trudeau's comic strip Doonesbury.
In 1992, four women won Senate races, bringing the total number of women in the Senate to six, the highest number ever serving at one time.
From recent times, readers may recognize the name of Geraldine Ferraro, the first woman to run for vice president from one of the two major parties. Barbara Boxer, Dianne Feinstein, Elizabeth Dole, Elizabeth Warren, gained national reputations as did Olympia Snowe and of course Hillary Rodham Clinton. Gabrielle Giffords was a well-known representative from Arizona even before she was shot in 2011 at a meeting with her constituents in Tucson. Tammy Baldwin became the first openly gay U.S. Senator, and Mazie Hirono the first Asian American female senator.
The position of Speaker of the House of Representatives, one of the most important positions in the U.S. government, went to a woman in 2006, Nancy Pelosi, currently serving as Minority Leader of the House.
The author concludes:
“Today, most American women have choices about how to spend their lives. They can be at home taking care of their families. They can also be out in the working world. Many, many women do both. For some of those women, their work will be in political office, helping to shape and make the laws of the United States.”
Illustrations by Elizabeth Baddeley include both pictures and quotes accentuated by a comic-books style manner.
The book also features photographs, an appendix that explains terms, institutions, and procedures mentioned in the book, bibliography, and a chart highlighting every woman who has served in the U.S. Congress.
Evaluation: This valuable compendium full of photos, entertaining facts, and catchy artwork is an excellent addition to histories that are so heavily weighted with a focus on famous men. Young girls will be inspired by all of their foremothers who worked hard to break the governmental “glass ceiling” (an unofficially acknowledged barrier to advancement in a profession, especially affecting women and members of minorities).
December 1, 2017
A book about women - how they came to be in government - why and when - and how far they have to go to become equal. Detailed and factual without being boring, she presents the long and difficult history of women's efforts to vote, to be heard and to govern. Appendix at the end tells about the three branches of government, women's suffrage, political parties and more. Excellent reference and teaching tool for children and teens and great refresher for adults.
April 17, 2023
Great, engaging nonfiction history of women in the US Congress - I just bought this for my library this year, and there was an updated edition that takes the story up to the 2010s (not yet the 2020s; it was published in 2020). I thought Cooper did a particularly good job of giving an overview of US history, then placing the different Congresswomen in that context.
March 20, 2017
really dry, tbh. not going to review because it was so boring, wanted some hype feminism and was super bored
February 18, 2021
What a well-written and informational book on women in politics for young people.
June 8, 2021
love this book so much it really inspires me
December 4, 2023
Good for young women readers
July 12, 2025
This book was a pretty good overview of women who have served in the national government.
March 27, 2016
In this book, author Ilene Cooper chronicles 150 years of American history starting with the Suffrage Movement all the way up to the 2012 elections. The story includes numerous mini biographies about the women who worked to break down barriers that helped shape this history.
I learned lots of interesting things from this book. For example, there was not one woman in the Senate or House for the first 128 years of our country’s history!
BUT, In 1916, Montana sent the first woman to the U.S. Congress - Jeannette Rankin. She was ONE of FIFTY people to vote against WWI. She didn’t get reelected. But she ran again for the U.S. House of Representatives in 1940 and won. She was the ONLY person to vote AGAINST entering WWII. Everyone turned against her so her political career was rather short-lived. But in 1968 at the age of 87, she led 5,000 women on a march protesting the Vietnam War.
Basically, the only way a woman could get into the Senate or House was if their husband or father could no longer do it and they just “sat in” until someone else was reelected. BUT that all changed in 1947 when Margaret Chase Smith (Maine) became the first woman to win a Senate seat without being appointed or having a husband sitting in it first. In 1950 she stood up on the Senate floor to make a speech about Senator McCarthy. She said “the American people are sick and tired of being afraid to speak their minds lest they be politically smeared as ‘Communists.’” In 1964, she made another speech about why she shouldn’t run for President. But she did anyway being the first woman to run for president from a major political party. In 1989, President George H.W. Bush awarded Chase the highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Who was the first female appointed to the Supreme Court? Who was the first woman from one of the major parties to run for vice president? What year was considered “The Year of the Woman”? To find out, read this book! I think you’ll really enjoy it!
I learned lots of interesting things from this book. For example, there was not one woman in the Senate or House for the first 128 years of our country’s history!
BUT, In 1916, Montana sent the first woman to the U.S. Congress - Jeannette Rankin. She was ONE of FIFTY people to vote against WWI. She didn’t get reelected. But she ran again for the U.S. House of Representatives in 1940 and won. She was the ONLY person to vote AGAINST entering WWII. Everyone turned against her so her political career was rather short-lived. But in 1968 at the age of 87, she led 5,000 women on a march protesting the Vietnam War.
Basically, the only way a woman could get into the Senate or House was if their husband or father could no longer do it and they just “sat in” until someone else was reelected. BUT that all changed in 1947 when Margaret Chase Smith (Maine) became the first woman to win a Senate seat without being appointed or having a husband sitting in it first. In 1950 she stood up on the Senate floor to make a speech about Senator McCarthy. She said “the American people are sick and tired of being afraid to speak their minds lest they be politically smeared as ‘Communists.’” In 1964, she made another speech about why she shouldn’t run for President. But she did anyway being the first woman to run for president from a major political party. In 1989, President George H.W. Bush awarded Chase the highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Who was the first female appointed to the Supreme Court? Who was the first woman from one of the major parties to run for vice president? What year was considered “The Year of the Woman”? To find out, read this book! I think you’ll really enjoy it!
March 6, 2015
While this is definitely a middle school text, I enjoyed it as a source of information, with its brief profiles of groundbreaking women in Congress. Most people have heard of Shirley Chisholm, Bella Abzug, Olympia Snow and Jeannette Rankin, and the story of how the chair of the Armed Services Committee only allowed Patricia Schroeder and African-American committee member Ron Dellums one chair between them... But there's a bit more diversity here, and a good coverage of how both Republican and Democratic women have helped integrate the halls of Congress. One thing that struck me very hard: the numbers for women congresspeople in 1991, the year I finished graduate school-- only 2 women in the U.S. Senate. The authors also provided more substantive profiles of Nancy Pelosi (first female speaker of the house), Patsy Mink, Geraldine Ferraro, Carol Moseley Braun, Dianne Feinstein, Hillary Rodham Clinton, Mary Landreau, Elizabeth Dole, and Gabrielle Giffords... with sidelights on Michelle Bachmann (for her presidential run) and many others, including all of the early African American women representatives, even relatively overlooked Cardiss Collins. The strongest part of the book, though, is the least trendy: the profiles of pre-1950 congresswomen, some who got in through finishing someone else's term, but many who won at least one term on their own. With a light and humorous touch, this book introduces young people-- and those who were too busy being young people to pay attention to those days-- to women worth remembering, and what their favorite causes are. (The authors note some of the most egriegious problems as well--Rebecca Felton's racism, the con Abzug's comment to Patricia Schroeder that she couldn't do the job with small children.)
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April 27, 2015Cooper, I. (2014). A woman in the House and Senate : how women came to the United States Congress, broke down barriers, and changed the country. New York : Abrams Books for Young Readers.
Citation by: Sarah Clement
Type of Reference: Biographical Reference
Call Number: HQ1236.5.U6
Content/Scope: This book about women in politics includes more than a century of U.S. history, focusing on such women as Jeannette Rankin to Hilary Clinton. Also included are women's achievements and breaking of barriers to earn political seats. Includes a list of women who have served in Congress.
Accuracy/Authority/Bias: BookVerdict states that there are a few inaccuracies, but if they can be looked over, it is a good resource to have in a school library. Ilene Cooper has written at least 30 books, and is the Children’s Books Editor at Booklist Magazine.
Arrangement/Presentation: This book moves chronologically, starting in 1916, describing important women in history and their stories. Each chapter includes a decade of U.S. history.
Relation to other works: This book is good for middle school aged students who are interested in politics or powerful women in history, and will capture their interest with the color illustrations.
Accessibility/Diversity: Includes photos and cartoon-style illustrations.
Cost: $24.95
Professional Review: Mueller, M. (2014, March 1). A woman in the House and Senate : how women came to the United States Congress, broke down barriers, and changed the country. Retrieved from http://bookverdict.com/details.xqy?ur...
Citation by: Sarah Clement
Type of Reference: Biographical Reference
Call Number: HQ1236.5.U6
Content/Scope: This book about women in politics includes more than a century of U.S. history, focusing on such women as Jeannette Rankin to Hilary Clinton. Also included are women's achievements and breaking of barriers to earn political seats. Includes a list of women who have served in Congress.
Accuracy/Authority/Bias: BookVerdict states that there are a few inaccuracies, but if they can be looked over, it is a good resource to have in a school library. Ilene Cooper has written at least 30 books, and is the Children’s Books Editor at Booklist Magazine.
Arrangement/Presentation: This book moves chronologically, starting in 1916, describing important women in history and their stories. Each chapter includes a decade of U.S. history.
Relation to other works: This book is good for middle school aged students who are interested in politics or powerful women in history, and will capture their interest with the color illustrations.
Accessibility/Diversity: Includes photos and cartoon-style illustrations.
Cost: $24.95
Professional Review: Mueller, M. (2014, March 1). A woman in the House and Senate : how women came to the United States Congress, broke down barriers, and changed the country. Retrieved from http://bookverdict.com/details.xqy?ur...
November 19, 2015
This is an expansive catalog of women in American politics. Source notes and bibliography were both impressive with plenty of openings for outward interest in the topics inside the book. Ilene Cooper provides a strong voice to the narrative featuring a sense of ongoing struggle. And the book got excellent production support from the editor and publisher, who invested serious money in graphic design, paper, and cover (and in format--the book is over 130 pages!).
Each section establishes a historical context for women in politics. Yet when I compare what is here to what I find in the wikipedia pages on women in the senate and house, I'm not so impressed. Wikipedia links from each name on the list directly to that woman's page. Each woman's wikipedia page seems to offer nearly the same information as does the book, and often more. If someone were interested in this question or topic, I'm not sure a book is where they would go. A book like this needs to offer an experience clearly different from what one finds already well-organized and easily accessible on the internet. Historical context and the question of representation were among Cooper's main strengths in the writing, and it would have made more sense to leave out the copious individual biographies of representatives and senators in favor of the deep conceptual exploration that wikipedia is not designed to handle.
Each section establishes a historical context for women in politics. Yet when I compare what is here to what I find in the wikipedia pages on women in the senate and house, I'm not so impressed. Wikipedia links from each name on the list directly to that woman's page. Each woman's wikipedia page seems to offer nearly the same information as does the book, and often more. If someone were interested in this question or topic, I'm not sure a book is where they would go. A book like this needs to offer an experience clearly different from what one finds already well-organized and easily accessible on the internet. Historical context and the question of representation were among Cooper's main strengths in the writing, and it would have made more sense to leave out the copious individual biographies of representatives and senators in favor of the deep conceptual exploration that wikipedia is not designed to handle.
February 18, 2015
Did you know that the first woman was elected to the United States Congress before women across the U.S. could even vote? Did you know that if EVERY woman member of Congress throughout history were assembled in one place, they wouldn't even fill the House of Representatives? It's been a long, slow battle for women to be recognized in the legislative branch of our government, and this book shows you all the highlights along the way (as well as how far we still have to go). Many Congresswomen get profiled in short biographic sketches, and the historical context for different time periods is also included. Colorful and lively illustrations sit alongside photographs to liven up the pages. Learn about these strong and admirable women from all sides of the political spectrum who rose above adversity to represent us in government.
I really learned a lot from this book, and I think this is very readable for young people. I love that both Republican and Democratic women are admired and respected and that the point in clearly made that women still have a long way to go before they have equal representation to men in Congress. This book should be required reading for any young woman who is considering politics in her future. But that is not the only demographic that will enjoy this book!
I would recommend this book for grades 4-8, especially those interested in history and politics.
I really learned a lot from this book, and I think this is very readable for young people. I love that both Republican and Democratic women are admired and respected and that the point in clearly made that women still have a long way to go before they have equal representation to men in Congress. This book should be required reading for any young woman who is considering politics in her future. But that is not the only demographic that will enjoy this book!
I would recommend this book for grades 4-8, especially those interested in history and politics.
August 28, 2014
I loved this book featuring the different female representatives and senators in US history. The book is organized by era in 20th century American history with a brief description of the country's history at that time and how women's issues/history paralleled this. These women are very inspiring and I learned a lot about some congresswomen and their contributions that I didn't know before. There is a significant gap in children's literature for books (fiction or non-fiction) that feature strong female role models, and look at women's rights honestly. The writing is engaging and conversational, and there are may pictures to illustrate points--both photographs and cartoons throughout. There is also a lengthy concept glossary, endnotes, and bibliography as well as a powerful forward by former Senator Olympia Snowe. This book could definitely be used to teach government/civics concepts, but also can be a starting point to discuss the poor female representation in our government as well.
3/3
annotate
trump card?
3/3
annotate
trump card?
December 14, 2015
Excellent brief biographical sketches of just about every woman who's ever been in Congress. Chapters are ordered chronologically by decades, beginning with the suffrage years. Then they're also organized into themes, like "Widows (Mostly)" or "Daughters;" sometimes certain states had a group of women representatives all at one time, so that was a logical grouping for a chapter. Big names get a longer bio in a solo chapter. Black and white or color illustration head-shots of each woman, and cute colorful spot illustrations of various moments (such as Ruth Hanna on her father's knee as he recites a quote; Pat Schroeder and a black male representative having to share an actual chair when the white males wouldn't accommodate them!) Appendix explains political terms and procedures in a clear manner; index; complete list of female representatives and senators; sources and notes. Fair and unbiased when discussing the accomplishments of women of either political party, although most of the women elected happened to be Democrats. Very inspirational for girls.
July 7, 2014
This is an excellent overview of the history of women serving in Congress. It begins with Jeannette Rankin in 1917 and goes through the present day roster of women in the House and the Senate. It's interesting that the majority of the women who broke ground in Congress came into their positions through a husband or father dying. The congressman died and the women were able to fill the seat. I like the fact that the book also give the political and social background of what was happening at the time of each woman entering Congress. This book is very readable and entertaining. There is not a lot of information on the different congresswomen, but it is a good starting point.
August 27, 2014
Cooper is a former librarian (hooray!), editor for Booklist, author of over thirty books and the winner of the National Jewish Book Award for Jewish Holidays All Year Round (Abrams, 2002). Her latest book is an excellent resource for teachers, librarians, and parents who wish to help children understand and celebrate the 94th anniversary of the passage of the 19th amendment which gave women the right to vote (August 26, 1920) and how that impacted herstory and history. Read my full review at Good Reads with Ronna http://www.goodreadswithronna.com/201...
January 22, 2015
This is a solid history of women elected to the U.S. House and Senate, focusing on those that broke barriers. It is basically told chronologically, with chapters on those who took office, sometimes grouping people who were elected during the same year. The book design is not as good as the text; some of the illustrations do not resemble the people who are being depicted (the use of photos works better), and some pages seemed crammed. Sticking just with photos probably would have worked better. Back matter includes a complete list of women in alphabetical order, an index, source notes, and bibliography.
December 6, 2015
NONFICTION
A Woman in the House (and in the Senate) was a fantastic and easily readable history of women in congress. The book highlights the pioneering and groundbreaking women who worked hard to make their country a better place, even before they had the right to vote. What impressed me about this history written for young adults, was how politically neutral it was. The book refrains from being overly didactic or partisan, and praises women in politics on both sides of the aisle. A Woman in the House is a beautiful book, with fantastic photos and illustrations. I highly recommend it to young adults of both sexes. Inspiring...I won't say how many times it made me tear up.
A Woman in the House (and in the Senate) was a fantastic and easily readable history of women in congress. The book highlights the pioneering and groundbreaking women who worked hard to make their country a better place, even before they had the right to vote. What impressed me about this history written for young adults, was how politically neutral it was. The book refrains from being overly didactic or partisan, and praises women in politics on both sides of the aisle. A Woman in the House is a beautiful book, with fantastic photos and illustrations. I highly recommend it to young adults of both sexes. Inspiring...I won't say how many times it made me tear up.
April 28, 2015
This is a great informative and inspiring book. The book is divided into different time periods and highlights the different achievements of female members of congress. While not every female member of congress gets an in depth look the book does cover many different women and includes a list of every woman to have served in congress after the appendix. The appendix also includes good information about women's rights, congress, and other political terms mentioned throughout the book. This is a great resource for tweens.
January 6, 2016
GREAT.
This is a fairly comprehensive overview of some of the most important women to serve in the United States Congress. It's a fair and balanced representation, with no political biases one way or another: great for juvenile non-fiction so kids can learn about politics without being inundated with, you know. Politics.
A+ for writing, A+ for illustrations, A+ for all of the appendices and glossaries! A+! This one is a winner.
This is a fairly comprehensive overview of some of the most important women to serve in the United States Congress. It's a fair and balanced representation, with no political biases one way or another: great for juvenile non-fiction so kids can learn about politics without being inundated with, you know. Politics.
A+ for writing, A+ for illustrations, A+ for all of the appendices and glossaries! A+! This one is a winner.
June 11, 2015
Fantastic! This is a MUST HAVE addition to every middle/high school library to showcase the evolving role of women in Congress for over a century. I am so grateful for reads like this since unfortunately they are few and far between. Sadly, out of all the woman covered there were only a handful that I was able to locate addition material on to expound further in our history studies.
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February 18, 2015A Woman in the House (And Senate) follows the journey of women throughout history and their path to becoming congresswomen and senators. Illustrations and photographs highlight the stories of many of these women.
Reviewer #4
Reviewer #4
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