They Led the Way: 14 American Women

Scholastic Biography

by Johanna Johnston, DeAnne Hollinger (Illustrator)

A collection of biographies about women who have made a difference in American history. From Anne Hutchinson to Carrie Chapman Catt, these women all worked for women's rights.

Anne Hutchinson --
Anne Bradstreet --
Lady Deborah Moody --
Phillis Wheatley --
Abigail Adams --
Emma Willard --
Ernestine Rose --
Elizabeth Blackwell --
Elizabeth Cady Stanton --
Harriet Beecher Stowe --
Clara Barton --
Victoria Woodhull --
Nellie Bly --
Carrie Chapman Catt

Genres: Biography, History, Nonfiction, Childrens, Womens, American History, Reference

128 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1973

Reviews

[Carola · Rating 5 out of 5]

Borré de casualidad mi crítica, tampoco recuerdo bien qué es lo que escribí. Solo me acuerdo de que lloré con el final, que abracé el libro y poniéndolo sobre mi pecho le di las gracias por la existencia de estas catorce mujeres y de todas aquellas que lucharon inalcanzablemente para que yo pudiese tener la vida que hoy disfruto.

Aún nos queda mucho por lograr en derechos, es cierto. Pero seamos valientes como ellas para que sigamos siempre adelante, unidas en sororidad.

"Women -and men too- would have to keep on working to understand themselves and each other, before they both were free to be what they best could be".

[Mom · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is geared for children but has good information about some important women in our history. There were some women that I had not heard of. It is a very good book for young girls to read and inform them of what some women have accomplished.

[Charles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Modern American women do not receive a satisfactory education in the history of the position of women in society. Less than one hundred years ago women could not vote in federal elections and their property rights were largely derived from the male relatives in their lives. Career opportunities were limited, there were few professional women outside of teaching, nursing and other traditional female occupations. Women generally quit working when they got married and even those that didn’t were often forced to quit if they got pregnant. This book contains short biographies of 14 women that refused to accept their conditions and worked to change the world that women faced.
The women featured are: Anne Hutchison, Anne Bradstreet, Lady Deborah Moody, Phillis Wheatley, Abigail Adams, Emma Willard, Ernestine Rose, Elizabeth Blackwell, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Clara Barton, Victoria Woodhull, Nellie Bly and Carrie Chapman Catt.
Each of these women performed a major role in advocating for and trailblazing rights for females in society. Some names are well known while others are not. This book describes what they did and should be read by young women, it will help them understand that there was a long fight for where they are now and the consequences of going back.

[Pamela · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this the first time in 4th grade, I still keep my copy and flip through it. A great introduction to a few of the many left out of our history books. Did you know that Nellie Bly went around the world in a mere 72 days while people were still marveling that Jules Verne's literary hero made it in eighty? That Elizabeth Blackwell, the first woman doctor in America, was admitted to med school as a joke? Did you know that part of modern-day Brooklyn, was formerly known as Gravesend and was built by the first female mayor, Lady Deborah Moody? Their stories and more first inspired my interest in women's history.

[Valorie Fry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every little girl should read this and be inspired. They really did lead the way.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy short reads of inspiring ground breaking woman in America's history. They helped change the way women thought, acted, dreamed, and achieved.

[Misty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good for basic overview. Sometimes too much sweeping generalization

[Emily Midnight · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was disappointing. I found it on my mom's shelf and thought it would be a cool read---and it had a good premise, but it was a little grating.

It felt very patronizing toward women and downplayed the harm that the men in each woman's life did. For example, when the suffragette movement was laughed at and publicly criticized, it described it as "some men laughed, but it didn't hurt their feelings" or something.

The best illustration of the questionable overall message is the Abigail Adams story. Basically, they say she was writing to John Adams in the Declaration of Independence days and said women should have the same rights as men and he wrote back laughing at her and she said that hurt her and he dropped the subject... But don't worry, she didn't let that get in the way of her love for him or being a good wife! Yay!

It's just not the vibe if we are trying to write books about women who dedicated their lives and gave their good name for women's rights.

[Claire Frances · Rating 5 out of 5]

14 American women who became first persons of the country- becoming the first female doctor, running for President, helping abolish slavery of black and indigenous people, being the first female poet, mayor of a town, etc

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This books shares short biographies of 14 women who made great progress for women, starting with Anne Hutchinson (1591-1643) in the 1600s and ending with Carrie Chapman Catt (1859-1947) who helped women gain the right to vote. 126 pages

[Dr. Stephanie Douglass · Rating 4 out of 5]

My favorite book in upper elementary. Probably the only book I have read multiple times.

[Ranette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stories of 14 women who helped in the cause of America

[R · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well done synopsis of important women in history. A great read-aloud with manageable length chapters on each woman.

[Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

slay women’s suffrage movement!!

[Caroline Weiss · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF. feminist undertones.

[Partridge Public]

Johnston, Johanna PB

[Lacey · Rating 3 out of 5]

ok its non fiction read for my book report

[Kathy Foley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every child 10 in 4,5,6 th grade should read this bio of famous women. They truly, led the way!

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Women who did great things...and short enough to enjoy learning just a little bit about them.

[Jaida · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this book it tells the stories of brave women who stuck up for there rights. My favorite story was the one about Anne Bradstreet. Even in the face of danger she saved her children and her. And on top of that she was a poet which is beautiful. She was courageous in the face of danger. I would recommend this book to people who like inspiring informational texts. I gave this book three stars because it could have laid the information out in a more attention grabbing way. So overall this book was okay and I hope you read it and learn about these inspiring women.