Revolutionary Heart: The Life of Clarina Nichols and the Pioneering Crusade for Women's Rights

by Diane Eickhoff

Everyone knows about the ''Votes for Women'' campaign that led to the 19th Amendment in 1920. Few know just how long the struggle really was. Decades earlier, brave women began breaking the taboo of remaining silent at gatherings that included men. They began signing their names to petitions, flexing political muscle long before they had the vote. They wrote millions of words and published some of the most influential books and journals of their day. No one represents this early struggle -- the small triumphs and discouraging setbacks -- better than Clarina Howard Nichols (1810-1885), the Vermont newspaper publisher whose speeches made a powerful case for equality.

Nichols, herself the victim of a failed marriage, was a magnet to abused and mistreated women and was their advocate at a time when her sex was just beginning to speak up. And when she felt progress wasn't coming soon enough, she moved west, to Bleeding Kansas, where she would make history and show the world that feminism could thrive on the frontier.

Diane Eickhoff, who first wrote Nichols' biography in 2006 as Revolutionary Heart, has reimagined her story for all ages. Booklist declared, ''The name Clarina Nichols deserves to be placed next to those of such luminaries as Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton,'' and readers of this inspiring historical biography will heartily agree.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Biography, Feminism, American History, Womens, Historical

277 pages, Paperback

First published March 16, 2006

About the author

Diane Eickhoff has taught in a one-room schoolhouse, worked for civil rights and women’s rights, edited textbooks, served as a public relations director, and published widely as a freelance writer over three decades. Now, thanks to her work on Clarina Nichols and the early women’s rights movement, Diane Eickhoff has added more lines to her résumé: award-winning biographer, humanities scholar, captivating performer.

Raised on her family’s farm in Minnesota, Eickhoff has lived in New York City, Chicago, and her current home of Kansas City, where she moved with her husband in 1997.

Published Works: Revolutionary Heart: Clarina Nichols and the Pioneering Crusade for Women's Rights, Quindaro Press, 2006; Frontier Freedom Fighter: Clarina Nichols and the Early Women's Rights Movement, (audiobook), Quindaro Press, 2006
Awards: Winner, First Place, Kansas Notable Book, 2007 (Kansas Center for the Book); Book of the Year Award in Biography, 2007 (Foreword Magazine); Finalist in Nonfiction, Kansas City Star and The Writer's Place Award for best books by Missouri and Kansas authors; Ben Franklin Awards, finalist, biography/autobiography, 2007; IPPY finalist, biography, 2007.

Reviews

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

GOODREADS FIRST READS

The life of women’s right crusader Clarina Nichols is the focus of “Revolutionary Heart” by editor-turned-historian Diane Eickhoff. Through Nichols life, we not only see the accomplishments of a very determined woman but also see the history of the three great antebellum reform movements.

The life of Clarina Nichols begins at one end of the country (Vermont) to the other (California), but a very important part of her life was spent in helping settle and attempt to influence the formation of the State of Kansas. Eickhoff using recovered sources that had not been known of since Nichols’ death in 1885, brings Nichol life in an entertaining and engaging manner that keeps the reader manner. Eickhoff follows Nichols’ life growing up in Vermont and her troublesome first marriage that helped focus her crusading efforts in the antebellum women’s right movement that was launched by circumstances in her second marriage. While detailing Nichols’ efforts on women’s rights, Eickhoff makes it a point to show Nichol’s as a mother not just as an aside but as one of the main themes throughout the book. And through Nichols, Eickhoff helped bring into the focus how the three major antebellum reform movements—abolition, suffrage, and temperance—were interwoven with one another for a 30 year period.

“Revolutionary Heart” pacts a lot of material in 277 pages in a well-written biography of an under-recognized leader of the early women’s rights movement in the 1850s thanks not only to Eickhoff’s writing but also her background of editing. The life and work of Clarina Nichols helps give context to the 1850s and 1860s when the popular view focuses on slavery and the Civil War. I highly recommend this book for anyone wanting to learn more about the early women’s right movement.

[Clif Hostetler · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is adapted from the 2003 biography, Revolutionary Heart also written by the Diane Eickhoff. This book is targeted for the young adult reader, and I found it well written for that market. However, one doesn't need to be young to enjoy this book while also learning about the beginnings of the struggle for women's rights.

Clarina Irene Howard Nichols (1810 – 1885) was a journalist, lobbyist and public speaker involved in the causes of temperance, abolition, and the women's rights. The story of Clarina Nichols was largely overlooked by historians of women's suffrage during the twentieth century probably because she moved to Kansas in 1854 away from the New England vicinity where much of that history occurred. This was in spite of the fact that her prominence was sufficient to merit her own chapter in Anthony's History of Woman Suffrage. Fortunately, there have been some recent books such as Frontier Feminist (2009), Revolutionary Heart (2003), and this book, Clarina Nichols (2016) targeted for the YA market, that have raised awareness of her contributions to the cause.

I highly recommend this book to all young budding feminists. Remember, men can be feminists too.

[Meg - A Bookish Affair · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Clarina Nichols" is a non-fiction book geared for young adult readers to introduce them to Clarina Nichols, a woman who fought for voting rights for women. She was at the forefront of trying to change things for all women to give them more rights in a time where women were really expected to keep quiet and stay at home. I really didn't know of Clarina Nichols at all before this book and after reading this book, I find it sad that she is another name that has mostly been lost to history.

I love when books can introduce me to someone new. This book covers many different facets of Nichols' life. I liked that the book talked about both her public and private life. It really gave me an appreciation for who she was and why her work was important to getting rights for women. Nichols faced a lot of tragedy in her life, especially within her own family, and it shaped her outlook and what she wanted out of the woman's suffrage movement.

This book was well written. Again, it's geared for young adults so the way that the author writes is simple but exciting. There is so much great historical detail. This would make a great book for the budding historian!

[Anastaciaknits · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't know much about the women's right's movement. I should know a lot more, being a women, but I don't. And I admitably probably take our rights for granted, while complaining about how the boy's get favored where I work all the time, even though there are 5 times as many girls, and we do 99% of the same heavy lifting that the boys do.

This book, to me, is more a book about the women's rights movement then about Clarina herself, though naturally, since the book is named after her, there is a lot about her, too, but it's mostly about her role in the women's movements, then about her life as a whole (for example, the author talks a lot about Clarina's first marriage, but everything she writes about the marriage she relates to Clarina's future role in the movement). I wish there was more about Clarina's personal life, but the focus of the book isn't about that.

I was greatly surprised & interested in read about how in some small way, the women's right movement started in Worcester, which is where my husband grew up & my in-law's still live!

I also thought it was very cool that Clarina, a lifelong knitter, received yarn from her fans, after helping a woman on the train to keep her children!

I am only giving the book four stars, because (like I said) I wish there was more info about her personal life, but also because after a while, all of her talks and speeches and the various organizations she belonged to started to run together in my head...

[Lynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good story, not covered by most high school or basic college history classes. Learned quite a bit about the women's suffrage movement, abolitionists, and the role of Kansas people in both.

[Teri · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a young adult version of Eickhoff's larger biography of Clarina Nichols titled Revolutionary Heart: The Life of Clarina Nichols and the Pioneering Crusade for Women's Rights. Clarina Nichols was an early advocate for women's rights and abolition. Nichols grew up in Vermont in early the 19th century. As a young woman and mother, she began to speak out about the lack of rights women had. Her first husband ended up being a bad businessman and an unfit husband. Nichols came to the decision to divorce her husband but knew she would have to give up rights to her children, as men held all rights to children in divorce at that time. This particular situation would be part of her platform for women's rights and what would propel her into the suffrage movement. After regaining custody of her children, Nichols would remarry and move to Kansas, a territory that was fighting to be a free-state. After settling there, she would tour the nation speaking out for women's right to vote and for the rights of African-Americans. She also was a pit stop on the Underground Railroad. Nichols led an extraordinary life and is often overlooked as an early suffragist and civil rights advocate.

Although this book is considered a Y/A book, it's a good read that covers the life of Clarina Nichols without getting too scholarly. The chapters are short which makes it a quick read and it is full of pictures and drawings that would appeal to all ages.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Diane Eickhoff helps to educated young adults and older by creating another version of her book, Revolutionary Heart about Clarina Nichols. Somehow, I missed that book but was delighted to read Clarina Nichols: Frontier Crusader for Women’s Rights. This is timely book to read because we still don’t have equal pay for equal work and there are still politicians who want to make it more difficult to vote.

Clarina’s life is one of courage, resilience and strength. I was not familiar with her life and contribution. Of course, I knew about Susan B. Anthony, Sojourner Truth, Lucrezia Mott (an ancestor) and Elizabeth Cady Stanton but not with her or many of the names in the back of the book in the chapter, A Quick History of the Women’s Rights Movement.

Clarina’s empathy for other women in dire situations came from her first marriage. Her husband Justin Carpenter did not take on the responsibility of supporting his family, he was an attorney but did not want to practice. She was forced to piece together money for food for children by taking in sewing and boarders. He deserted her and took the children. She enlisted the help of her father in law and brother in law to get them back.

She knew that women should not have go through with what she did and started writing her arguments using a pseudonym in a paper in a different town. She was very smart and was skillful in using humor to get her views across. She was on her way to becoming a crusader for women’s rights. She endured many hardships but never gave up. This is just the beginning of her story.

I am thankful that Diane Eickhoff took an extra step by writing this book to help other people be aware of Clarina Nichols' contribution. This book is full of interesting pictures of Clarina Nichols' life, a section for further reading, notes and acknowledgments. It is well written, never boring and always inspiring.

I received a finished copy of this book as a win from LibraryThing from the publishers in exchange for a fair book review. My thoughts and feelings in this review are totally my own.

[Clif Hostetler · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is non-fiction history written at its best. Revolutionary Heart is both well researched and skillfully written to keep the reader's attention. And if you live in Vermont, Kansas, or northern California you have an additional reason to read this book because Clarina has roots in your part of the country.

This is a history of an intelligent woman who moved west, lived through the Civil War, and associated with leaders of the women's suffrage movement. She was thus a witness to the cutting edge of mid-nineteen century American life. And as it turns out, she also left a trail of published newspaper articles and copies of letters to her friends and associates that have survived until today.

I recommend this book to anyone who has interest in the history of the Civil War era, the American western expansion, the women's suffrage movement, or the lives of ordinary Americans who lived over 100 years ago.

In terms of full disclosure, I am a personal acquaintance of the author. I read the book a couple years ago, soon after it was published.

[Bookishrealm · Rating 3 out of 5]

Update! Here's the full review: http://www.bookishrealmreviews.com/20...

An interesting look at a woman's struggle to bring forward voting rights for women. There was a lot of information in this book I was not familiar and other information that I hadn't read since the time I spent getting my undergraduate degree in history. A great book for young adults of all ages. I will be doing a full post on this in a couple of days as a part of a blog tour.

[Brenda Hicks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent and compelling biography of a pioneer woman in Kansas caught up in three social movements during a time of great social change in our nation's history. This book is well researched and worth the read - especially if you are from the sunflower state. We Kansans have a grand and noble history of standing up for what is good and right in the world. I enjoyed this book.

[Redhead · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very readable. Caught my attention not only for her crusade for Women's rights, but she lived in Kansas during fight for statehood and the Civil War, both very exciting times in eastern Kansas. Well researched and the use of so many of Nichols orignal writings makes this well worth reading.

[Gemini · Rating 4 out of 5]

No I have never heard of Clarina Nichols. You typically hear of Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Sojourner Truth & Lucy Stone, so learning about Clarina Nichols & her journey was an eye opener. Her involvement in the women's rights movement was astounding. Going from New England to the mid west was not an easy path but she pushed forth to make sure women's voices were heard. The struggles she endured & having to compete w/ civil rights for blacks was also an uphill battle. Trying to be unified was difficult since some people were ok w/ women & not blacks & some were ok w/ black men but not if was black women. This was a very hard thing to maneuver back then but people were either pro-slavery or anti-slavery to then try to add women having the right to vote along w/ so many other ridiculous laws that were on the books that basically gave women no say at all. Yeah this quite the journey she took & her ability to mobilize others was amazing.

[Camille · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been interested in Herstory for years, yet I had somehow never heard of Clarina Nichols!

Diane Eickhoff did a trememdous job at writing this biography. It is very detailed yet always light in writing and reads much like a novel. The book is enriched with quotes and a multitude of illustrations - family photographs, but also sketches and cartoons of the time, as well as appendixes.

Clarina Nichols was one heck of a woman! You need to read about her and her life!

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A perfect read for this year of the 100th anniversary of the 19th amendment. But, it didn't start then. This look at 70 years prior to 1920 and the women who set the groundwork only to be delayed time and again presents a realistic view of history and why it took so long.

I heard about parts of the history of Kansas and Wyandotte County that I had not known before and the who and why it became settled in the late 1800s and the important role of women who made it happen.

[Marissa Oliver · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic piece of history for women's studies. It's a shame Clarina Nichols is not more known, but there are only so many documents to study. As a mother from Kansas, it was important for me to understand the history of the state and just how difficult it was in the infant days of the state. When my daughter is old enough, I hope to teach her this part of history, and that her dreams are obtainable even through adversity.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written and lots of history and detail about a woman I knew nothing about but should have. It's definitely more like a long newspaper article but also gives good insight into Nichols' life and what motivated her. What a tough person in a tough time.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book had some interesting facts about Clarissa Nichols, history, and the state of Kansas. It was not a page turner and somewhat dry and textbook like at times.

[Andréa]

Note: I received a digital review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Most Americans are familiar with Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, leaders of the early women’s rights movement. Almost lost to history, though, was Clarina Nichols, a fervent advocate and activist for women’s rights. Originally a Vermont-based activist, Nichols was the only early women’s rights activist to not only campaign in the pioneer territories of the Midwest but also to settle and live in Kansas during its rough start to statehood. Diane Eickhoff’s biography Revolutionary Heart saved Nichols from historical obscurity. Now, Eickhoff has written a new biography of this pioneer activist specifically for Young Adult readers. Eickhoff’s Clarina Nichols: Frontier Crusader for Women’s Rights is a highly recommended biography for the middle school reader and welcome alternative to the historical fiction centered around young European princesses that has swamped the YA market in recent years. Adult readers will also find this a good introduction to the early women’s movement, which began around 1840.

What many people today do not realize is that not only did the women's movement start nearly 180 years ago, but it was a natural offspring of the early temperance movement. In the early 1830s, local temperance unions were springing up in cities and towns throughout the United States and the territories in response to the devastating effects that alcohol abuse had on families. In addition to not having the right to vote, women in the early United States did not have the right to own property. Once married, all of a woman’s possessions, inheritance, and earnings were actually the property of her husband. A husband could spend or sell anything that his wife brought to her marriage or earned while married. Not only could men drink away their paychecks and beat their wives and children, but they could drink away their wives’ inheritances and/or earnings. If a divorce occurred, the husband--even a drunken, abusive, unemployed lout--was awarded custody of any children. Anyone who harbored a runaway wife could be sued and fined for “loss of personal services.”

Clarina Howard, born in 1810 in West Townshend, Vermont, saw these unfortunate women pass through her father’s office. Chapin Howard was the town’s poormaster, in charge of providing help to the town’s destitute through its relief fund. Unfortunately, Clarina herself made a bad marriage. After three children and seven years of marriage, Justin Carpenter, a resentful, failed lawyer, packed up the couple’s young children and disappeared. Unlike the desperate women in her father’s office, though, Clarina’s in-laws came to her aid, tracking their son down and demanding he give custody to Clarina for good.

Clarina’s second marriage was a success. George Nichols was the publisher of the Windham County (VT) Democrat, to which Clarina had been submitting articles and poetry. Through George, Clarina learned the newspaper business and made the acquaintance of a whole new set of intellectual friends and peers, including Anthony and Stanton. A respected writer and popular lecturer at Vermont and East Coast abolitionist, temperance, and women's rights conferences, Clarina's “Responsibilities of Women” speech was her most famous and laid out the agenda that occupied her for the rest of her life: property rights for married women; control of personal wages; custody rights; inheritance law reform for women; equal educational and vocational opportunities for women; and, the right of women to vote.

After her tireless work in the Vermont area, national suffragists encouraged Clarina to travel to Wisconsin and Ohio to campaign for state constitutions and state constitutional amendments that would give women the right to their own property, obtain custody of their children, and vote in school elections. She campaigned tirelessly in Kansas for both abolition and women’s rights and was an active member of the Underground Railroad. Her clicking knitting needles were the background soundtrack to the Wyandotte, Kansas, constitutional convention, when she wasn’t taking notes for articles sent to Eastern publications. Nichols also was a featured after-hours speaker during the Wyandotte convention, converting men and women to the cause and helping garner the votes that eventually passed the Kansas Constitution, along with its rights for women, into law.

Throughout her life lecturing to crowds in Vermont, New York, Ohio, Wisconsin, and Kansas, Nichols was determined to bring the “dull and dry legal problems come alive.” She succeeded—and Eickhoff succeeds in bringing Nichols to life in these pages.

DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION: I RECEIVED AN ADVANCE COPY OF CLARINA NICHOLS KINDLE EDITION FROM NETGALLEY FREE OF COST IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW. I WAS NOT PAID FOR MY OPINION. ALL OF MY OPINIONS ARE MINE AND MINE ALONE

[Sherrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Diane Eickhoff brings to the page one of the many American heroines who fought for the rights of women during the late 19th century. In Clarina Nichols: Frontier Crusader for Women’s Rights, Eickhoff pulls back the curtain on Clarina Nichol’s life and legend.

Although comprehensively written, this biography will appeal to all ages. Filled with Clarina’s intellect and wit, the story unfolds rapidly and with highly researched detail. There are things revealed in Clarina’s story I never heard in a history class:

--I knew girls and young women were discouraged from attending school and were educated in order to better their chances at a good marriage. Therefore, their time was spent learning piano or voice, needlework, art and how to manage a home. However, Eickhoff shares that the girls received an ornamental education vs. a scientific education which boys and young men were given. (p. 19)

--Divorce was not an option for women (which I knew) no matter how bad her life and the lives of her children had become. However, if her husband died, all of her problems, except an income, were solved. Yet, if she married again, she became a non-entity and guardianship of her children was passed to her husband stripping her of her rights as their mother. Yes, this was the law. (p. 69)

--Poor widows were auctioned off to the man bidding the lowest price. The town then paid him to give minimum care for her. There was no incentive to offer good care; the less he spent on the widow the more he had for himself. (p.67)

There were other examples, but too many to list here.

Eickhoff is generous with her writing. She writes Clarina’s story so that it is accessible to those of us somewhat older but also to younger people. Do not be fooled by the classification of “YA (ages 12+).” Clarina Nichols is a book for the whole family.

Personally, I recommend all families interested in raising well-rounded young men and women use this book as a family read. There will be many questions of “why” and “why not” which lend themselves to looking up more information. Eickhoff ensures fair representations of men’s and women’s rights during the time period are made.

The history of women’s rights is often forgotten in our curricula in the 21st century. We remember certain names but others have never been mentioned:

Other pioneers remain largely unknown. Frances Wright. Angelina and Sarah Grimké. Lucretia Mott, Jane Swisshelm. Lucy Stone. Ernestine Rose. Sojourner Truth. Antoinette Brown Blackwell. Paulina Wright Davis. Abby Kelley Foster. Frances Dana Gage. Matilda Joslyn Gage. Clarina Nichols. These women were as important tot he future of this country and to liberty as the Founding Fathers of the 18th century or the Civil War Generals of the 19th. (p. 198)

The book is also beautifully indexed allowing the reader to move about Clarina’s story again and again to read favorite passages or speeches or travels.

Kudos to Diane Eickhoff for bringing Clarina Nichols’s story out of the attic and for writing it with clarity and authenticity for her readers to learn more about our history as a country and as women.

My thanks to Quindaro Press for providing a copy of this book and to TLC Book Tours for allowing me to participate in the blog tour. I received no other compensation for my review, nor told how to rate or review it.

[Bryttany Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

With impeccable wit and intelligence, Clarina Nichols forged ahead in the 1800s to advocate for women’s rights as portrayed in Revolutionary Heart by Diane Eickhoff. As she witnessed the unjust in the court system when dealing with divorce cases, she “learned first to despise such laws, and second, to doubt the wisdom of the men who could make them. (19)” Nichols’s strong sense of justice and character made her a strong activist and paved the way for many other female activists.

From advocating for the temperance movement to abolition, Eickhoff remarkably covers all the movements society dealt with at the time. Among other politics, Eickhoff covers education reform and the condemnation of the Native Americans during the Westward expansion. All movements covered were connected from a female activists’ involvement and the connection between female activism and strongly supported with sources. I now better understand where exactly the root of feminism started and how women has an impact even when they didn’t have rights.

The connection was well supported partially because of how liberal Eickhoff is as a writer and how liberal Nichols and others journalists were. Many of Nichols editorials and quoted opinions candidly revealed how she viewed the current politics. Eickhoff also was very liberal and fair when sourcing the opposing views of women rights. Often, the sources revealed if Nichols campaign was successful or not.

As Eickhoff would tell the story of Nichols from the beginning, her successes and failures were equally covered which made for an inspiration, true story. Because she reveals the reaction society had, a common motivation that many feminists have today can be seen.

However, there were times when Eickhoff would be too detailed. Some details would take away from the focus of female activism. Describing the weather at length and including the price of potatoes did not add any meaningful element and would be a distraction. Nevertheless, Eickhoff was very thorough and accurate when depicting events and Nichols home life.

As the book progresses, Nichols’s development of an activist was candidly shown. All of her successes and failures were covered showing how society used to view women’s rights. Nichols’s character activates a strength needed to overcome strong rejection which made for a very motivating, a true story. In Revolutionary Heart, Eickhoff creates a true work of non-fiction with an impartial representation of society and sourcing the inner strength of female activists in the 1800s which reveals the hardship activists felt when advocating for women’s rights in order to make the progress made today.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another excellent teen history nonfiction read from the folks at Quindaro. Before reading this book, I'd never heard of Clarina Nichols, and I briefly talked it up to a regular at my favorite coffee place, who took it out of my hands and begged to read it after I was done. I didn't realize until I was partway through that I was reading a teen-ified version of an adult book (Revolutionary Heart, which I will need to find now) as this book never feels dumbed down or sanitized in any way. It doesn't shy away from how hard life was for the Kansas emigrants and the dangers of "Bleeding Kansas," or how difficult it was for women's rights workers to gain any kind of traction. Clarina Nichols deserves to have her story told as much as any of the women's rights big names like Stanton, Anthony, and Mott. THANK YOU, Quindaro, for publishing awesome, little-known history for teens!

[Raven Haired Girl]

Visit Raven Haired Girl for more reviews & giveaways

Diane Eickhoff gives an extensive glimpse into Clarina Nichols the woman as well as her trifecta quest for temperance, abolition and women’s rights. Comprehensive, this book will appeal to all ages. Providing Nichols’ backstory including personal and championing tribulations, the reader is privy to a woman passionate in her quest. Eickhoff crafts a broad and interesting overview of history in the quest for women’s rights while citing key females involved as well as the plethora of unsung heroines.

Nichols gift of writing and oration garnered her notice and paved the way for her voice to be heard. Her intelligence enabled her to comprehend and command legal language, thus aiding women in compromising positions greatly. Nichols was the first to promote and educate the need for economic rights for women, the necessity for wives to separate their property and income from their respected spouse’s control. Her sacrifices and tenacity kept this woman striving for more for others. Her efforts along with countless other women made leaps and bounds for women of today.

Listed are the familiar to few, unfamiliar, if not unknown to many, names of pioneering women fighting for rights, sadly, their names should be familiar –

“Other pioneers remain largely unknown. Frances Wright. Angelina and Sarah Grimké. Lucretia Mott. Jane Swisshelm. Lucy Stone. Ernestine Rose. Sojourner Truth. Antoinette Brown Blackwell.”

“Paulina Wright Davis. Abby Kelley Foster. Frances Dana Gage. Matilda Joslyn Gage. Clarina Nichols. These women were as important to the future of this country and to liberty as the Founding Fathers of the 18th century or the Civil War generals of the 19th.”

Diane Eickhoff’s research and homage to both history and females should be acknowledged, outstandingly well done. Looking forward to more from Eickhoff.

[Carrie Schmidt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Geared toward middle grade and teen readers, Clarina Nichols presents the true story of a remarkable woman and shines a spotlight on the struggle for women’s rights in the 1800s. It’s easy to read, but extremely captivating and full of great information that will make women grateful for the rights we do have now and fiercely proud of those who fought – without the same rights – to obtain them for us.

Clarina Nichols, the woman, is a voice that until recently has been lost to history, despite the fact that she was highly respected in her day for her work in suffrage (as well as basic rights for women) and civil rights. Clarina Nichols, the book, is well-written, easy-to-read, full of inspiring information, and will appeal to readers in middle grades through adulthood. Looking back to Nichols’ time made me appreciate all I take for granted as a woman in today’s society but also motivated me to continue to fight for the rights of those who aren’t yet given a voice. As Diane Eickhoff says in her epilogue, Clarina Nichols “would have been surprised at how far we have come – and how far we have yet to go.”

(I received a copy of this book in exchange for only my honest review.)

Read my full review at Reading Is My SuperPower

[Kate Lawrence]

The work of Clarina Nichols (1810-1885) on behalf of women's rights is not as well known as that of other 19th century leaders in the movement. But Nichols, a close friend and correspondent of Susan B. Anthony, knew many of the other leaders, and worked tirelessly for the cause as a journalist and lecturer over most of her life. Her particular interest was achieving legal equality for married women regarding property rights and the custody of children, although she also worked hard for suffrage. She thought the chances of social change were greatest on the frontier, where state constitutions were just then being written. In Nichols' day, the frontier was Kansas, so she settled there in the very dicey and dangerous period of "Bleeding Kansas." In fact, two of her sons fought alongside John Brown in the Battle of Black Jack (1856), the very first battle between proslavery and antislavery forces.

I developed considerable respect for Nichols' dedication and persistence in the face of difficulty and disappointment. I also gained a deeper understanding of what a very long uphill struggle it was for women's suffrage. By contrast a similar movement occurring at the same time--black male suffrage--was attained a full 50 years before women gained the same right.

[Bonnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very well-written, Very informative book. Had never heard of Clarina Nichols & I'm from the Women's Lib time of the 70's! Considered that she devoted most of her life to suffrage causes, that's pretty sad! Born in 1810 & coming from a Vermont Baptist family, Clarina had one dress for winter, one for summer. But she also had parents that believed in education for both boys & girls! By the time she was 12, her parents knew she was a budding writer & gave her a wooden laptop writing desk. Her father was a poormaster, desperate people in town came to him seeking help, as a teenager Clarina would sit in & listen to these interviews. This made a significant impression on her & probably helped set the Crusader life she lived. I could never give even an outline of the course of her life, besides I would hate to spoil the adventure of reading this book. Thanks to the Quindaro Press of Kansas City for the opportunity to read & review this very, very special YA giveaway book. I sincerely hope this gets widespread readership, as it is a significant portion of our American History. I plan to give this book to a young, intelligent member of my family. Thank you,

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I won this in a Goodreads giveaway.

This book was interesting, well-written, and fun to read. I'd recommend it for anyone who's interested in American history.

I've read about suffragettes before, but I don't remember reading about Clarina Nichols (who this book is about). She was an amazing, resilient woman and was well-known in her time. I love how interrelated women's rights, abolition, and temperance were in the 1800's. A fascinating time in history. There was a good balance of basic facts and humorous anecdotes that kept me reading and smiling.

There were a few times the text was a bit repetitive or there were weird jumps in time, but I think some of that was a lack of information; Nichols didn't keep a diary.

[Aaron Meyer · Rating 3 out of 5]

An easy to read biography of a pivotal player in many movements besides the woman's rights movement. I initially began reading this book because it was brought to my attention she had written and lived in Kansas during its earliest years. Although she doesnt have as much to say in this book about Kansas, besides on topics concerning womans suffurage and the underground railroad, it was refreshing to get a different view on the Kansas legislature of the time.

[Don Heiman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Diane Eickhoff published "Frontier Freedom Fighter: The Story of Clarina Nichols" in 2006. Her audio book (narrated by her) is inspirational. Clarina was born in 1810 and passed away in 1885. She pioneered women's rights, abolition of slavery, and social justice for all races and ethnic groups. Her writings and advocacy spanned both coasts and the Midwest. She influenced the Kansas Constitution, Underground Railroad, and women's voting rights. Eickhoff's work is a "must read."

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this in a Goodreads giveaway.
Well written, easy to read biography of a female nineteenth century activist for women's rights. She also was involved in the abolitionist movement. It is a great book for youth since it is easy to read and very informative, At the end there is a short introduction to other figures who were involved in the struggles of 19th century America which is a good guide for those inspired to learn more.