She Did It!: 21 Women Who Changed the Way We Think

by Emily Arnold McCully

Meet the bold women who dared to make a difference in this gorgeous, carefully researched collection of profiles by Caldecott Medalist Emily Arnold McCully.

Prepare to discover new heroes among these twenty-one women who challenged the status quo, championed others, and made their voices heard. From Jane Addams to Alice Waters, from groundbreaking artists and social justice advocates to scientific pioneers and business innovators, a strong thread of trailblazing women runs through American history. Written in compelling, accessible prose and vividly illustrated by Emily Arnold McCully, this collection of inspiring and expertly researched profiles charts the bold paths these women forged in the twentieth century.

The subjects profiled

Jane Addams, Ethel Percy Drusilla Baker, Gertrude Berg, Rachel Carson, Shirley Chisholm, Joan Cooney, Isadora Duncan, Barbara Gittings, Temple Grandin, Grace Hopper, Dolores Huerta, Billie Jean King, Dorothea Lange, Patsy Mink, Vera Rubin, Margaret Sanger, Gladys Tantaquidgeon, Ida M. Tarbell, Madame C. J. Walker, Alice Watersm and Second Wave Feminism.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Biography, Middle Grade, Social Justice, Childrens

272 pages, Hardcover

First published November 4, 2018

About the author

Emily Arnold McCully received the Caldecott Medal for Mirette on the High Wire. The illustrator of more than 40 books for young readers, she divides her time between Chatham, New York, and New York City.

Reviews

[Tammy Freeman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great find that fit into more than once category I needed to fill for a book club I belong to. What is especially notable about this specific book is that even at almost 48, only a handful of these women were familiar to me and I loved learning a bit more history as well as having a few - oh, so that is who invented, created, started, championed for etc. Cool book for young or older, female or male.

[Leslie Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fine compilation of vignettes about strong women from America's past and some present. I sent a copy to my 14 year old granddaughter hoping it will inspire her to strive to live for what what is right and what she believes in.

[Kim Hill Markland · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It was great to read the stories of so many different women who changed our world. Many of them I had never heard of. I read one story a day until I had finished the book. I liked that pace as it gave me time to reflect on each women. It is a bit juvenile, but not so much so that adults can’t enjoy it. Would make a great coffee table book. I’ll keep it in mind for when I need a gift for a young girl.

[Meredith Spidel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let's shoutout some #reads for the #women who are rocking our world! I am so delighted with these #newtitles from @disneybooks! Go them! And go #brilliantladies making a difference!

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Women are often the driving force behind positive changes we see in the world, however, their accomplishments are often overshadowed by their male counterparts or simply swept under the rug of history. She Did It! profiles 21 women who have inspired positive change in US history. Each profile includes a mini-biography of the woman's life from birth to death or present time. Their inspirations, failures, hardships and successes are all included. Their journeys were rarely easy. The writing is done so that middle grade readers can clearly understand, complete with definitions and vocabulary; although it is still informative for an adult reader. Many of women who are profiled are women that I have heard of, some were not. I was impressed with the variety of women throughout time, women from different backgrounds, ethnic groups and who led change in areas from human rights, civil rights, equality, the arts, media and the sciences.

I was very happy that the book included some of my personal heroines including Rachel Carson, Isadora Duncan, Grace Hopper and Temple Grandin. Many of these women are not well known outside of their own spheres of influence; however changes that were affected by their advancements are still in use today. I was glad to read about the difficult parts of their lives, their struggles and perseverance for what they wanted to accomplish. It is important to know that creating change is not usually easy, but still very possible. I was also happy to learn about women who I was unaware of including Gladys Tataquidgeon, a leader for Native American rights and culture, Ella Baker, who was integral in the civil rights movement alongside Martin Luther King and Alice Waters, whose work with food accessibility is still being accomplished today. As I read through these women's stories, I began to see that even as they lived at different times and were champions of different causes, that each victory they had connected to and helped fuel the next, fully revealing the meaning of sisterhood.

This book was received for free in return for an honest review.

[Laura Gardner · Rating 4 out of 5]

The back of Emily Arnold McCully's book invites readers to "meet the bold women who dared to make a difference;" after reading this book I feel confident that readers will be excited to go out and do bold things themselves. McCully's book focuses on 21 American women who led fascinating, exciting lives and were leaders in times when that was rare and even discouraged. Many of the women were focused on issues of social justice. I had heard of many of the women like Jane Addams, the founder of Hull House, and Dorothea Lange, a photographer who brought the plight of impoverished people during the Great Depression to light. Many others, however, were new to me, such as Madam C.J. Walker, America's first self-made female millionaire, a black woman who sold hair products for black women and divorced her husband when he tried to hold her back. Ethel Percy Andrus, the founder of the AARP, was another female introduced to me through this book; Andrus helped older Americans better live out their retirements with dignity. Many of these women were shocking for their times, but as McCully says about Isadora Duncan, "to be shocking was to be interesting..." and they certainly were all interesting. The book is complemented by full page illustrations of each of the 21 women featured along with an attractive color scheme of bright colors that follow each biography (Gladys Tantaquidgeon, a champion of Native culture, has a lavender theme). Includes a discussion of Second Wave Feminism, source lists and an extensive index. Diversity is abound in the 21 women featured, which includes three black women, one Native woman, one Latinx woman, one Japanese American woman, two Jewish women, as well as women with disabilities and women who identified as lesbians. Overall, this is an excellent resource to jump start student interest in the lives of these women, particularly those who have not been featured in books as prominently in the past.

[Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book* · Rating 4 out of 5]

She Did It! 21 Women Who Changed the Way We Think by Emily Arnold McCully. NONFICTION. Disney, 2018. $22. 9781368019910

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

A collection of biographies, this book introduces readers to some women who they may never have heard of before. Each woman’s biography includes an illustration and a synopsis of her life, before covering childhood years, contributions to the way we think, and pertinent historical context.

I have read and enjoyed a lot of similar books of anthologies of women, but the thing that this book offers is a more in-depth look at the woman, her life, and the history that surrounded her. I did not care for the illustrations, which were pastel and depicted the head larger than the body. I think the fact that most of these women will be new to readers is good, but it does have the disadvantage of not providing a comfortable starting place for readers who often look for a familiar name.

Jen Wecker, HS English Teacher
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2020...

[Carolyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you have young daughters between 7-11, or granddaughter, or responsibilities for girls this age, do explore this book! If it is the story of 21 Women who Changed the Way we Think (about such topics as autism, social justice, science, business, homosexuality,) and many other BIG topics. It is A Caldecott Medal Winner, certifying it as worthy literature, but it's also a fine read for any age.
I selected it because it was the only book in our system including information about ETHEL PERCY ANDRUS, a founder of AARP, for whom I am eternally grateful! Give your girls more information about historical female leaders in fields all across the spectrum!!

[Janet Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent book for the young women in your family. 21 women who have, for the most part, been left out of "history" books are profiled and brought to life. An encouraging, well rounded list of women including Margaret Sanger, Dorothea Lange, Rachel Carson, Dolores Huerta, Shirley Chisholm, Billie Jean King and many more. Well rounded group of famous women who shaped our lives.

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I highly recommend this for students in middle school and above. Short stories with enough content to describe the prior history... the resources in the back for further reading are plentiful.

[Michele · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Prepare to discover new heroes among these twenty-one women who challenged the status quo, championed others, and made their voices heard. From Jane Addams to Alice Waters, from groundbreaking artists and social justice advocates to scientific pioneers and business innovators, a strong thread of trailblazing women runs through American history. Written in compelling, accessible prose and vividly illustrated by Caldecott Medalist Emily Arnold McCully, this collection of inspiring and expertly researched profiles charts the bold paths these women forged in the twentieth century.
The subjects profiled include:

Jane Addams - (Hull House - immigrants & poor)
Ethel Percy Andrus - (aging - AARP)
Ella Baker - (Godmother of Civil Rights movement - Jim Crow laws)
Gertrude Berg - (Writer, Producer, Star - Radio - Jewish - the Goldbergs)
Rachel Carson - (Defender of Environment)
Shirley Chisholm - (Political trailblazer - 1st African American in Congress)
Joan Cooney - (Educational TV - Sesame Street, Muppets)
Isadora Duncan - (founder of modern dance)
Barbara Gittings - (Mother of Gay Rights Movement)
Temple Grandin - (Scientist - Autism)
Grace Hopper - (Computer Programming)
Dolores Huerta - (Hispanic Labor Organizer - Migrant farm workers - Cesar Chavez)
Billie Jean King - (Champion for Sports & Women's Equity)
Dorothea Lange - (Photographer - depression photographs)
Patsy Mink - (Women and girls in education - Title IX)
Vera Rubin - (Queen of dark matter)
Margaret Sanger (Reproductive freedom - birth control pill)
Gladys Tantaquidgeon - (Native American culture)
Ida M. Tarbell - journalist (Standard Oil scandal)
Madame C. J. Walker - (businesswoman - black hair products)
Alice Waters - (Founder of Edible Schoolyard - slow food)
Second Wave Feminism"

[Meghan · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. I really enjoyed learning about women whose names I had previously only heard. Each biography is 5-10 pages, and readers catch a highlight of that person's early life, career, and golden days. It's impossible to catch everything. At times, the author refers to some... failing on the subject's part, and I imagine that a lot is glossed over. However, these women's contributions are incalculable.

In terms of format, I don't love the illustrations. I am much more of a photograph person, and I would have appreciated actual pictures in the biographies vs. illustrations.

While I borrowed the book from the library, I plan on buying a copy for my home. This feels like a must-have!

[Doris Powell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. I enjoyed reading about women I knew like Billy Jean King, Shirley Chisholm, and Jane Addams. But McCully had an interesting array of women I had never heard of. There was Ethel Percy Andrus who founded AARP, Dorothea Lange who photographed people of the Great Depression. and Gladys Tantaquidgeon who fought for Indian rights versus the American government. McCully also did a good job of explaining strange terms involved in these women's lives. I learned a lot about these women and what they did. Very nicely done!

[Janice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some of these women I had heard of and some I hadn’t, but all were interesting and had a positive effect on women and how they are treated. The changes they enabled had a positive effect on humankind. Although there seems to be a backlash to feminism today.

[Victoria · Rating 2 out of 5]

Don't believe everything you read.

[Suzi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great resource and full of lively stories about people -- women -- who deserve more recognition. Inspiring and a great gift.

[RWaggoner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read many of the brief biographies with DD. Liked the quotes it included and that it gave ample topics for discussion. Good introduction for her to many social issues.

[Melissa Phelps · Rating 4 out of 5]

Still reading, but really enjoying this book so interesting and inspiring.

[Lindsi (Do You Dog-ear?) · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Humans are allergic to change. They love to say, 'We've always done it this way.' I try to fight that." -- Grace Murray Hopper

I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. My thoughts and opinions are my own. Any quotes I use are from an unpublished copy and may not reflect the finished product.

I didn't know who most of these women were before reading She Did It!: 21 Women Who Changed the Way We Think. However, I thought their stories were fascinating, and their accomplishments were truly remarkable. I'm really glad I had an opportunity to read this book and learn about some of the women who have greatly impacted the world we live in today.

"The quest of the truth had been born in me -- the most tragic and incomplete, as well as the most essential, of man's quests." -- Ida Tarbell

Each person has a few pages dedicated to their lives and their achievements. I really liked how detailed the information was, and that it wasn't dense or done in way that made me feel like I was drowning in facts. The author tells a short story about each individual woman, their lives and contributions, and small details that referred to their personal as well as professional lives.

"Until the killing of a black mother's son becomes as important as the killing of a while mother's son, we cannot rest." -- Ella Baker

My husband and I took turns reading this one to our kids. The girls are still too young to understand most of it, but our son thought it was interesting. He had a lot of questions afterwards, and I would say this one is meant for an older audience, but I enjoyed sharing these stories with him. It would be a lengthy read on its own, which is why we would only read about two or three women at a time. I think that gave us time to process what we were reading, and not confuse people later on.