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Courageous World Changers: 50 True Stories of Daring Women of God
WINNER OF CHRISTIANITY TODAY'S 2021 BOOK AWARD FOR CHILDREN & YOUTH
Women of Fearless Faith
Meet women who have used their God-given talents to live out their faith to the fullest. They come from a variety of backgrounds, eras, and ethnicities, but each one has answered the Lord’s call on their life in bold and innovative ways.
Children of all ages will be inspired by the stories of These and the 45 other female spiritual role models featured in this book have made a profound impact on the world around them, and in many cases changed the course of history. Strong, smart, and sometimes outspoken, these women are tremendous examples of God’s love in action.
These inspiring profiles will captivate kids’ imaginations and encourage them to discover their own gifts and how they can use them to glorify God.
Women of Fearless Faith
Meet women who have used their God-given talents to live out their faith to the fullest. They come from a variety of backgrounds, eras, and ethnicities, but each one has answered the Lord’s call on their life in bold and innovative ways.
Children of all ages will be inspired by the stories of These and the 45 other female spiritual role models featured in this book have made a profound impact on the world around them, and in many cases changed the course of history. Strong, smart, and sometimes outspoken, these women are tremendous examples of God’s love in action.
These inspiring profiles will captivate kids’ imaginations and encourage them to discover their own gifts and how they can use them to glorify God.
112 pages, Hardcover
Published January 7, 2020
33 people are currently reading
413 people want to read
About the author
Shirley Raye Redmond
63 books13 followersShirley Raye Redmond is the author of several "sweet" romance novels and dozens of children's books. Many of her titles have won both national and regional awards. She is a member of numerous writing organizations, including Women Writing the West, Southwest Writers, American Christian Fiction Writers, Romance Writers of America, and the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. She lives with her family in New Mexico.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
May 11, 2022
"I think Harriet Tubman and Jane Austen would vehemently object to being labeled 'secular saints,' for the record," one of my friends recently tweeted, sharing a photo of a store's display of 'secular saints' candles. This got me thinking yet again about how often books for children completely sidestep or ignore the religious convictions of inspirational figures.
Then, just a few days later, I found this new book at the library. It is AMAZING. I absolutely love it, because even though there are lots of books for girls trumpeting the virtues of various historical women, most of these are written in heavy-handed ways that co-opt historical figures for the author's agenda. I still read many of them, because I like learning more about women throughout history, but this book was a breath of fresh air. Because there weren't any unsubtle Girl! Power! messages to contend with, I could enjoy the stories on their own merits and feel truly, deeply inspired.
This book has beautiful, appealing illustrations and one-page bios about each of the fifty women it covers. I am impressed with how much information the author succinctly covers about each one, and love how diverse the women are. The time periods range from 1412 to the present, and the women reflect a wide range of nationalities, ethnic backgrounds, interests, personalities, life experiences, and spheres of influence. Among many others, we have sports stars, writers, singers, businesswomen, activists, missionaries, nurses, a pilot, and a Revolutionary Era spy!
Amusingly enough, the book includes Harriet Tubman and Jane Austen, the Christians that my friend found dubbed "secular saints" by a candle brand. It also includes other women admired by mainstream audiences, such as Susan B. Anthony, Rosa Parks, Clara Barton, Wilma Rudolph, and Katharine Johnson, and I enjoyed reading about them from a perspective that does not minimize or ignore their core convictions and vibrant faith lives.
The book also includes women like Fanny Crosby, Catherine Booth, and Elisabeth Elliot, who are specifically known and admired among Christians, but it doesn't stop there, because it also includes a number of women that I had never heard of! I enjoyed learning about a variety of new historical and contemporary figures, and have never enjoyed a biographical anthology so much in my life.
This book addresses the oppression that some of these women faced because of their race, gender, or religion, but it does so without ever being heavy-handed. It also allows these women to give credit to God, as they did in life, instead of putting them up on pedestals. It makes sense that I connected with this book so much, since I am a Christian woman, but all the same, I enjoyed it just by virtue of what a good biographical anthology it was. It is very inspiring, and I think that anyone could enjoy it, regardless of their faith background, as long as they enjoy short histories of fascinating historical women.
My only complaint about this book is its random organization. Since many of these women were involved in multiple significant things, it wouldn't make sense to organize them based on spheres of influence, but chronological organization would have made for less jarring transitions at times, and would help readers pick up on which women were contemporaries of one another. Nonetheless, this is a beautifully illustrated, well-researched, inspiring, and thoroughly delightful anthology, and I highly recommend it to children and adults.
Then, just a few days later, I found this new book at the library. It is AMAZING. I absolutely love it, because even though there are lots of books for girls trumpeting the virtues of various historical women, most of these are written in heavy-handed ways that co-opt historical figures for the author's agenda. I still read many of them, because I like learning more about women throughout history, but this book was a breath of fresh air. Because there weren't any unsubtle Girl! Power! messages to contend with, I could enjoy the stories on their own merits and feel truly, deeply inspired.
This book has beautiful, appealing illustrations and one-page bios about each of the fifty women it covers. I am impressed with how much information the author succinctly covers about each one, and love how diverse the women are. The time periods range from 1412 to the present, and the women reflect a wide range of nationalities, ethnic backgrounds, interests, personalities, life experiences, and spheres of influence. Among many others, we have sports stars, writers, singers, businesswomen, activists, missionaries, nurses, a pilot, and a Revolutionary Era spy!
Amusingly enough, the book includes Harriet Tubman and Jane Austen, the Christians that my friend found dubbed "secular saints" by a candle brand. It also includes other women admired by mainstream audiences, such as Susan B. Anthony, Rosa Parks, Clara Barton, Wilma Rudolph, and Katharine Johnson, and I enjoyed reading about them from a perspective that does not minimize or ignore their core convictions and vibrant faith lives.
The book also includes women like Fanny Crosby, Catherine Booth, and Elisabeth Elliot, who are specifically known and admired among Christians, but it doesn't stop there, because it also includes a number of women that I had never heard of! I enjoyed learning about a variety of new historical and contemporary figures, and have never enjoyed a biographical anthology so much in my life.
This book addresses the oppression that some of these women faced because of their race, gender, or religion, but it does so without ever being heavy-handed. It also allows these women to give credit to God, as they did in life, instead of putting them up on pedestals. It makes sense that I connected with this book so much, since I am a Christian woman, but all the same, I enjoyed it just by virtue of what a good biographical anthology it was. It is very inspiring, and I think that anyone could enjoy it, regardless of their faith background, as long as they enjoy short histories of fascinating historical women.
My only complaint about this book is its random organization. Since many of these women were involved in multiple significant things, it wouldn't make sense to organize them based on spheres of influence, but chronological organization would have made for less jarring transitions at times, and would help readers pick up on which women were contemporaries of one another. Nonetheless, this is a beautifully illustrated, well-researched, inspiring, and thoroughly delightful anthology, and I highly recommend it to children and adults.
January 23, 2020
What a wonderful book!
Beautifully illustrated and thoughtfully constructed, this volume of one page biographies will introduce readers and listeners alike to the courageous lives of 50 international heroines of the faith.
Beautifully illustrated and thoughtfully constructed, this volume of one page biographies will introduce readers and listeners alike to the courageous lives of 50 international heroines of the faith.
September 8, 2025
Fern loved reading this book at meal times! Informative, but i just wish there had been more emphasis on Christ, still good though! Maybe just not what i was expecting?
June 25, 2022
Courageous World Changers tells the stories of 50 women who lived impactful lives. Redmond gives a biographical sketch of each figure, and Katya Longhi provides lovely art for the volume. Brave Heroes and Bold Defenders, the male twin of the set, was published a few months after Courageous World Changers.
Most women are directly quoted in their biographical sketch, which really adds something special to the narrative. Some of the quotations sound strikingly modern, like Catherine of Siena saying, “Be who God meant you to be, and you will set the world on fire.” (40) Yet, on the next page, Dorothy Day is quoted as saying, “Do what comes to hand. Whatsoever thy hand finds to do, do it with all thy might. After all, God is with us.” (42) I love that such a wide range of thought, lifestyle, and action is included in this book. It shows young readers that there are many, many ways to live a faithful Christian life, an invaluable lesson.
Scientists, novelists, nurses, athletes, poets--a diversity of lifestyles are present alongside a fairly good diversity of ethnicities. Details like denominational affiliation, that might be of interest to adults, are not really given here, which streamlines the narrative and makes it less confusing for young readers. Redmond takes care to mention her subjects’ experiences with the Christian Scriptures when relevant, which may make this book of interest to those who are trying to inspire their children to engage with the Bible on their own terms.
A few things kept this book from being a total winner for me. There is no order (that I can find) to the succession of people. Geographical grouping, grouping by life’s work, alphabetical order, chronological order…it seems like they were put on cards and shuffled. It doesn’t really impair reading the whole book from back to front, but an encyclopedic book like this needs to work for reference, and scanning the table of contents makes it very difficult to find someone you know is in there. I would have appreciated alphabetical order or chronological order by birth, personally. Chronological order, however, would have revealed the modern bias of the book. Catherine of Siena is the earliest figure, and only Katharina von Bora stands between her and the eighteenth century.
Some of the language choices in the text obscure historical realities, and some facts are omitted altogether--and they wouldn’t have been difficult to include. Yet again (as I weep and gnash my teeth), Rosa Parks’s act of civil disobedience is described out of context of her training in nonviolent resistance. At least, Redmond didn’t say Parks refused to give up her seat because she was “tired,” because that really grinds my gears. The biographical sketch of Shi Meiyu calls footbinding “a cruel fashion trend,” (96) even though it was a tradition practiced for nine hundred years. Some of the language surrounding American chattel slavery is not up to standard, as evidenced in the sketch of Susan B. Anthony, who “grew up believing everyone was created equal in the eyes of God--including women and black slaves.” (86) That’s just a very poor choice of words that should have been changed in editing. (And it hints that Anthony went to bat for Black women’s rights--which she didn’t.)
The illustrations are colorful, creative, and lovely to look at, but as Longhi is Italian, there are some confusing elements. Catherine Booth, for example, is portrayed with US flags though she was English. (32-33) One of the flags is portrayed backwards, which is not good flag etiquette. The narrative itself mentions that Booth’s daughter began the US branch of the Salvation Army, which makes the presence of US flags even more confusing to child readers who might not know that the illustrations and text were likely made concurrently, rather than images created in response to the text. Some illustrations (like Booth’s, Phyllis Wheatley’s, and Jane Austen’s) capture the expression of the subject in a famous portrait, while others don’t look very much like their subjects (Harriet Tubman, Joni Eareckson Tada, Amanda Berry Smith). However, I think this is due to which faces suit Longhi’s style best--anyone with a pert nose, small mouth, and large eyes will look more like themselves in her style than someone who doesn’t have those features.
Each figure has a two-page spread, with one page of text and one full-page illustration. Dates are given, along with a subtitle for each person (“Ruby Bridges Hall: Courageous Desegregationist,” 14). For direct quotations, endnotes are provided.
Overall, I recommend this book to parents, children’s ministry workers, and anyone who wants to show children the wide world of church history. Despite my quibbles, Courageous World Changers is a valuable resource. Were I reading it aloud to children, it would be easy to change suspect sentences off the cuff. I am glad it is in the world to inspire young readers, and I hope for an updated version someday.
Most women are directly quoted in their biographical sketch, which really adds something special to the narrative. Some of the quotations sound strikingly modern, like Catherine of Siena saying, “Be who God meant you to be, and you will set the world on fire.” (40) Yet, on the next page, Dorothy Day is quoted as saying, “Do what comes to hand. Whatsoever thy hand finds to do, do it with all thy might. After all, God is with us.” (42) I love that such a wide range of thought, lifestyle, and action is included in this book. It shows young readers that there are many, many ways to live a faithful Christian life, an invaluable lesson.
Scientists, novelists, nurses, athletes, poets--a diversity of lifestyles are present alongside a fairly good diversity of ethnicities. Details like denominational affiliation, that might be of interest to adults, are not really given here, which streamlines the narrative and makes it less confusing for young readers. Redmond takes care to mention her subjects’ experiences with the Christian Scriptures when relevant, which may make this book of interest to those who are trying to inspire their children to engage with the Bible on their own terms.
A few things kept this book from being a total winner for me. There is no order (that I can find) to the succession of people. Geographical grouping, grouping by life’s work, alphabetical order, chronological order…it seems like they were put on cards and shuffled. It doesn’t really impair reading the whole book from back to front, but an encyclopedic book like this needs to work for reference, and scanning the table of contents makes it very difficult to find someone you know is in there. I would have appreciated alphabetical order or chronological order by birth, personally. Chronological order, however, would have revealed the modern bias of the book. Catherine of Siena is the earliest figure, and only Katharina von Bora stands between her and the eighteenth century.
Some of the language choices in the text obscure historical realities, and some facts are omitted altogether--and they wouldn’t have been difficult to include. Yet again (as I weep and gnash my teeth), Rosa Parks’s act of civil disobedience is described out of context of her training in nonviolent resistance. At least, Redmond didn’t say Parks refused to give up her seat because she was “tired,” because that really grinds my gears. The biographical sketch of Shi Meiyu calls footbinding “a cruel fashion trend,” (96) even though it was a tradition practiced for nine hundred years. Some of the language surrounding American chattel slavery is not up to standard, as evidenced in the sketch of Susan B. Anthony, who “grew up believing everyone was created equal in the eyes of God--including women and black slaves.” (86) That’s just a very poor choice of words that should have been changed in editing. (And it hints that Anthony went to bat for Black women’s rights--which she didn’t.)
The illustrations are colorful, creative, and lovely to look at, but as Longhi is Italian, there are some confusing elements. Catherine Booth, for example, is portrayed with US flags though she was English. (32-33) One of the flags is portrayed backwards, which is not good flag etiquette. The narrative itself mentions that Booth’s daughter began the US branch of the Salvation Army, which makes the presence of US flags even more confusing to child readers who might not know that the illustrations and text were likely made concurrently, rather than images created in response to the text. Some illustrations (like Booth’s, Phyllis Wheatley’s, and Jane Austen’s) capture the expression of the subject in a famous portrait, while others don’t look very much like their subjects (Harriet Tubman, Joni Eareckson Tada, Amanda Berry Smith). However, I think this is due to which faces suit Longhi’s style best--anyone with a pert nose, small mouth, and large eyes will look more like themselves in her style than someone who doesn’t have those features.
Each figure has a two-page spread, with one page of text and one full-page illustration. Dates are given, along with a subtitle for each person (“Ruby Bridges Hall: Courageous Desegregationist,” 14). For direct quotations, endnotes are provided.
Overall, I recommend this book to parents, children’s ministry workers, and anyone who wants to show children the wide world of church history. Despite my quibbles, Courageous World Changers is a valuable resource. Were I reading it aloud to children, it would be easy to change suspect sentences off the cuff. I am glad it is in the world to inspire young readers, and I hope for an updated version someday.
December 18, 2019
I could not love this book more!
Each profile is short and easily read in a few minutes. It has enough information to make the person come alive in my mind. There's a nice variety of historical and contemporary figures. There are women from all walks of life and all ethnicities, proving that being a Christian isn't exclusive to middle class white Americans.
I'm going to gift this copy to my two 3rd grade granddaughters. It's perfect for them. The illustrations capture the essence of the story and the person. The vocabulary will be just challenging enough to encourage them to think about what they're reading without being so far above them that they'll lose interest.
The back cover says it's for ages 8-11, but it could be read aloud to younger girls. I'm quite a bit older than 11 and I learned a lot and loved it.
I'm excited to share this book with others!
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I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. It did not influence nor induce me to review it.
Each profile is short and easily read in a few minutes. It has enough information to make the person come alive in my mind. There's a nice variety of historical and contemporary figures. There are women from all walks of life and all ethnicities, proving that being a Christian isn't exclusive to middle class white Americans.
I'm going to gift this copy to my two 3rd grade granddaughters. It's perfect for them. The illustrations capture the essence of the story and the person. The vocabulary will be just challenging enough to encourage them to think about what they're reading without being so far above them that they'll lose interest.
The back cover says it's for ages 8-11, but it could be read aloud to younger girls. I'm quite a bit older than 11 and I learned a lot and loved it.
I'm excited to share this book with others!
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I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. It did not influence nor induce me to review it.
October 17, 2020
I wanted to like this- there were women I had never heard of before, they were from different time periods, age brackets, abilities, spiritual backgrounds, and countries. However a couple things were red flags for me: 1. The way Phillips Wheatley's captors are written about sits wrong with me, just very white savior-y like they and other high ranking white people were the heroes of her story. 2. In Tamika Catchings Smith's blurb the writer says she was born 'with a hearing disability'- just say she was hard of hearing or deaf... 3. And then there's the story of Pocahontas which isn't even her actual name (most other stories of the women include both their given name/name they went by and any nicknames). The whole story is just not great in my opinion. 4. Then in Narcissa Whitman's blurb the way Indigenous people are talked about is not great. I looked at notes at the end of the book and the references were slimmer then I was expecting. I know each woman just gets a small blurb, but there were some pretty major things that needed further and heavy editing.
April 13, 2025
This book is beautiful! I learned so much. Such a wonderful tribute to so many women who have changed the world with sacrificial love. Only thing I didn’t love was there didn’t seem to be any sort of order-alphabetical or chronological. It would be a great gift for a baptism.
August 11, 2022
This book was so good! They have one about men too that I want to read. It has a lot of hard topics about suffering throughout history, like slavery and the Holocaust, so I wouldn’t read it to kids younger than 6. I’m excited for my daughter to read it again when she’s older.
September 5, 2024
This is a short book. I really liked listening to it. I recommend this book for teens or adults.
January 7, 2020
In a day where young girls are being told they can be anything, do anything, don't let their gender rule them, Courageous World Changers by Shirley Raye Redmond is a breath of fresh air. These are women who were courageous with God as their focus.
Though there are some women you will recognize in this book, some are obscure women I've only vaguely heard of. And who doesn't like to learn a little now and again?
I specifically liked the quote from Mahalia Jackson, "Faith and prayer are the vitamins of the soul; man cannot live in health without them." Gabby Douglas' story was inspiring, ending with "All the glory goes to God." Condoleezza Rice, influential political adviser, says "faith and reason are not enemies of one another, that indeed we are called to love the Lord our God with our hearts and our minds."
I received this book free from the publisher and the author. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
Grab your copy of Courageous World Changers by Shirley Raye Redmond today!
Though there are some women you will recognize in this book, some are obscure women I've only vaguely heard of. And who doesn't like to learn a little now and again?
I specifically liked the quote from Mahalia Jackson, "Faith and prayer are the vitamins of the soul; man cannot live in health without them." Gabby Douglas' story was inspiring, ending with "All the glory goes to God." Condoleezza Rice, influential political adviser, says "faith and reason are not enemies of one another, that indeed we are called to love the Lord our God with our hearts and our minds."
I received this book free from the publisher and the author. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
Grab your copy of Courageous World Changers by Shirley Raye Redmond today!
July 21, 2021
This was a good nighttime reading addition. The kids enjoyed learning a few facts about famous women throughout history. I don't know that I would call all of them "Daring Women of God" - but they were all interesting women, some of them more true to the calling of God on their lives than others. Some of them...it seemed like a stretch. Either way, it gave the kids a broader view of the people who make up the history of the world, and I'm all for engaging them with history.
August 26, 2023
My 5 year old and 7 year old daughters found it pretty boring. Still good for them to hear about a variety of women of faith.
May 2, 2020
“Courageous World Changers: 50 True Stories of Daring Women of God” - doesn’t this title capture your attention and stir your curiosity? Who were these women, and what did they do for God? Although this beautiful volume - written by Shirley Raye Redmond and illustrated by Katya Longhi - is marketed as a children’s title by Harvest House Publishers, I really enjoyed reading it too! If you enjoy inspiring biographies about women of faith, I’m certain you will love it as much as I did.
Each of the 50 women featured in this book have a one-page biography and a winsome illustration depicting a scene from their life. Although the biographies are short and simply written (they are targeted at an audience of 8-11 year-olds) they still contain interesting insights into the lives of each woman, showcasing how her faith in God did, indeed, change the world in ways both big and small. The time periods that these women lived ranges greatly, from Catherine of Siena (Patron Saint of Europe) who was born in 1347, up to several women who are still alive today, such as Bethany Hamilton and Joni Eareckson Tada.
In our house, where we don’t have children in the recommended age range, we are using it as a coffee table book. . . We simply sit down and read a biography or two at a time, always learning something new, being encouraged in our faith, and enjoying the beautifully rendered illustration. I think this would also be a wonderful tool for homeschooling families, as these little biographies would be excellent for outlining and rewriting paragraphs, writing essays about women they admire, and so much more. The opportunities for using this book as a teaching resource are truly endless!
I highly recommend “Courageous World Changers” to almost anyone - not just children, and not just women. The biographies of these amazing daughters of faith are certain to inspire us all, and when compiled in a beautifully illustrated book such as this one, it becomes a treasure that I am proud to own and share.
This book was provided courtesy of Harvest House Publishers, in exchange for my honest review.
Each of the 50 women featured in this book have a one-page biography and a winsome illustration depicting a scene from their life. Although the biographies are short and simply written (they are targeted at an audience of 8-11 year-olds) they still contain interesting insights into the lives of each woman, showcasing how her faith in God did, indeed, change the world in ways both big and small. The time periods that these women lived ranges greatly, from Catherine of Siena (Patron Saint of Europe) who was born in 1347, up to several women who are still alive today, such as Bethany Hamilton and Joni Eareckson Tada.
In our house, where we don’t have children in the recommended age range, we are using it as a coffee table book. . . We simply sit down and read a biography or two at a time, always learning something new, being encouraged in our faith, and enjoying the beautifully rendered illustration. I think this would also be a wonderful tool for homeschooling families, as these little biographies would be excellent for outlining and rewriting paragraphs, writing essays about women they admire, and so much more. The opportunities for using this book as a teaching resource are truly endless!
I highly recommend “Courageous World Changers” to almost anyone - not just children, and not just women. The biographies of these amazing daughters of faith are certain to inspire us all, and when compiled in a beautifully illustrated book such as this one, it becomes a treasure that I am proud to own and share.
This book was provided courtesy of Harvest House Publishers, in exchange for my honest review.
January 22, 2020
I knew right away that I would love this gorgeous book, but I wasn't sure how my nine-year-old daughter would react. She typically reads fiction, so she may not have picked it on her own. However, the beautiful artwork easily drew her into the text, and the after reading about the first two women together, she begged to continue reading on her own. That's when I knew it was a hit! Later I caught her scanning the table of contents for the names of women she recognized (Susan B. Anthony, Bethany Hamilton), but she was equally excited to discover the stories about new heroines such as Elisabeth Elliott and Corrie ten Boom. I think that the brevity of the stories gives girls just enough to spark precious mother/daughter conversations and whet their appetite for deeper research. I can't wait for a companion book I can share with my sons sometime in the future.
I received this book free from the publisher and the author. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
I received this book free from the publisher and the author. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
January 7, 2020
Another delightfully written book by one of my favorite authors, Shirley Raye Redmond. I discovered her work while homeschooling my two children, who are now grown and still remember Redmond's books as some of their favorites. Her writing stands out because it is so charming, and because Redmond has a knack for presenting fascinating, little-known tidbits about historical people and events. Courageous World Changers is not just for children, although I know children will absolutely love it and will find excellent school report material in it. Courageous World Changers will inspire adults, as well, and would make a great reference book for pastors, Sunday school teachers, Bible study leaders, and writers. The book covers a wide range of professions, eras, races, occupations, and physical ability levels--including people with disabilities, which means a lot to me, since I am well acquainted with physical disabilities.
January 8, 2020
I was asked to preview Courageous World Changers by the author and publisher. It is such a great privilege to preview this book and encourage women to read it for themselves and then to read to it the young ladies in their lives. Girls – women – need to have Godly role models that span time and vocation. We all need to know that we are not only made in God's image but that image is very diverse. God's great desire is to have women who are not afraid to stand up for Him and to serve Him. Shirley Raye has showcased 50 women around the world and through time that are great examples of what it is like to live a life dedicated to God. I know that I have been challenged by the women in this book and I can't wait to share it with the girls in my life. I do pray that God will use this book to raise up a generation of world changers!
January 10, 2020
My children and I have thoroughly enjoyed reading this new book by Shirley Raye Redmond! These stories of 50 courageous women, whose faith and determination helped to change our world, are inspiring! The book is beautifully illustrated and highlights such a diverse mix of women. My daughter was especially excited to see Ruby Bridges highlighted in this book, as she had written a report on her in 2nd grade and portrayed Ruby in her school's "wax museum".
I highly recommend getting this book for the young people in your life and making memories reading it together! You won't be disappointed!
I highly recommend getting this book for the young people in your life and making memories reading it together! You won't be disappointed!
January 10, 2020
I loved this little book! When I got it, I just intended to read a few of the profiles, but before I knew it, I had read the whole thing. I love how diverse the women are - ages, times and places they lived, ethnicities, and spheres of influence. Shirley Raye Redmond did her research - I say that because I learned something with every profile I read, including those about women I was already familiar with. This is a great book for all ages, and a wonderful way to introduce young readers to Christian biographies.
October 18, 2023
Picked this up to read after reading the Rebel Girls books and being incredibly disappointed at how there were ZERO Christian’s represented while all kinds of other religions were. I also did not like the direction the selections were taking and what they were considering “heroic”. So I picked this up to show that woman can be courageous and change the world and be a Christian!
Highly recommend. Specifically elementary age. So great to show them women from all different ethnicities, backgrounds, and eras in history doing amazing things for God and making an impact in the world!
Highly recommend. Specifically elementary age. So great to show them women from all different ethnicities, backgrounds, and eras in history doing amazing things for God and making an impact in the world!
January 10, 2020
I love this book by Shirley Raye Redmond. It is a book that women of all ages can enjoy. This book teaches today’s women how to stand up for what you believe and continually live in God’s love. In an age where feminism is rampant, today’s women aren’t doing anything that the women in this book haven’t done in the name of a God. We can learn a lot from the women in this book. Thank you Shirley Raye for writing such an inspirational book.
August 29, 2021
This would be a good companion novel to Legendary Ladies: 50 Goddesses to Empower and Inspire You because both books feature strong female figures and showcase what they stood for and their deeds.
I appreciated that this book showcased diversity, women that aren't often taught about in history lessons, and even women who have disabilities. It shows young readers that women are capable of a lot more than history thought they were!
April 12, 2024
I wouldn’t say every one of these featured women were Christian defenders, but every story was inspiring and uplifting, from Harriet Tubman to Gabby Douglas, and many I’d never heard of. I want my kids to know stories of people who championed or stood up for what’s good and right. We rotated reading a story from this book with Brave Heroes and Bold Defenders, the book about men by the same author.
history-biography-read
July 18, 2025I haven’t technically read all of this, so I’m not leaving a review. This is a mostly nice compilation, but I’m not clear on the author’s religious background and doctrinal beliefs. There are several people listed that I would not classify as “daring women of God,“ based on a lack of a clear profession of faith, and I do not want to mislead my children regarding being religious versus knowing the God of the Bible.
January 8, 2020
This beautifully illustrated hardcover book details the lives of 50 women. Each page-long biography is encouraging, inspiring, and thought-provoking. As a mom of three daughters, I love Shirley’s inclusive approach. The variety of ages, careers, and cultural backgrounds represented makes this a welcoming addition to my family’s library.
March 10, 2020
So sweet and beautiful illustrations. Picked this up on a whim at Walmart and was so happy I did that. Just inspiring and interesting. Really lovely to see all these powerful women. Also nice that it wasn’t overly religious honestly, if anyone Is weary about picking it up because they aren’t spiritual.
August 20, 2021
I found this book of single page biographical sketches of 50 women of Christian faith to be super inspiring. Each endured hardship and suffering, used her talents and her time to serve God in serving others. Each of them did amazing things with God's strength and guidance. Nicely illustrated. Would recommend for girls and women alike.
May 9, 2021
Got this book from the library for my kids and ended up reading it myself! Great illustrations and well written, concise essays about 50 women who impacted our world for good - many of them faithful women of God.
January 22, 2025
Both the books in this series are absolutely wonderful! I loved reading a few biographies each night. I like how Redmond featured lesser known women and some were quite ordinary. They didn't set out to do something sweeping and fantastic but served God regardless.
March 9, 2020
A great informative tool for youngsters to learn about some great women of faith throughout history Just the right blend of modern and historical figures written in easy to follow summaries.
March 24, 2020
I really enjoyed this book. I loved the art work and it introduced me to several women I hadn't heard of before. Now I look forward to further reading about them. Great book for all ages!
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