Noisemakers: 25 Women Who Raised Their Voices & Changed the World - A Graphic Collection from Kazoo

by Erin Bried (Editor), Emil Ferris (Contributor), Lucy Knisley (Contributor)

From the creators of Kazoo magazine, a quarterly magazine for girls ages 5-12, comes a graphic novel anthology of women who are not afraid to make some noise!

Did anyone ever get anywhere by being quiet? To change anything, you have to make some noise! From the creators of the award-winning Kazoo magazine comes a look at the lives of 25 extraordinary women through the eyes of 25 extraordinary comic artists. In chapters titled Grow, Tinker, Play, Create, Rally, and Explore, you'll meet Eugenie Clark, who swam with sharks, Raye Montague, who revolutionized the design process for ships, Hedy Lamarr, a beautiful actress and brilliant inventor, Julia Child, a chef who wasn't afraid to make mistakes, Kate Warne, the first female detective, who saved the life of President-Elect Abraham Lincoln, and many more.

In 25 distinct styles from some of the most exciting comic artists, Noisemakers is for everyone who is not afraid to use their voice and for those who could use a little boost.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Nonfiction, Biography, History, Feminism, Middle Grade, Childrens

224 pages, Hardcover

First published February 4, 2020

Reviews

[Rod Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short little biographies of 25 impressive women by 25 artists of varying talent. Fun and educational.

For fans of Brazen: Rebel Ladies Who Rocked the World (my favorite) and Femme Magnifique.

[Skip · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is written for elementary school students, ages 5-12, like Kazoo magazine. And yet, it was still a weak effort in two respects: firstly, the content of each story was very inconsistent. Sometimes you got a profile of the woman's accomplishments, but sometimes not even that. Second, there were only one or two non-American women featured. Too ethnocentric for the 21st century. If you want to read a book about some amazing women, I recommend reading Brazen by Penelope Bagieu instead.

[Bethany (Beautifully Bookish Bethany) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an amazing collection and really cool project! A non-fiction graphic collection for middle grade readers, we get illustrated biographies of a well-curated selection of women who were groundbreaking in their fields. They include a range of personalities, careers, and time periods with a nice mix of women who are well known and women who were not. AND each biography is illustrated by a different female or non-binary graphic artist! It's beautiful, moving, empowering, and well worth picking up. The target audience may be young, but I think anyone could enjoy this. I was sent a copy of this book for review. All opinions are my own.

[Vicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

I agree with some critics that some profiles were too short and too Western-centric. I would have liked a few different choices too, like Claudette Colvin instead of Rosa Parks. I think it also would have been nice to see someone noted for being LGBTQIA+

However, I found the short list of characteristics at each profile was one feature that really set this above a lot of informational anthologies; it showed thoughtful research and each list was creative + relatable. Additionally, I loved that each profile was done by a different artist and that they sought to be #ownvoices depictions. It made going through each section really exciting as I was eager to see how each artist would interpret their assigned person.

Lastly, I did learn about a few women I’d never heard of, and that was really thrilling. I was eager to discuss this book with others, and I think that’s the sign of an excellent anthology.

[jude · Rating 4 out of 5]

very cute, inspiring anthology for kids!! not sure why neil gaiman is quoted on the cover but ok

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this graphic anthology of women world changers. The different styles in the art work were interesting to look at and there was a good mix of biographies. I liked that each story began with a list of things kids can look to see what they have in common with the person featured. I think kids hear about people who do these amazing things and don’t always make the connection that they can too. It seems like a good tool to prompt connections between themselves and these amazing “noise makers”.

[Jenna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable but too brief an overview. Might have preferred a multi volume series that allowed each individual more time. Liked the range and breadth of the categories though, as well as the mix of art.

[Marti (Letstalkaboutbooksbaybee) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was super cute, super informative children’s graphic novel about women in history. I’d recommend it for ages 8-12 but it honestly even taught me quite a bit about some notable women that I hadn’t heard of before. Which is why I love checking out kidlit because it’s fast, short bursts of information that’s easy for me to grasp and absorb and will set me off on my own internet rabbit holes of research!

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good selection of subjects and comix writers, and I learned about some interesting women. Maybe it's better for kids, but it was a bit too cutesy for me. The front cover has nice endorsements from Jacqueline Woodson and Neil Gaiman, so maybe I'm just too picky.

[Tim Chmielewski · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did have some disagreement with Neil Gaiman over this over who should have been included. They had to stop some time or it would have been thousands of pages long.

If you want in-depth stories then use these stories as an introduction to these people.

I liked the "what do you have in common with this person" section at the start of each story.

[Ben Truong · Rating 4 out of 5]

Noisemakers: 25 Women Who Raised Their Voices & Changed the World - A Graphic Collection from Kazoo is collection of twenty-five biographies and comic vignettes collected and edited by Erin Bried, which pays homage to a collection of twenty-five biographical profiles of amazing women, past and present, from all over the world that shaped history irrevocably.

Compiled by Kazoo magazine, this tasting menu of short biographical comics, each by a different female or non-binary artist, serves up enticing bits of history for an array of readers with varying interests. Part encyclopedia, part girl-power scrapbook, the collection of biographical vignettes showcases frequently lauded women alongside lesser-known figures. Each profile begins with a brief epithet, a photograph, a list of things the reader might have in common with each person, followed by a biographical comic vignette.

The anthology is broken down into subcategories: grow, tinker, play, create, rally, and explore. Great diversity in the women chosen in terms of race, fields of work, and time periods lived are represented. There is also a nice balance between very well known and lesser known women who possesses intelligence and perseverance, nearly every subject finds a way to build a life she’s told is off-limits.

All in all, Noisemakers: 25 Women Who Raised Their Voices & Changed the World - A Graphic Collection from Kazoo is a wonderfully collections of biographical comic vignettes of twenty-five women who persevered in their field of work, despite all the obstacles society has thrown at them and ended up changing them.

[TheNextGenLibrarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adding this to the top of my new library book order! I absolutely adored this nonfiction biographical graphic novel. It was so different than any I’d ever read and I learned so much about women from the past that I didn’t know about before. I think our students will connect with many of the 25 women written about in this book and see similarities in them as well. #MaverickList

[Nora deMelo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really good book! I love learning about women around the world that made a difference. Even if they weren't as big of differences as others, everyone in this book is very important. Read this book!

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

Noisemakers by Kazoo, 219 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL. Alfred A. Knopf (Random House Children’s Books), 2020. $26.

Language: PG (1 Spanish swear); Mature Content: G; Violence: G

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ESSENTIAL, HS - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

Twenty-five skilled women illustrate the amazing lives of 25 women who have changed the world. The women highlighted in these short stories rocked the world by daring to do and be more than what others told them was possible. Each woman influenced the world because they chased their individual dreams -- and you can too!

Both the variety of women whose stories are told and the variety of styles their stories are told in work together to inspire readers. With stories divided into six sections, readers are encouraged to be noise makers in many different fields; the unique passions and accomplishments of those talked about prove that nothing -- not even being a hero -- looks the same for everyone. I also love that the illustrators wrote lists of things they have in common with the women they were writing about because it teaches readers to make historical figures relevant and real. Having different illustrators for each history was a brilliant decision by the editor because it helps make each historical woman distinct from the others, and the different drawing styles also serve as inspiration for any readers who want to tell stories themselves.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2020...

[Theediscerning · Rating 3 out of 5]

Goodnight stories for rebel girls who need everything smushed into a six-page graphic novel styled soundbite. Yes, each subject gets an introductory spread, which does at least do something new – it asks us to literally compare ourselves with the topic, to see what we have in common – and then it's on to the comic pages. So, many different subjects get a lot of different approaches, from the two-coloured, to the florid and verbose. Some of it is excellent, some of it is heavy-handed on the 'yes, we can!' platitudes, some is patently too childish (mountain climbers don't deserve that). Some is inaccurate – it certainly implies CJ Walker was the first person to have products for Afro-Caribbean hair, when her rivals (and first employers) said she copied their recipe a little too closely. Some, like the woman who helped create a New York bridge without formal training, and suchlike, have had their own book solely dedicated to them, and a lot of this is a reminder that if it's a subject worthy of a full book six pages isn't going to be nearly enough to convey the same message. But it's still OK, in a scattergun way, zipping us from heroine to heroine, and providing impetus for us to borrow some of their mindset. Three and a half stars – and minus a few points if you don't live in the States – it's utterly US-centric.

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

Noise Makers: 25 Women Who Raised Their Voices & Changed the World, 223 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL/NONFICTION. Alfred A. Knopf (Random House), 2020. $26
Language: G (0 swears); Mature Content: G; Violence: G.

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ESSENTIAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

This unique format book is a collection of graphic novel style biographies done by a variety of authors. The biographies are divided by the topics grow, tinker, play, create, rally, and explore. For each biography there is a short summary of the woman’s life, a list of ways that the reader may be similar to the woman, and a six to seven page graphic novel biography.

I loved the different styles of the artist/authors and I learned a lot reading this book; I didn’t know many of the women included. My favorite part was the list of ways you may be similar to the incredible woman you are about to read about. For Eugenie Clark the list includes: “I’ve visited aquariums. I like to swim. The ocean is my happy place...I am brave. I am curious.”

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

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great biographical introduction to 25 "noisemakers" for young people that unfortunately lacks a singular editorial voice. The differences in story focus and graphic style means that some women are more thoroughly covered than others and readers may be turned off by the artist's style completely. I understand where this book was trying to go, but I would recommend Brazen: Rebel Ladies Who Rocked the World or any of Rachel Ignotofsky's "Women in" series instead.

[Tim Chmielewski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Is good for an introduction to these people, but very USA/Northern Hemisphere oriented.

Hardly any musicians either.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lovely variety of women and NB cartoonists highlighting a variety of women who led the way, sadly no trans women. Each is a vignette similar in style and length. Grades 3-6.

[Teena Chumber · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kids book. I didn’t know that Maya Angelou was first black streetcar conductor in SF. And Emily Warren Roebling was the woman who finished building Brooklyn Bridge!

[Penny · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Noisemakers: 25 Women Who Raised Their Voices & Changed the World” is a graphic collection from Kazoo (which is, according to its website, an “award-winning print magazine for girls, ages 5 to 12, that celebrates them for being strong, smart, fierce, and true to themselves”). The book follows that mission, introducing middle-grade readers to 25 women who made an impact in a range of fields: technology, espionage/politics, social justice, exploration, life sciences and more. The women include entrepreneur Madam C. J. Walker, prima ballerina Maria Tallchief, inventor (and actress) Hedy Lamarr, chef Julia Child, civil rights hero Rosa Parks and many others. Some stories are grand in scope — such as a scientist or author who fundamentally changed their field — while others are smaller, quieter, but no less impressive for their local impact. Each chapter is illustrated by a different female or nonbinary artist.

This is a solid introduction to notable women from history, appropriate for the age range (middle to upper elementary) that it was written for. I have seen some complaints that the stories are uneven — some give far more information on one woman’s achievements, while others aren’t as in depth. I did notice this, but I didn’t think it was a problem for this age of reader. Had every story felt too similar, I think readers might’ve dropped out.

I really appreciated the artwork in this book. The artistic styles differ from one story to the next, which not only keeps it interesting for readers, but also introduces them to the idea that graphic novels come in all sorts of styles — if they’re interested in creating their own, it doesn’t have to look like Marvel comic books. (At the back of the book are bios for each artist, accompanied by an illustrated self-portrait, which was a nice touch.) I also appreciated that each chapter started with a very short description of the spotlighted woman, her dates of birth and death, and a list titled “Count all the things you have in common with (fill in the woman’s name).” This is a nice feature that immediately engages readers and empowers them as they see similarities between themselves and these accomplished women — making the reader realize, “Hey, maybe I can do something great, too.”

One additional note: I thought the way they handled Maya Angelou’s childhood rape and subsequent mute years was really gentle, brief and appropriate for the age of the intended reader — but important that it was not entirely skipped in the retelling of her life.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Featuring the stories of 25 outspoken women who refused to be silenced or limited by the expectations of others, this graphic anthology will surely provide inspiration for today's girls. Although many of the women featured here will be familiar to anyone interested in feminism or groundbreaking women, others won't be as familiar, but all of the stories offer introductions to their subjects that will surely entice curious readers to learn more. Since the book is divided into six sections: Grow, Tinker, Play, Create, Rally, and Explore, readers can easily turn to the sections and consider the actions that appeal to them most. One of my favorite parts of the book is how each biography is introduced with a "Count All the Things You Have in Common with..." the woman so that young readers will be able to identify with some of those interests and characters and maybe become ground-breakers of their own someday. Anyone seeking examples of those who dared to defy the status quo, speak up for themselves or others, and make some noises will find several here. When, oh, when will society recognize that girls and women have every right to raise their voices instead of sitting quietly by and letting others determine their fates, silence them or limit them and their future? This is an excellent collection for middle grade classrooms.

[Carolina Colleene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Language: PG (1 Spanish swear); Mature Content: G; Violence: G
Twenty-five skilled women illustrate the amazing lives of 25 women who have changed the world. The women highlighted in these short stories rocked the world by daring to do and be more than what others told them was possible. Each woman influenced the world because they chased their individual dreams -- and you can too!
Both the variety of women whose stories are told and the variety of styles their stories are told in work together to inspire readers. With stories divided into six sections, readers are encouraged to be noise makers in many different fields; the unique passions and accomplishments of those talked about prove that nothing -- not even being a hero -- looks the same for everyone. I also love that the illustrators wrote lists of things they have in common with the women they were writing about because it teaches readers to make historical figures relevant and real. Having different illustrators for each history was a brilliant decision by the editor because it helps make each historical woman distinct from the others, and the different drawing styles also serve as inspiration for any readers who want to tell stories themselves.
Reviewed for https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/

[Lisa Macklem · Rating 4 out of 5]

25 stories about 25 remarkable women by 25 remarkable women. A delightful read and inspiring for girls - and educational for all ages/sexes. Each entry is very brief and includes a brief section of qualities the reader may share with the subject of the entry. Some of the women profiled I knew, but others I had not heard of. The same goes for the graphic artists writing the entries. Because the entries are short, I was often left with more questions than were actually answered, especially for the women whom I hadn't heard of - but clearly that is part of the point. Leave the reader wanting more, and if they have identified with this entry, the reader will seek out more information. I also have more questions about how the entries were selected. Did they approach the artist and aske them who they'd like to write about or did the editor choose and then approach an artist? It was, of course, perfect to have Lucy Knisley write the chapter on Julia Child given Knisley's own obsession/love of/relationship with food as shown in her full length graphic novel Relish.

[elstaffe]

Weirdly pleased that most of the women in this book were new to me--not happy that I didn't learn about them before, but excited to have non-man history being fleshed out more for me. Makes me want to look more into those I already knew of (Mary Anning, Caroline Herschel, Hedy Lamarr) as well as those who I didn't (Raye Montague, C.J. Walker, Josephine Baker).

Pull quotes/notes
"Even though I'd never seen a computer before, they placed me in the computer department.
'Can I try it?'
'No! Engineers only.'
What my boss didn't realize was that if he let me watch them long enough, there was no way I wasn't going to figure it out myself." (54) Raye Montague, ship designer

"'Delighted to meet you!
Now, is it true, all these rumors I'm hearing that y'all plan to assassinare that rascal Lincoln before he can take the oath of president?
HA HA HA Please say it's true, and tell me everything!'" (150) Kate Warne, Pinkerton detective

[Pat Trattles · Rating 4 out of 5]

This collection of short biographies is perfect for reluctant readers and graphic novel enthusiasts. Profiling 25 women who changed our world it is designed to show girls that they too can accomplish great things. One of the unique things about the collection is the (Name of person) and Me sections, where readers are asked how they are like that person, followed by a list of approximately 10 of their qualities. The lists include things like nature lover, curiosity, reader, puzzle lover, etc., and vary from person to person. But I don’t think the appeal is only for girls. I think boys, especially those who enjoy graphic novels will like it too. Each profile was written and illustrated by a different graphic artist so readers are exposed to a variety of graphic illustration styles. Boys and girls who write their own graphic stories can learn a lot from these different artists. Highly recommend middle grade read that adults will enjoy too. 4 stars.

[Sobia A Khan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was organized somewhat differently that others I have read about influential women. Instead of chronological order, it was set up in different categories, such as artists, environmentalists, activists, etc. Each person in the book was illustrated by a different person, so there was no consistency in the graphics, which kind of made it distracting because the content varied as well. The beginning of each section had a brief intro and then each female had highlights of the life asking the reader if they liked those things. This was a good touch.

Overall the book is a good introduction into the lives of those featured and a good place to start any classroom discussion.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Noisemakers was a really cute and informative anthology of short biographical comics about 25 women in history. I read a lot of these types of collected biographies, and I have to say, this one had a good layout, consistent quality, and a decent mix of women featured. It was a little too American-centred for my tastes, but there was still a decent amount of variety in the women featured and I was surprised to find I wasn't familiar with a few of them. Recommended for anyone ages 8+ who enjoys comics, history, or learning about cool people who did cool things. I plan on checking out a few of the artists whose works made up the story that I hadn't been familiar with before.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short graphic biographies of historical women. Most were women I was familiar with- a few were not. The biographies are each different, created by a different artist in a different style. Each stands alone. Although they are sorted into groups or themes, those didn't seem particularly meaningful to me - the whole thing just seemed like a collection. Obviously, with a diversity of artists there are done that are more detailed and sine that are less so, sine that I might like better and some less, but there weren't any that I disliked. This might be a good jumping off place to discover historical figures you'd like to learn more about.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love graphic novel anthologies, because you get to see the style of so many different artists at once. I love them even more when they are interesting and insightful, and this book is both! I really enjoyed the mini introductions to these 25 women and the ways each was made relevant to today's readers. I was unfamiliar with a few of the "noisemakers" (maybe 5 of them?), but I think the target audience will know very few of them. I am excited for the readers of this book to get to know these 25 amazing women, and I look forward to sharing it!