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She Persisted
She Persisted in Science: Brilliant Women Who Made a Difference
A STEM-focused addition to the #1 New York Times bestselling She Persisted series!
Throughout history, women have been told that science isn’t for them. They’ve been told that they’re not smart enough, or that their brains just aren’t able to handle it. In this book, Chelsea Clinton introduces readers to women scientists who didn’t listen to those who told them “no” and who used their smarts, their skills and their persistence to discover, invent, create and explain.
She Persisted in Science is for everyone who’s ever had questions about the world around them or the way things work, and who won’t give up until they find their answers.
With engaging artwork by Alexandra Boiger accompanying the inspiring text, this is a book that shows readers that everyone has the potential to make a difference, and that women in science change our world.
This book Florence Nightingale, Rebecca Lee Crumpler, Ynes Enriquetta Julietta Mexia, Grace Hopper, Rosalind Franklin, Gladys West, Jane Goodall, Flossie Wong-Staal, Temple Grandin, Zaha Hadid, Ellen Ochoa, Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha & Mari Copeny, and Autumn Peltier, Greta Thunberg & Wanjiru Wathuti
Praise for She Persisted :
* “[A] lovely, moving work of children’s literature [and a] polished introduction to a diverse and accomplished group of women.” — Publishers Weekly , starred review
“Exemplary . . . This well-curated list will show children that women’s voices have made themselves emphatically heard.” — Booklist
“[ She Persisted ] will remind little girls that they can achieve their goals if they don’t let obstacles get in the way.” — Family Circle
“We can’t wait to grab a copy for some of the awesome kids in our lives . . . and maybe some of the grown-ups, too.” — Bustle
“A message we all need to hear.” — Scary Mommy
Praise for She Persisted in
"This inspiring collective biography provides a host of role models for young readers." --School Library Journal
Throughout history, women have been told that science isn’t for them. They’ve been told that they’re not smart enough, or that their brains just aren’t able to handle it. In this book, Chelsea Clinton introduces readers to women scientists who didn’t listen to those who told them “no” and who used their smarts, their skills and their persistence to discover, invent, create and explain.
She Persisted in Science is for everyone who’s ever had questions about the world around them or the way things work, and who won’t give up until they find their answers.
With engaging artwork by Alexandra Boiger accompanying the inspiring text, this is a book that shows readers that everyone has the potential to make a difference, and that women in science change our world.
This book Florence Nightingale, Rebecca Lee Crumpler, Ynes Enriquetta Julietta Mexia, Grace Hopper, Rosalind Franklin, Gladys West, Jane Goodall, Flossie Wong-Staal, Temple Grandin, Zaha Hadid, Ellen Ochoa, Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha & Mari Copeny, and Autumn Peltier, Greta Thunberg & Wanjiru Wathuti
Praise for She Persisted :
* “[A] lovely, moving work of children’s literature [and a] polished introduction to a diverse and accomplished group of women.” — Publishers Weekly , starred review
“Exemplary . . . This well-curated list will show children that women’s voices have made themselves emphatically heard.” — Booklist
“[ She Persisted ] will remind little girls that they can achieve their goals if they don’t let obstacles get in the way.” — Family Circle
“We can’t wait to grab a copy for some of the awesome kids in our lives . . . and maybe some of the grown-ups, too.” — Bustle
“A message we all need to hear.” — Scary Mommy
Praise for She Persisted in
"This inspiring collective biography provides a host of role models for young readers." --School Library Journal
32 pages, Hardcover
Published March 1, 2022
5 people are currently reading
168 people want to read
About the author
Chelsea Clinton
15 books184 followersChelsea Clinton has always been interested in making the world a better place. When she was a child in Little Rock, Arkansas, one of her favorite books was 50 Simple Things Kids Can Do to Save the Earth, and as a teenager in Washington, D.C., she led her school’s service club. While at Stanford, Chelsea worked as a reading and writing tutor and volunteered at the Children’s Hospital. Today, she is Vice Chair of the Bill, Hillary and Chelsea Clinton Foundation where she helps lead the work of the Foundation across its various initiatives, with a particular focus on work related to health, women and girls, creating service opportunities, and empowering the next generation of leaders. Chelsea holds a BA from Stanford University, an MPH from Columbia University, and an MPhil and doctorate degree in international relations from Oxford University. She lives in New York City with her husband, Marc, their daughter, Charlotte, their son, Aidan, and their dog Soren.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
April 19, 2022
i’m a sensitive woman that wants to go in stem so this made me cry. it’s so important to encourage young girls to do what they love ESPECIALLY IN MALE-DOMINATED FIELDS.
September 3, 2022
Chelsea Clinton and Alexandra Boiger have created a wonderful non-fiction picture book series entitled She Persisted, each book focusing on a different set of women who faced hard things and changed the world: from America, from Around the World, in Sports and now, in Science. My students love these books, and were researching & writing biographies on African Canadians who persisted and are celebrated; Penguin Canada was kind enough to send a copy of She Persisted in Science to us. This is what some of my students had to say:
- This books is really encouraging to do the impossible and not give up
- Females can do anything and everything
- I loved the illustrations so much! The artwork and creativity are beautiful.
- The writing style is super easy to understand and gives you an appreciate for these women
- I love learning more about some women that I knew about and some that I didn’t
- I liked how they didn’t give up when it was hard at times
- It’s really inspiring to hear about women making differences in what is still such a male-dominated field
- It teaches people (females and males) to persist and help the world
- I love the way the book connects with readers to share these stories
- I enjoy the effort put into the series through the art and the research to teach and inspire everyone who reads it
- The ending leaves you on a really encouraging note
She Persisted in Science (and its fellow series books) are inspiring, encouraging, and gives a message of persistence through difficult things. It is a series that females and males of all ages should read and take its message to heart and into the world. A big thank you again to Penguin Canada for the gifted copy!
- This books is really encouraging to do the impossible and not give up
- Females can do anything and everything
- I loved the illustrations so much! The artwork and creativity are beautiful.
- The writing style is super easy to understand and gives you an appreciate for these women
- I love learning more about some women that I knew about and some that I didn’t
- I liked how they didn’t give up when it was hard at times
- It’s really inspiring to hear about women making differences in what is still such a male-dominated field
- It teaches people (females and males) to persist and help the world
- I love the way the book connects with readers to share these stories
- I enjoy the effort put into the series through the art and the research to teach and inspire everyone who reads it
- The ending leaves you on a really encouraging note
She Persisted in Science (and its fellow series books) are inspiring, encouraging, and gives a message of persistence through difficult things. It is a series that females and males of all ages should read and take its message to heart and into the world. A big thank you again to Penguin Canada for the gifted copy!
April 20, 2022
3.5 stars.
I read two of the She Persisted books today, and I wanted to include this excerpt from my other review:
"The "She Persisted" series is generally pretty cute, but I have to say that one of my biggest issues with it is right in the title. I feel like they're trying to say if you persist enough then you can achieve anything, but it always has this weird tone. I've had this issue since I read the first one and someone "persisted" their way out of being enslaved, and that's all kinds of yuck. This book doesn't do that, but shoehorning in "persistence" is so frustrating because it feels like a dangerous oversimplification, even in a children's book."
Anyway, She Persisted in Science is a fun little book with a collection of different women scientists of the past and present. Different types of science are represented and different levels of involvement are as well (everyone from PHDs to activists) and the women selected are fairly diverse. I was familiar with most but not all of the women included, and it was good to see some new ones as well as some of the ones I was familiar with that not as many people are familiar with (Rebecca Lee Crumpler needs to be a household name). This series biggest flaw remains the "persistence" but this volume is one of the top two for me.
I read two of the She Persisted books today, and I wanted to include this excerpt from my other review:
"The "She Persisted" series is generally pretty cute, but I have to say that one of my biggest issues with it is right in the title. I feel like they're trying to say if you persist enough then you can achieve anything, but it always has this weird tone. I've had this issue since I read the first one and someone "persisted" their way out of being enslaved, and that's all kinds of yuck. This book doesn't do that, but shoehorning in "persistence" is so frustrating because it feels like a dangerous oversimplification, even in a children's book."
Anyway, She Persisted in Science is a fun little book with a collection of different women scientists of the past and present. Different types of science are represented and different levels of involvement are as well (everyone from PHDs to activists) and the women selected are fairly diverse. I was familiar with most but not all of the women included, and it was good to see some new ones as well as some of the ones I was familiar with that not as many people are familiar with (Rebecca Lee Crumpler needs to be a household name). This series biggest flaw remains the "persistence" but this volume is one of the top two for me.
February 26, 2022
I think this one was a bit clunkier than the others in the series. Several pages had multiple people, which is fine I guess, but the one had three people and their contributions were somewhat glossed over (plus their mention in the text did not follow their order in the illustration, which bother me). I also noticed that it was pretty Covid-19 heavy, which I get is on our minds right now but I dont think will age well. And my finally dislike is the misattribution of the term "bug" in code to Grace Hopper, a fact I learned in Machines That Think!: Big Ideas That Changed the World #2. I get that it's a common misattribution but the fact that it wasn't researched seems lazy to me.
I did like the message and encouragement and learning about some women I didn't know much about so I will still purchase for me school library. It just wasn't my favorite of the series.
I did like the message and encouragement and learning about some women I didn't know much about so I will still purchase for me school library. It just wasn't my favorite of the series.
February 26, 2023
This series is simply amazing, and She Persisted in Science: Brilliant Women Who Made a Difference just dazzles. Any young girl who's interested in science, or simply how things work, should read this book so she can see just how big her life and her impact on the world can be.
April 25, 2023
This is the first book in the series that I have read. This series I received a board book. It kind of confused me at first with this being a board book. The intended age is baby through 3. This book also has a hardcover, audiobook, and a Kindle book. The book says that it is abridged for tiny feminist. I have a family of readers and we love our books. The age group for this topic and the length of the book in my opinion felt a bit of a stretch for the intended audience.
Putting all that aside. I loved the book. I love finding books that talked about science and even pointing out women who persisted in a profession that has been historically a men’s profession. I don’t consider myself a feminist nor care for that label. There are a few things we can agree to disagree with in the book. You can weed it out while reading.
The book starts with Florence Nightingale, Gladys West, Jane Goodall, and more modern women. The book covers some women who you don’t typically see when talking about science and women. It gives a wide range of science too which I find interesting.
The book ends with three women with Climate Change and how they are demanding that the government needs to do more action to protect our world. So, you will have to decide for yourself if the book is right for your family with some of the things of feminist and the government being more involved in climate change.
I Disclosure: I received this complimentary product in exchange for my honest thoughts
Putting all that aside. I loved the book. I love finding books that talked about science and even pointing out women who persisted in a profession that has been historically a men’s profession. I don’t consider myself a feminist nor care for that label. There are a few things we can agree to disagree with in the book. You can weed it out while reading.
The book starts with Florence Nightingale, Gladys West, Jane Goodall, and more modern women. The book covers some women who you don’t typically see when talking about science and women. It gives a wide range of science too which I find interesting.
The book ends with three women with Climate Change and how they are demanding that the government needs to do more action to protect our world. So, you will have to decide for yourself if the book is right for your family with some of the things of feminist and the government being more involved in climate change.
I Disclosure: I received this complimentary product in exchange for my honest thoughts
August 31, 2022
Inspiring women scientists who didn't listen to those who told them “no" and who used their smarts, their
skills and their persistence to discover, invent, create and explain.
I loved the illustrations that show the burgeoning curiosity in each young girl and then the result of what she accomplished through her perseverance.
“SO if anyone ever tells you that women can't be
scientists, if anyone ever tells you women's ideas aren't good enough or smart enough, don't listen to them. Women can be anything they want to be and make the impossible possible, just like these scientists did. They persisted and so should you.”
skills and their persistence to discover, invent, create and explain.
I loved the illustrations that show the burgeoning curiosity in each young girl and then the result of what she accomplished through her perseverance.
“SO if anyone ever tells you that women can't be
scientists, if anyone ever tells you women's ideas aren't good enough or smart enough, don't listen to them. Women can be anything they want to be and make the impossible possible, just like these scientists did. They persisted and so should you.”
December 17, 2022
The pictures were stunning and I was impressed that I only knew a handful of those included and discovered new figures in reading. I wish they had used Wong Yee Chin’s birth name for her chapter and then maybe have her Americanized name at the end. There was a broad definition of scientist which I liked and I liked that there was a broad scope of race and ages where people became involved in science. I appreciate that they mentioned the situation in Flint Michigan which is still ongoing and will hopefully have more awareness with this book. I have been to one of Temple Grandin’s speeches and she is a wonderful speaker and I highly recommend attending if you’re able.
June 22, 2023
Another book in the She persisted series that is wonderful..
I just learned about more amazing women in the world who made a difference and contributed to science and technology.
Cheers to you for your awesomeness 🙏
This book Florence Nightingale, Rebecca Lee Crumpler, Ynes Enriquetta Julietta Mexia, Grace Hopper, Rosalind Franklin, Gladys West, Jane Goodall, Flossie Wong-Staal, Temple Grandin, Zaha Hadid, Ellen Ochoa, Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha & Mari Copeny, and Autumn Peltier, Greta Thunberg & Wanjiru Wathuti
I just learned about more amazing women in the world who made a difference and contributed to science and technology.
Cheers to you for your awesomeness 🙏
This book Florence Nightingale, Rebecca Lee Crumpler, Ynes Enriquetta Julietta Mexia, Grace Hopper, Rosalind Franklin, Gladys West, Jane Goodall, Flossie Wong-Staal, Temple Grandin, Zaha Hadid, Ellen Ochoa, Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha & Mari Copeny, and Autumn Peltier, Greta Thunberg & Wanjiru Wathuti
January 18, 2022
I received an electronic ARC from Philomel Books through Edelweiss+.
Another well done volume in the She Persisted series. This book focuses on women who overcame tremendous odds in the sciences. Readers meet women from various points in history who believed in themselves and inspire them to seek out their own dreams. The illustrations provide a snapshot of each person's contributions to their field. Clinton captures each with succinct language that elementary level readers will comprehend.
Another well done volume in the She Persisted series. This book focuses on women who overcame tremendous odds in the sciences. Readers meet women from various points in history who believed in themselves and inspire them to seek out their own dreams. The illustrations provide a snapshot of each person's contributions to their field. Clinton captures each with succinct language that elementary level readers will comprehend.
April 10, 2022
Good idea in theory but meh execution. As an adult reading this, it was great, I hadn't heard of a few of these women, but if you're old enough to read this picture book, then you probably want more information than is given about its subjects. It's a good, diverse start, I guess, but I feel like they could have added double the pages and given us more to read.
June 25, 2022
The main idea is all about these women who all have persisted in science because other people thought they couldn't do it and it wasn't true. My favorite part was when Florence Nightingale persisted and convinced British hospitals to use clean bandages, give baths and healthy meals for hurt soldiers. There wasn't anything I didn't like.
June 28, 2022
Even as it covers things like being told your ideas are not good, there is not that greater level of detail like getting your ideas stolen. It is a light introduction.
It compensates for that by covering women of diverse backgrounds and in many different fields, giving a fairly broad view of possibilities, and can act as a springboard for more learning if one subject is of particular interest.
It compensates for that by covering women of diverse backgrounds and in many different fields, giving a fairly broad view of possibilities, and can act as a springboard for more learning if one subject is of particular interest.
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March 10, 2022
I read this for a reading challenge prompt - a book written for children. A solid read, definitely meant for younger kids - and is written accordingly. Not too heavy on the info, and the illustrations are a beautiful accompaniment.
April 7, 2022
This is a great book to introduced to your young daughters to encourage them to do whatever interests them. Don't be discouraged by those who try to take credit or say you can't do. Nice mix of women along with a quote from each.
October 22, 2022
This is my favorite of the She Persisted series. It’s infuriating how women in science were undervalued, pushed aside and even had their work and ideas stolen by male colleagues. It’s inspiring to hear their stories and how we benefit from their work today.
December 6, 2022
Great book to learn about women who have contributed to science. I learned about women I don’t remember being mentioned in my history or science classes - Rosalind Franklin, Gladys West, Flossie Wong-Staal, Ellen Ochoa, etc.
April 17, 2023
In what I'm sure will be as good of a seller as the other books in the series, Chelsea Clinton's companion nonfiction picture book presents more female changemakers who persisted despite obstacles and setbacks and naysayers- this time focused on STEM. Perfect for a younger audience.
December 8, 2023
This is a collection of short tributes to women who made a difference in science. I learned a lot about people I had never heard of. Kids will enjoy reading about these inspiring women. It would be a great. book to use during Women's month. Highly recommended for Grades 3-5.
June 24, 2025
"Being a woman in science isn't always easy. Sometimes women are told that their ideas aren't smart enough, their research isn't good enough and their work isn't important enough - simply because they're women. But that is not true. The world needs everyone's scientific discoveries"
Want to read
November 18, 2021Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book through Edelweiss.
March 11, 2022
These books by Chelsea Clinton are a treasure---the women truly are inspiring.
March 15, 2022
Great info about a variety of scientists. Beautiful artwork.
March 26, 2022
Good introduction. Features a diverse group- some more famous than others. Good springboard to read more advanced and detailed books about fellow women in science.
April 21, 2022
Short biographies of women who excelled in many different science fields despite extra hardships because they were women.
May 9, 2022
This made me teary. Such a good collection of short biographies of women who were courageous in their purist of science, research, and activism.
May 24, 2022
Probably best for 4-8 year Olds. My 4yo son got a little antsy but was able to sit through it. Really diverse, informative, and positive
July 27, 2022
Great addition to any classroom or family library!
September 26, 2022
I thought this was a super cute book! I loved the illustrations. I think this series is something all young girls should be exposed to. I love how they show that girls are capable.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews