I Could Not Do Otherwise: The Remarkable Life of Dr. Mary Edwards Walker

by Sara Latta

Grateful American Book Prize Book of Honorable Mention As a teenager, Mary Edwards Walker determined she would no longer wear the confining corsets and long skirts society dictated women wear at the time and instead opted for pants with a short skirt, setting the stage for her lifelong controversial efforts to change expectations. One of the first women to earn a degree in medicine, Walker championed women’s rights, social justice, and access to health care. She became a Civil War surgeon and a spy, who was captured and arrested by the Confederacy, and she is still the only woman to have been awarded the Medal of Honor. Written by young adult author Sara Latta, I Could Not Do Otherwise teaches readers about Walker’s determination and strength of conviction, as well as her complete disregard of what others thought of her unconventional style. The slogan, “women’s rights are human rights” is a direct descendent of Walker’s “The recognition of the individuality of woman, is simply an acknowledgement of human rights, which all human beings have guaranteed them, by the fact of their having an existence.” I Could Not Do Otherwise brings to light an amazing historical figure who broke gender norms and fought for issues that are still relevant today.

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, History, Biography Memoir, Feminism, Politics, Historical

208 pages, Library Binding

Published October 4, 2022

About the author

Sara Latta is the author of seventeen books for children and young adults on topics that include dark matter, the secret life of microbes, DNA, bones, and forensic science. She also has a masters degree in immunology. She does have a bit of a phobia about heights, as she discovered when faced with having to climb down from a pyramid in Teotihuacan, Mexico.

Reviews

[HaileyAnne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dr. Mary Edwards Walker was a fascinating individual whose story should be known. She was a Civil Sar surgeon and spy, a doctor, a champion of women's rights (especially dress reform), and so much more. Nonfiction isn't usually my thing, so it took me a while to get through this book, but it was very interesting and I learned a lot. It's heartbreaking that someone who fought so hard and accomplished so much has been forgotten over time. I hope we continue to uncover these individuals and give them the recognition they deserve.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up. I had never heard of Dr. Mary Edwards Walker before this book came through our library. Obviously born about a century too early, I’d say she is definitely among the top handful of women to whom we as modern women owe a lot of thanks! Although not mentioned specifically, I think this book is written for “young readers” (note to self - remember this when checking things out from a school library! 😂) so sometimes it felt a little simple to me, but overall another excellent figure of history of whom I am glad to now have knowledge.

[Gianna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book for a class, "Women in American History". This is one of the most eye opening books I have read. It follows through Dr. Walker's life and how her unique approach to making change for women wrote her out of history. I would recommend this book for anyone that wants to make change in society and wants to be inspired.

[Lellie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've never heard of this woman before (which is sad but unsurprising, considering history and the very contents inside this book), but she is probably singlehandedly the reason I am allowed to wear pants today. Dr. Mary was one of the first licensed female doctors who graduated from a university in the United States in the 1800s. And despite having a degree, recommendations from men, and the country being in the middle of one of the deadliest wars it's ever known and desperately in need of doctors, she still had to fight her way into hospitals. Her upbringing was interesting with liberal parents who supported almost everything she did (except for wearing pants weirdly enough). She was a huge advocate for abolition. She personally knew Abraham Lincoln and Fredrick Douglas, was a suffragist and women's rights activist, was a doctor for the North and extremely patriotic, and was even sent into the confederacy as a spy.

Her life was incredibly interesting and this book is not only a frustrating look at how women and bipoc have often been erased by history, but also sheds some light onto parts of the Civil War that you rarely hear about (for example, you always hear that amputation was a huge part of treatment during the civil war, but Mary wrote how she thought doctors used wounded soldiers as experiments and would suggest amputation for even the most minor of cuts just to have something to practice on).

Overall, an interesting book about a fascinating person almost lost to history and offers a unique look at Civil War. Thanks to netgalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I Could Not Do Otherwise by Sara Latta is a biography of Dr. Mary Edwards Walker, who was born in 1832 and fought against societal and political conventions all her life. While the book is about Mary Walker, it contains a wealth of information about not only the national events happening during her life, but about many public figures of the time, particularly other forward-thinking women such as Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Lucretia Mott, Elizabeth Blackwell, and Susan B. Anthony. Mary Walker personally knew many famous personages of the time. The book is liberally sprinkled with photographs which add to its attractiveness.

Mary Walker was among the first females to graduate from medical school. When the Civil War broke out, she volunteered to be an army surgeon but was refused, despite the desperate need for doctors, because the Army did not have any women. She chose to volunteer as a civilian. She worked near the front lines during major battles, sometimes crossing over into Confederate territory, and eventually spied for the Union. She was captured by the Confederate army, serving four months in one of the most notorious civil war prisons. While there she treated other inmates in the best manner possible under the circumstances. She is the only woman to have received the Medal of Honor and one of only eight civilians to have done so.

Dr. Walker campaigned ceaselessly for a change in conventional women’s clothing. She considered corsets to be bad for women’s health, as they impaired breathing and digestion. She believed the floor-length dresses of the time to be gatherers of dirt and filth. She never wore a corset, and from an early age working on her parent’s farm, she wore a type of pant under a shorter dress. As an adult, she wore pants under shortened dresses, and eventually her manner of dress was nearer to that of men’s dress. She was arrested numerous times for this but was always released from custody.

Dr. Walker was an abolitionist, prohibitionist, and early suffragist. The initial stance of the women’s suffragist movement, following her lead, was to claim that women already had the right to vote, and Congress needed only to enact enabling legislation. Following the war, she became a lecturer and writer. She fell out of favor with the suffragist movement and unfortunately, she has become all but unknown to the world. It is deplorable, as Mary Walker was a multitalented and accomplished woman that everyone should be aware of.

The book is promoted as a young adult book, specifically for ages 13 – 18. At 208 densely filled pages, I am not sure that many young people near the lower end of this age suggestion would finish the book. It is interesting, yes, but so packed with detail that I think many younger readers would lose interest far before the end. At times, the book reads a bit like an encyclopedia entry or history textbook. Some parents might object to a brief section on Dr. Walker’s book, Unmasked, or the Science of Immorality: To Gentlemen. The description of the book contains talk of sex, masturbation, and intersex individuals.

Sara Latta researched her subject very thoroughly which shows in the exhaustive details she includes about Mary Edwards and the 19th century. The book features in-depth Source Notes, Selected Bibliography, and Photo Acknowledgments. Ms. Latta has a smooth writing style which is easy to read. She is clearly a talented writer of non-fiction.

[Madra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Today, I finished “I Could Not Do Otherwise” by Sara Latta, which chronicles the life of Dr. Mary Edwards Walker. The only woman to have won a Medal of Honor, a surgeon and spy for the Union during the Civil War, a challenger of gender norms and an advocate for women’s rights, Dr. Walker lived a very full life that was quite entertaining to read.

The author’s note really said everything I felt while learning about Dr. Walker, so I’ll let her explain. “As I read about Dr. Walker, I was amazed to learn that she was one of the most famous women of her time, and yet hardly anyone knows about her today. I think it had a lot to do with her unwillingness to play nice and compromise her ideals. She annoyed and alienated a lot of people, even those who agreed with her on most issues. I may not always have agreed with her - often I found myself shaking my head or rolling my eyes in response to some of her ideas and stances - but I could never doubt her personal integrity, grit, and idealism, even as it came at great cost to her personal life, finances, and reputation.”

To end this post, I’ll share the excerpt that had me laughing harder than I have in a long time over a book.

“At one lecture, a young man in the audience interrupted her, ‘Are you the Mary that had a little lamb?’ ‘No,’ she responded, “but your mother had a little jack-ass!’”

[Alicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story of Dr. Mary Edwards Walker is one of justice-- the right to wear the clothes she wanted to wear and practice medicine and not be bound by marriage and children, even with a cheating husband for which she took him to court to have HER first filing for divorce stand rather than his so that he could remarry even though he was the one that cheated. But it was only a brief few bits talking about her relationships and more about her fight to become a doctor, even working unpaid to prove her worth and about her freedom to dress which meant no fluffy flouncy big dresses that no one could more in but pants or versions of pants and long coats to give her more freedom.

She had a supportive family and lived her life how she sought to improve the world, not people telling her how to be and that's inspiring. It was a life of service.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Lerner Publishing and NetGalley for an advanced readers copy of this incredible work of non-fiction. I have long admired Dr. Mary Walker for her perseverance, drive, and her groundbreaking work in the field of medicine and women's suffrage. Sara Latta is a talented writer who made Dr. Walker come alive on the pages of this book. Using primary source images, documents and tons of quotes from Dr. Walker herself students of history and history teachers will both enjoy this book. I loved the sections that added context to the book and provided details about other people and events to help the reader better understand the people included in the text as well as the time period. I will certainly be book talking this book to my students and finding ways to incorporate it in my Civil War, Reconstruction, and social reform units.

[Marti · Rating 4 out of 5]

While the life of Dr. Mary Edwards Walker was certainly fascinating, it was sad too. She was at least a century ahead of her time, advocating for women's right to vote, education, dress reform, an end to capital punishment, and so much more. But her "extreme" positions and refusal to compromise her beliefs led to quite a bit of ridicule, ostracism, and lack of financial income.

While her life is certainly interesting and relevant since she would have fit right in with today's Human's Rights activists, I'm not sure it's written in a way that would appeal to high school students or adults. The text seems to be written more on a middle grade level with many words containing definitions in parentheses. I am glad to have learned more about this woman who was so ahead of her time though.

[Christa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book fascinating! I had no idea about Dr. Mary Walker and my 7th grader and I loved learning about her and the culture of the US during her life. We learned more about the women’s suffrage movement in general along with the Civil War and our country’s history through this book. I’m certain that Dr. Mary wouldn’t be easy to get along with but without women like her I don’t know where women or anyone on the margin would be. She is a new hero for both me and my youngest daughter. This book is considered Teen Non-fiction, History and it was well-written if you are looking for a history book to read with your teen.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of information about a cool woman who history has been trying to forget; she managed to annoy both the patriarchy and the VIPS of the suffrage movement, and she kept doing her own thing even when other people didn't like it. She sounds amazing. An annoying neighbor, but a good community member.

[Sophia Holcomb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful story about a courageous woman who changed the world for the better and sacrificed so much to help others.

[Megan Millard · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

An inspiring biography of a woman who was so controversial she was almost wiped from history texts despite being one of the most radical feminists of all time.

Dr. Mary Edwards Walker was a doctor when female physicians were almost unheard of. She served as a doctor in the Civil War despite the fact that she was shunted from position to position by powerful men who did not like being sidelined by a woman. She advocated for suffrage. She advocated for sensible attire for women. She was a Spiritualist who carved her own religious path. Was there anything this woman didn't do?

Despite the big lingering question of Dr. Walker's identified gender (it seems as though she always took pride in the fact that she was a woman) and the fact that she was written out of most of history because she was too "pushy" with her agenda, Dr. Walker was an ardent patriot and a kind soul who honestly wanted her United States to reflect the ideals that she saw as just. It is a shame that I had never heard of her, even though I consider myself a student of history. Perhaps it's time for this radical to be brought to modern audiences.

[Jen Bojkov · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting look at a now, little-known, feminist who was way ahead of her time.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mary Edwards Walker once said of herself "I was naturally timid as a girl, but had to overcome this through strong convictions of duty and I have felt that I must do what I believed was right regardless of consequences. I do not deserve credit for standing up to my principles for I could not do otherwise." She was a most remarkable woman and history has done her a great disservice. Women owe her thanks for her efforts to improve their lives.
Born November 26, 1832 as one of seven children of a progressive family, Mary Edwards Walker lived an open minded, forward thinking childhood. Well educated she became a surgeon, starting a medical practice with her husband.. The practice failed as did her marriage but her future impact on American history is truly remarkable. Growing up on a farm she boasted that she had never been confined by a corset, wearing pants instead of the fashionable dresses. She was outspoken about corsets - they impaired breathing and digestion and dresses with multiple layers - were gatherers of dust and dirt. Shameful by current standards and the reason she was arrested multiple times. What would she have said to judges well into the 1970's who tried to ban female lawyers from wearing trousers in court. It would have burned their ears.
Beyond her clothing choices she attempted to join the U. S. Army during the Civil War as a surgeon but was denied. At the time there were more than a few women who served while disguised as men. Instead she served as a contract civilian surgeon and, in that capacity, served bravely behind enemy lines and was the only woman awarded the Medal of Honor.
She fought for the rights of woman regardless of race or social standing and she was a staunch abolitionist.
it saddens me that history has cast her aside when she should be a household name. After reading this well researched book, having the details of her life filled in for me, I would encourage everybody to read I Could Do Otherwise.
My thanks to the publisher Lerner Publishing Group and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

[John J · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well researched

I hate to admit that I didn't know Mary Edwards Walker existed. I am very thankful that Sara Latta took the time and effort to write this well-researched book. The photographs from the 19th and early 29th centuries included in the book (Kindle version) are priceless.

What surprised me was that many well-known progressive women who were Dr. Walker's contemporaries distanced themselves from Dr. Walker because she was "too progressive." The main reason they shunned her was because she wore manish clothes she was comfortable wearing, believing the traditional women's dress of her time was detrimental to their physical health. Obsession over clothing seems like a trivial matter in the 21st century, but wearing the "wrong" clothing in the 19th century could lead to an arrest. Another reason Dr. Walker fell out of favor among the women's suffrage movement was because she did not support a constitutional amendment giving women the right to vote. She argued that the 14th Amendment already gave that right to every native-born person, so she pushed for an act of Congress instead that would recognize and mandate that right applies to both sexes. Her reasoning was that amending the Constitution has a much higher bar than passing and enacting a law. Her position seems very reasonable and practical to me because it would have allowed women to get their foot in the door to elect representatives who would further back their cause, but it was not popular among her contemporaries because such a law could be easily overturned by the courts or later rescinded by Congress.

I highly this recommend this remarkable book about a remarkable woman, who was a hundred years ahead of her time. It's unfortunate that her story has been largely erased from history, but this book may help restore her richly-deserved place among women's rights pioneers.

[Natalie Wojinski · Rating 4 out of 5]

How did I not know about Dr. Mary Walker?

Sara Latta’s “I Could Not Do Otherwise” demonstrates that Walker was a consequential figure in the early fight for women’s suffrage. She was at the forefront of women’s dress reform. She spoke extensively on both subjects. She served during the Civil War. She had access to the movers and shakers of the federal government for decades. Mary Walker did not compromise on her values and made enemies along the way. In short, her story is a fascinating example of someone who has nearly been erased from history.

The narrative of Mary Walker’s life smoothly flows throughout this book targeted to middle grade and teen readers. Latta provides some support for unfamiliar vocabulary terms and there are ample, clearly marked asides to help put Walker’s story in the context of her time. An extensive bibliography is provided for those who might wish to learn more about Mary Walker.

This telling of Dr. Mary Walker’s life is thorough and engaging. The reader learns about both her public and private life, including her quest to improve life for women, the poor, and veterans. I appreciate that the book does not sugar-coat aspects of Walker’s personality that made her difficult for others to deal with and, at the same time, dogged in pursuit of her causes.

I would recommend this book to teens and plan to get a physical copy for my classroom. This book is particularly good for teens who don’t conform to typical social norms.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #ZestBooks for a copy for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

[Christy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grateful American Book Prize Book of Honorable Mention As a teenager, Mary Edwards Walker determined she would no longer wear the confining corsets and long skirts society dictated women wear at the time and instead opted for pants with a short skirt, setting the stage for her lifelong controversial efforts to change expectations. One of the first women to earn a degree in medicine, Walker championed women’s rights, social justice, and access to health care. She became a Civil War surgeon and a spy, who was captured and arrested by the Confederacy, and she is still the only woman to have been awarded the Medal of Honor. Written by young adult author Sara Latta, I Could Not Do Otherwise teaches readers about Walker’s determination and strength of conviction, as well as her complete disregard of what others thought of her unconventional style. The slogan, “women’s rights are human rights” is a direct descendent of Walker’s “The recognition of the individuality of woman, is simply an acknowledgement of human rights, which all human beings have guaranteed them, by the fact of their having an existence.” I Could Not Do Otherwise brings to light an amazing historical figure who broke gender norms and fought for issues that are still relevant today.

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

In spite of being a history geek, I had never heard of this woman, and I am older than dirt. Much is directly from documents in her own words or those of contemporaries. The presentation is clear and with some explanatory asides which are appropriate for many people and especially for those with ESL issues who are learning basics of 19th and early 20th century idiosyncrasies. Dr. Walker really put herself out there for the causes she believed in and were definitely in the public good, like the rational dress reform movement, what we today would call basic hygiene, abolition, honorable treatment of prisoners, and women's suffrage. But it all started with the fight to get a medical degree and the right to practice medicine. Note that she is the only woman to have received the U.S.’s highest civilian award: The Medal of Honor.
This book needs to be gifted to school libraries and local public libraries. But put it in the adult section for those of us who were never taught the facts.
I requested and received an e-book copy from Lerner Publishing Group, Zest Books ™ via NetGalley. Thank you!

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dr. Mary Edwards Walker was a contemporary of Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony. She was just as active in the fight for suffrage rights as they were, yet history has erased her. Walker was also a trained medical doctor during the civil war but even though her skills were desperately needed, the men scorned her and refused to let her join them - at least at the same level or for pay. Walker persevered despite the many challenges in her path: the people who refused to work with her, those who refused to listen to her, and the ones who were appalled by the fact that she chose to wear pants under long jackets instead of dresses.
She was way ahead of her time and still does not get the credit she deserves. I learned a lot from this book. Walker is a fascinating figure from history. With that said, this reads a bit like a history book at times, so may need a bit of a niche audience in order to find the appropriate readers. Not a lot of students are going to pick this up of their own accord.
CW: medical descriptions of amputations, etc, also a fairly brief but blunt speech about masturbation and other health topics

[Kendra · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fine introduction for young readers to the life of Mary Walker. The prose can sometimes be a little too simplistic, but overall the author does a nice job of addressing sexism, fashion, sexuality, gender, suffrage, and medical history. I was surprised by the very pro-capitalism sentiment that not only did Walker save many soldiers from having limbs amputated, but in doing so saved the government money from having to pay larger pensions. That was a little odd and out of place.

[Diane Mendenhall · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was afforded the opportunity to read this book via NetGalley. I loved this book. I had not heard much about Dr. Walker. She was an amazing woman. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in women's rights. She was a woman before her time and was able to stay true to her beliefs and convictions.

There is not enough about the women trailblazers that came before us. This book is easy to read and engaging. Well worth the time to read and savor.

[Diane Mendenhall · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was afforded the opportunity to read this book via NetGalley. I loved this book. I had not heard much about Dr. Walker. She was an amazing woman. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in women's rights. She was a woman before her time and was able to stay true to her beliefs and convictions.

There is not enough about the women trailblazers that came before us. This book is easy to read and engaging. Well worth the time to read and savor.

[Meggen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book recounts the amazing life and work of a lesser known early women's rights pioneer. How grateful we are for these strong women of conviction who endured so much persecution in order to secure equality for women. It's upon their shoulders we now stand, and we benefit daily for their work and sacrifices.

[Michele]

Mary was a fascinating lady and I’m really glad I got to meet her. She was an amazing woman who did a lot of good in the world.
Mary had zero tact and I could see many instances where it hurt her career, but she was so fierce and determined, you had to admire her bulldog attitude.
If you like strong characters like her, read, “Becoming Madam Secretary “.

[Cindy (BKind2Books) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was very taken with this biography - obviously intended for a younger audience - of an early feminist. Dr Mary Edwards Walker was "one hundred years ahead of her time." She was born in NY state in 1832 and over the course of her life became:
✶ an advocate for dress reform (she believed that this was about more than simply comfort and that the clothes of her time - corsets, long skirts, etc. - were less healthy than pants)
✶ one of the first women to obtain a medical degree (Feb 1855)
✶ a champion of women's rights (voting, marital rights, divorce)
✶ served the Union as a battlefield surgeon in the Civil War and was imprisoned as a spy for 4 months in 1864 in Richmond's Castle Thunder prison before being released in a prisoner exchange
✶ a speaker across the US and Europe - not only on dress reform & suffrage but also fairness in the law and on health issues.
✶ an advocate for abolishing the death penalty
✶ the first woman to run for a seat in the Senate
✶ an author - her first book dealt with women's equality and another on male sexuality and promiscuity
✶ the first woman to speak from the desk of the Speaker of the House
✶ the only woman to be awarded the Medal of Honor - it was rescinded in late 1910's, although she refused to return it, and in 1977 was restored to her. She remains the only woman ever awarded the MOH.

And that's simply the high points. I am amazed that we have not heard more of this remarkable woman. The book gives some clues as to why she is not regarded in the same breath with the other feminists of her day (Susan B Anthony and Elizabeth Stanton among others.) She was very opinionated in her views. She remained adamant that the 14th Amendment ("all persons born or naturalized in the US...are citizens...[and shall not be denied] equal protection of the laws.") should have also applied to women and that no separate amendment was needed. She was radical in her dress, wearing pants under shorter dresses or overcoats, and eventually cut her hair short as well. She antagonized the powerful. At one point, the author recounts that she 'set up camp in the corridor outside the East Room of the president's Executive Mansion" in order to gain an audience with President Grant.

The book does frankly discuss some of her viewpoints which were radical including both male and female sexuality. This is noted in some reviews as a middle grade book and because of the discussions within (cross-dressing, for instance, as she was basically dressing as a man - and harassed and arrested for that) I'm surprised that it's not been banned in Florida. Perhaps they don't read past the title. It is something that would provide a lot of springboards for discussion in high school classrooms - both for her remarkable life and the times she lived through. This was definitely worth reading.

Quotes / information I want to remember:

She demanded the kind of respect and power that had been reserved for men.

She had ties to where I live in Clarksville, Tennessee: She served as director of the Union's Refugee House in Clarksville from April 11 to May 17, 1865. She even attended services at a local church (Trinity Episcopal Church) just after Lincoln's assassination (and of course caused a scandal with her dress as well as her actions to honor her country and president.)

From the Declaration of Rights of the Women of the United States: that woman was made first for her own happiness, with the absolute right to herself - to all the opportunities and advantages life affords for her complete development...We ask justice, we ask equality, we ask that all civil and political rights that belong to the citizens of the United States, be guaranteed to use and our daughters forever.

She made the argument that a woman should have "supreme control of her person."

She advocated against Hawaii being annexed as a territory and met Queen Lili'uokalani as part of her effort to plead her case before Congress. Pineapple and sugar plantation owners had forced native Hawaiians off their lands and prohibited them from teaching their language and culture. The new government headed by Dole (yes - as in Dole pineapple) wanted voting rights to be based on wealth.

"Dr Mary's life should stand out to remind us that when people do not think as we do, do not dress as we do, and do not live as we do, that they are more than likely to be a half century ahead of their time, and that we should have for them not ridicule but reverence."

..."what Mary Walker liked to say during her lifetime: 'It is the times which are behind me.' "

[Patricia Powell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outspoken Dr. Mary Edwards Walker, an American woman born in 1832, was a Civil War surgeon and Union spy, an advocate of women’s dress reform, and a suffragist. Although she was a contemporary of Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony, Mary saw things differently than they did. “I Could Not Do Otherwise: The Remarkable Life of Dr. Mary Edwards Walker” (Zest Books 2022) by former Champaign resident, Sara Latta, is a deeply researched and a highly readable nonfiction book.

Whereas Stanton and Anthony wore the new bloomers of the day and believed in dress reform for a time, they ceased to wear bifurcated skirts, feeling that dress reform was overshadowing their true mission—women’s suffrage. Mary Walker felt that wearing trousers and a tunic or jacket to below the knee could free women to be more active and therefore healthier. As a doctor, she knew that corsets (being the undergarments of fashion), which were laced so tight that the organs were rearranged inside the body, were ridiculously unhealthy, resulting first in a woman’s propensity to faint, and a general malaise.

Stanton and Anthony worked lifelong for a constitutional amendment that would give women the right to vote. Walker felt that a woman’s right to vote was built into the original constitution when it said “all people are created equal” and that fighting for an amendment was unnecessary and in fact worked against woman’s full rights because they were already proclaimed in the Constitution. She felt that the Constitution simply needed to be interpreted correctly, and worked accordingly.

Mary worked tirelessly alongside grateful male surgeons during the War Between the States but was unpaid by the military. To support herself, she’d have to take breaks and do lecture tours, talking about the plight of women, encouraging women to become activists, as well as lectures about the war and about surgery—topics that interested both men and women. When she toured in Europe, she was an immensely popular speaker. Back home, she was frequently considered too outspoken and perhaps too blustery to be taken seriously. Which is why, I supposed, she’s not a household name today. In her day, she was.

Dr. Mary Walker was briefly married to another physician, who turned out to be unfaithful. As all the cards were stacked against women, it took her many years to procure a divorce. But Mary wasn’t one to give up. She eventually got her divorce.

Photos, their captions, and sidebars offer loads of fascinating information about issues of the day in addition to the primary story of Mary’s life. The information is well-cited for the reader who wants to delve deeper into the topic. This book shows the plight of women in the workplace, the home, and her access to rights. If I had to write a school report, I’d surely write about Dr. Walker by starting with this book.


Patricia Hruby Powell is the author of the award-winning books: Lift As You Climb; Josephine; Loving vs Virginia; and Struttin’ With Some Barbecue all signed and for sale at Jane Addams bookstore. Books forthcoming about women’s suffrage, Martha Graham, and Ella Fitzgerald. talesforallages.com

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you, NetGalley and Lerner Publishing Group, for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

4-4.5 stars.

I was drawn to I Could Not Do Otherwise because I work for an organization that incorporates the stories of Medal of Honor Recipients into its programming and am always eager to read books featuring Medal of Honor Recipients. Mary Walker, being the only woman to receive the Medal of Honor, is certainly one of my favorite Medal of Honor Recipients and so that made me even more excited to read this book.

Overall, I really enjoyed reading I Could Not Do Otherwise and most definitely learned a lot about Dr. Walker. The book covers her entire life in detail and does it in an extremely engaging way.

My only issues with the book were:
- While relatively minor, it is difficult to understand who exactly this book is geared towards. I felt like the book covered a lot of higher level (in some cases, adult) topics (mentions of erotic poetry, very briefly, and Dr. Walker's book discussing topics like masturbation, intersex individuals) and yet many words that high schoolers/adults would know were defined in parentheses (like 'secede', 'lynched' and 'vaccinations'). I personally do not have any problem with teenagers reading books that discuss sex or even erotic poetry but it felt odd that those topics were covered while at the same time the book was defining terms like 'vaccinations'.
- In the first half of the book, there are lots of sections where what Mary Walker said is described as "Mary Walker told a journalist" without listing the journalist's name or the paper that they wrote for. I found that odd, especially since in later chapters more information is provided when quoting news articles.
- Lastly, there are sections that aren't necessarily related to Mary Walker but that provide historical context. In some cases, I found some of them not necessary to the story.

Despite these relatively minor issues, I would definitely recommend this book. Dr. Mary Walker's story is an important part of our history! She lived a truly awesome life and it is important that the public know more about her. I think I Could Not Do Otherwise truly captures the essential parts of her story and would highly recommend this book to both high school age and adult readers!

[T · Rating 3 out of 5]

Who is Dr. Walker? Well, she’s the most interesting and colorful suffragist you’ve probably never heard of. And that’s because, even in women’s history, said history is written by the supposed victors (or at least those who were clear owners of the spotlight and had enough of their own power to ensure their narrative became the one of record).

Dr. Walker is a fascinating, and complex, individual. I only wish this book were as fascinating as she is.

First - the not so goods. It’s written in a very juvenile fashion (perhaps to appeal to younger readers?) and, right off the bat, the author mislabels Oswego, Dr, Walker’s hometown, as being in the heart of the Finger Lakes region. This is incorrect. Oswego is at least an hour/hour and a half drive northeast from the true heart of the Finger Lakes region. (Source, me who lived in Syracuse, NY.)

Dr. Walker’s complexity does, however, shine through. While cliched - it’s absolutely true that she was a woman well ahead of her time:
1) Second woman doctor in the US (after Dr. Blackwell) and first woman surgeon
2) Surgeon during the Civil War and ONLY woman to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor, despite it being rescinded and later reinstated by President Carter (you read that right) in 1977
3) Wearer of pants, and in later in life, full men’s clothing
4) Anti death penalty
5) An anti-imperialist who was against the annexation of Hawaii and met with and supported Queen Lili'uokalani

Dr. Walker supported abolition until…it became clear that black men would receive the vote before white women. This was one of the few areas where she agreed with the powers that be of Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B Anthony, surprisingly and unfortunately. All 3, and probably countless others in the suffrage movement at that time, clearly and conveniently forgot that Frederick Douglass was a staunch suffragist and even implored them to add the right to vote to Seneca Falls’ Declaration of Sentiments. (As an aside, even back then it’s obvious that many pockets of white women were only in the business of looking after themselves, which can be seen as a direct through line straight to the politics of today.)

At any rate, Dr. Walker is fascinating. This book, not so much.

[Brooke - TheBrookeList · Rating 3 out of 5]

"I do not deserve credit for standing up to my principles for I could not do otherwise." Dr. Mary Edwards Walker

I Could Not Do Otherwise is an excellently-researched biography for the young adult audience, detailing the unique, radical life of Dr. Mary Edwards Walker. Dr. Walker was one the most famous women of her time, at the forefront of the Civil War as a female surgeon, but also heavily involved in politics, medicine, women's suffrage and dress reform. Sara Latta examines through careful detail and honest depiction reasons why her impact and character have been all but erased from our historical memories.

While much of her character was shocking and displeasing and her continued disagreeableness even off-putting, one cannot help but admire her conviction. Her long life saw her unwavering in her dedication to dress reform and women's suffrage. Her misery at the ill-treatment for the way she dressed was vividly keen, but she held on determinedly in a way that is difficult not to admire. Walker is portrayed here with convictions so deep they made her and so many around her miserable again and again, but she could not set aside the principles that guided her actions. Regardless of consequences, she kept to her truths and made it known.

Injustice upon insult, her history is complex and human. She was a character so unfit for her time, history has certainly had difficulty placing her.

Read as a nomination in the nonfiction book award category as a panelist for Children's and Young Adult Bloggers' Literary Awards (Cybils Awards).

Title is for young adult audience, but still feels a smidge adult and a little on the dense side as far as something that would engage high school readers.