The Rose of Washington Square: A Novel of Rose O'Neill, Creator of the Kewpie Doll

by Pat Wahler

Self-taught artist Rose O'Neill leaves the Midwest for New York in 1893, determined to become an illustrator in a field dominated by males. Mindful of her duty to the impoverished family she left behind, Rose’s obligations require her to yield to the men who hold the reins of her career.

Yet despite the obstacles facing her, she excels at her craft, eventually designing a new character, the Kewpie. Her creation explodes into a phenomenon, but Rose’s disenchantment with the status quo fosters new ambitions. She must decide whether to remain within the boundaries dictated for her, or risk everything she’s gained to pursue the creative and personal passions that ignite her soul.

The Rose of Washington Square is the story of a remarkable artist, writer, suffragist, and philanthropist whose talents lifted her from obscurity into one of the most famous women of her era.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Audiobook, Fiction

391 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2023

About the author

Pat Wahler is a Missouri native and avid reader. She is winner of Western Fictioneers' Best First Novel of 2018, a Walter Williams Award winner, and the winner of Author Circle Awards 2019 Novel of Excellence in Historical Fiction for I am Mrs. Jesse James.

Her newest books include a holiday-themed eBook - The Christmas Keepsake; and The Rose of Washington Square: A Novel of Rose O'Neill, creator of the Kewpie Doll, tracing the journey of a young woman who turned an idea into an empire.

A frequent contributor to the Chicken Soup for the Soul anthologies, Pat is an avid reader with a special passion for historical fiction, women’s fiction, and stories with heart. She makes her home in Missouri with her husband and two rescue critters—one feisty Peek-a-poo pup and a tabby cat with plenty of attitude. You can follow Pat’s newsletter, blog, and social media at her website.

Reviews

[Kremena Koleva · Rating 4 out of 5]

Съдбата и личността на Роуз О'Нийл са интересни. Всеки като дете е виждал малките срамежливи кукли - бебета , приличащи на херувимчета, със заоблени коремчета, тръпчинки на бузите и сведен поглед. А в Америка са разглеждали и комиксите с участието на Kewpie.
Жена, постигнала успехите си чрез таланта си на художник, писателските си умения и с ясната цел да помогне на голямото си, но бедно семейство, от което произлиза. Свободата на духа и чувството й за хумор я водят през света на мъжкото доминиращо присъствие като професионален артист. Ярката й личност привлича ухажори и верни приятели дори в Европа. Постепенно името й започва да се свързва със силата на художественото й въображение и с независимата й женственост. И с меценатството й.
Двата брака, които Роуз О'Нийл сключва й даряват страст, романтизъм, връзки с артистичните кръгове, любов към пътуванията и връзки, които да подкрепят разностранните й творчески търсения. Но всичко това все още не е любов, не е сигурност, не е увереност в усещанията на съпруг и не е удовлетворение от направената стъпка. И двата й брака просъществуват за не повече от пет години. Време, достатъчно Роуз да разбере, първият й мъж поощрява рисуването на карикатури за известните вестници и списания в Ню Йорк, за да може необезпокояван да осребрява чековете й, да поддържа страсттаси към хубавите дрехи и към алкохола. Смачканото му самочувствие от омразната му работа да продава лекарства и от неуспеха на фамилния опит за създаване на първия филм / движещи се картинки тогава , в началото на 20 - ти век/ не е лек товар за Роуз. Накрая стремежите, самочувствието и инстинкта за самосъхранение на една жена вземат връх и тя прекратява тази връзка. Втория й брак е с човек, който изпада в мрачни настроения и в мълчаливо присъствие на моменти. И придпочитанията му да живее с книгите, които пише, със собствените си демони и опитите му да смачкат ярката , усмихната и лъчезарна личност на Роуз О'Нийл завършват с второто й освобождаване от брачния обет. И като създател на куклите Kewpie, като автор на книги, комикси и много картини, изкупувани още в художествените галерии, Роуз О'Нийл запазва независимостта си и правото си да осигури на дома на родителите си сигурност, разширение и яркост. Подпомага братята и сестрите си по всички възможни начини. И дава на душата и таланта си място за изява в света, където мъжете създават правилата.
Страхотна книга! Всичко ми беше интересно! Включително и епохата, в която Роуз О'Нийл достига най - големите успехи и започва да бере плодовете на разностранните си художествени търсения. Това са двадесетте години на миналия век. Времето, когато е родена моята любима баба. Разглеждайки старите фотографии, сравнявах облеклата и атмосферата от двете страни на океана. Беше ми повече от приятно да сравнявам и да научавам още и още за средата, в която са живели хората тогава.

* " Брак. Очакване за жените. Институцията трябва да е създадена само по две причини - да гарантира сигурността на нежния пол и да снабдява следващото поколение граждани. "
* " Истинският живот е съставен от трагедии, радост и ежедневни събития. Според мен хуморът в дадена ситуация е това, което поддържа надеждата жива.“

[Dive Into A Good Book · Rating 4 out of 5]

Is there a toy that will sweep you back to your childhood? My mother would let me play with her Kewpie doll when I was little. The little cherub face, with its shy smile, eyes looking to the left or right, its plumb little tummy, cute little curl on top, just waiting to be played with. The Rose of Washington Square takes you through the life of Rose O'Neill, the creator of the Kewpie. She was determined to break through all of the men illustrators to be able to draw her cartoons and have them printed in all of the major newspapers and magazines. She was brought up to never give up, to go for her dream, no matter how hard you must fight. You have to remember she travels to NYC in 1893 with a dream and she does not give up until she has it.

Not only is Rose fighting to make a living for herself, but she also carries all of the weight for her family. She is determined to make a better life not just for herself but for her parents and siblings. I thought her parents took advantage of her, having her send money home so they could live out their own dreams. In the end I think that was the type of person she was. Rose wanted to carry the world on her shoulders, make their lives easier, and not want for anything. She finds love and marries only to have the man cash her paychecks before she could even get to them. It was a different time, a time when women were supposed to be in the background, taking care of the home. Not working their tail off to support everyone around them. The Kewpie came out of an illustration that took off. Rose knew that every child should have a Kewpie in their hand, and she was determined to get it there. Not only did they bring joy to children's faces, but they hit upon literal Kewpie gold. Living with money beyond their wildest dreams. Rose had it in her head that she must take every artist, friend, family member under her wing, give them a roof, shelter them, and feed them. This was fine until the war hit and the depression took hold. Shaking the very foundation that Rose had created.

Pat Wahler brought Rose O'Neill to life. You can picture her sitting in her studio creating her illustrations, comics, Kewpie's, sweet monster, and her sculptors. The details and descriptions are phenomenal and takes you on a trip back in time. The family dynamics, the artist communities, the friendships, the family drama, takes hold of you and does not let go. The amount of research that went into this book is phenomenal and oozes from every page. Thank you to Pat Wahler, HF Virtual Book Tours, and Evergreen Tree Press for my gifted copy.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Before beanie babies and cabbage patch dolls, Kewpie dolls were the 'must have' toy of the early 20th century. They were first drawn as a comic strip character by Rose O'Neill in 1909. At the time, Rose was the highest paid female illustrator in the world. This novel is the story of Rose and how she achieved her success and popularity in a world dominated by men.

Rose was born in 1874 to parents who urged her to use her artistic talent and be successful. In 1893, she made a trip to New York City to try to sell some of her illustrations. She was often turned away from the popular magazines strictly because she was a woman. When her first illustrations were finally accepted and she started making some money, she started sending money home for her family. The more popular her illustrations became, the more money she sent home. She began to branch out her artistic talents and doing comic strips. Her kewpie doll comics became very popular with women and children and when she was approached about making a real doll, kewpie dolls became very popular and the money started rolling in. She was thrilled with her success but felt that she had to use her money to help support not only her family but also any starving artist that needed help. During her early time in New York, she married someone who swept her off her feet but ended up cashing her checks and using her money for his own enjoyment. She divorced him and swore off men until she met an author who intrigued. After several years of putting up with his mercurial moods, she divorced him too. She became very popular in New York and made frequent trips to Europe to meet other artists and take classes. When she was in New York she enjoyed having her house full of artists and poets and authors and having salons where people shared their talents. She was generous to a fault, even when the sale of Kewpie dolls diminished she always shared what she had with others.

I really enjoyed Rose's story. She was a strong woman in a man's world who learned to live life on her terms and fight against the boundaries that women were held in during this time. Her love life was tumultuous and she always seemed to pick the wrong man for her but once she realized she could be successful without a man by her side, she thrived. She became deeply involved in the suffragist movement of the time and with the lives and struggles of other artists. With grit and tenacity, Rose O'Neill blazed an unforgettable path during the tumultuous times of the early 20th century.

[David Fitz-Gerald · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Magnificent Creation

THE ROSE OF WASHINGTON SQUARE opens in June of 1893. Tenacious, 19-year-old Rose O’Neill uses a combination of sweet talk, fast talk, quick wits, and charm to win an audience with the art editor of a New York City magazine. Try as he might, Mr. Martin cannot brush off the talented illustrator and she manages to close the deal. Ultimately, he gives her feedback. “I like the way you use humor in your sketches tempered with a touch of pity. Keep that angle.”

A few pages later, Rose says, “In my opinion, the humor in a situation is what keeps hope alive.” That sentiment seems to travel through the decades as we witness this trailblazing woman’s adult life.

In the first couple of pages, Rose also says to the editor, “A woman will never permanently shed her sisters.” At that time, she refers to a pair of nuns who chaperone her business affairs. In the middle of the book, it seems to apply to her sisters in the suffrage movement. At the end, it certainly applies to her siblings.

Rose finds success as a magazine illustrator and drawing comic strips, but also wishes to be a serious artist. She writes novels, paints, and sculpts. Yet she never seems to mind that the humorous imps that made her rich and famous became her life’s work, even as she seeks success with her other artistic endeavors. It’s as if she was not meant to exist in only one medium.

A restless spirit also can’t call just one place home. Imagine a person equally at home in Missouri, New York City, Connecticut, Paris, and Italy. Reflecting on Rose after reading the book, it’s clear that she was a complicated woman.

And Rose’s love life mirrored her need to live in several different places at once. At a time when divorces were rare, Rose married twice, for about five years each, and neither man was a good match for her. Ultimately, she was more dedicated to causes than romance.

The protagonist of this novel would have appreciated the author’s sweet dedication: “To the artists and poets and dreamers who never, never, never give up.” Late in the story, Rose insists that her young lover focus on his art, and that creates conflict in their relationship.

In the last third of the novel, the decade-spanning epic was overpopulated with lesser characters that became impossible to keep track of or care about, so I read through them. Perhaps this was included to show the wide circles in which Rose traveled.

Even after spending hundreds of pages with Rose O’Neill, she remains an enigma. She’s ahead of her times, generous to a fault, and yet there seems to be something selfish about her that’s hard to point a finger at. “The greatest lesson of all” isn’t the humor that keeps hope alive, but rather, “the pleasure of living on no one’s terms but my own.”

Congratulations to the author on a magnificent creation. Just like the populace in the early 1900s, I’m left wanting more Kewpie creations. I’ll have to see if I can find some old comic strips. Good old-fashioned Americana!

This rags to riches and back to rags again story encompasses 50 years of history, with a shadow of a nod to the age of exploration and spanning through prohibition, two World Wars, and the Great Depression, what an ambitious work. I highly recommend THE ROSE OF WASHINGTON SQUARE.

[Amy Reade · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel is an historical biography of a woman I'd never heard of until I read the description of the book. Millions of people are familiar with the Kewpie dolls, but it seems relatively few are familiar with Rose O'Neill, their creator.

The story of Rose O'Neill is one of highs and lows, of excess and want, of loyalty and betrayal. I believe Rose O'Neill lived more than most of us do. Starting with nothing but grit and artistic talent at a time when many women didn't work outside the home, she made a name for herself in New York City, climbed the ladder of fame in a man's world, traveled extensively and made lifelong friends everywhere she went, married (more than once), divorced (more than once), immersed herself in the cause of women's suffrage, and fell ever deeper in love with art and the artists who create it.

This book tells Rose's story in a way that is lush, vibrant, and poignant. Rose's love for her family and her work are the strong threads weaving through every aspect of her life. They're the threads that ground her when her world feels like it's coming apart. I loved reading about her spunk, her zest for life and artistic pursuits, and her incredible generosity—not just of her money, but of her spirit and enthusiasm.

The amount of research that must have gone into the book is mind-boggling. I knew from reading a previous novel by this author (I am Mrs. Jesse James) that the research would be extensive and impeccable, but I can't even imagine the work that must have gone into writing this historical biography. It is abundantly clear that it was a labor of love by the author.

I savored this book as I would a fine piece of art, in the same way I imagine Rose O'Neill would have appreciated a beautiful sculpture or painting or poem. Learning about this remarkable and indomitable woman has been an inspiration.

[Nina Romano · Rating 5 out of 5]

In clear, precise, and uncluttered prose, Author Pat Wahler has penned a classic re-invention of the life of Rose O’Neill, the creator of the iconic Kewpie doll. The novel is fiction, biographically based, and whisked me away to another world and time with in-depth yet seamless research.

The author’s depiction of the indomitable life of a woman who dared to take on the illustrative world of New York City, where men dominated and prospered, is nothing short of astonishing. The development of the narrative is intense and her characters realistic. The story is pertinently conveyed due to the many heroic episodic obstacles hurled in the path of O’Neill, a blithe and generous spirit that forced this extremely slow reader to finish the novel in two days.

Ms. Wahler’s eloquent sweep of words had me in a state of elation one minute and in tears the next. The word that fittingly comes to mind in describing this work is: rhapsodic! Brava! Kudos! Thank you for this entertainingly intelligent fiction, an experience I shall treasure in memory for a long time to come.

[Jane Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fascinating and mostly unknown strong, talented and giving woman.

[Book Reviewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book is a well-written piece of historical fiction that brings to life the extraordinary life of Rose O’Neill, a trail-blazing American artist who lived from 1874 to 1944. Through the writing, the author Pat Wahler explores the social context of the time period documenting how O’Neill forged her incredibly successful career at a time when women were still fighting for fundamental liberties like the right to vote.

The writing itself is easy to read, and Rose’s story is instantly absorbing. I particularly enjoyed how the book brought to life the bohemian artistic community Rose inhabits. It is full of colorful characters living a life full of artistic spirit and exploration. The appealing thing about historical fiction is that it allows the reader to enter the world of the character it is exploring. The Rose of Washington Square is very effective at bringing Rose’s world to light.

Rose’s development as both an artist and a woman from a young age makes for a fascinating subject matter. Her relationships and the unique dynamic of her family in a more traditional time are a pleasure to read and learn about. She is the breadwinner for her family and supports many artist friends, and is incredibly generous with her financial success. In terms of romantic relationships, the book demonstrates Rose’s ability to take control of her own destiny and does a great job of capturing Rose’s headstrong and determined personality. She is a woman in charge of her own life and passions.

The Rose of Washington Square is a fascinating historical and women’s fiction work. Readers will find the writing style to be conversational and easy to follow, with engaging facts mixed into the story. It was a pleasure to be introduced to and learn about the life and work of its central protagonist O’Neill. I would readily recommend this book to other readers.

[Kathleen Rodgers · Rating 5 out of 5]

I savored every word of author Pat Wahler's latest historical novel, The Rose of Washington Square, an inspiring and informative account about the life and times of Rose O'Neill. Until I heard about the novel earlier this year, I hadn't thought about Kewpie Dolls in decades, and I'd never heard of Rose O'Neill.

Now, thanks to Missouri based author Pat Wahler's dedication and passion, I'm fully aware of this remarkable woman who rose above poverty and became one of the most famous and wealthy artists of her time. As a Suffragist, Rose O'Neill put her famous Kewpies to work to help grant women the right to vote.

I'm in awe of how the author brought Rose O'Neill to life on the page. Every line, every scene, vibrated with life for me. I felt like I was living in the story, from the opening pages where a young Rose, accompanied by two nuns, boldly walks into a male dominated magazine office in New York City and presents her illustrations. Let's just say she wasn't taking "No" for an answer.

The novel is well-written and flows seamlessly from one chapter to the next.

Later, as I neared the end of the book, I slowly turned each page with a sense of melancholy as I realized I would miss spending time with Rose and her sister Tista and all the other people who populated Rose's world. And because of Pat Wahler's exquisite novel, I am now aware of this remarkable woman who existed and became an international sensation.

I highly recommend The Rose of Washington Square to all readers, especially those drawn to stories about real women who once lived and made their mark on society at a time when women were mostly relegated to live out their lives raising children and standing in the shadows of men.

[Chelsie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rose O'Neill led quite the fascinating life for a woman of her time. Creator of the Kewpie Doll, she was also a trailblazer in being the first woman to achieve success as an illustrator and cartoonist. Having been raised very differently than most during that time, her father often pushed her interest in art and believed women were not just to bear children and run the house, but more of an equal to a man in being able to pursue careers and strive for their dreams. Her mother having often been one to support the household, Rose learned quickly on to become self sufficient and not to rely on anyone. Yet Rose lived somewhat of a tumultuous life with her failed marriages and rollercoaster of having wealth and losing it numerous times in her life. I think one of Rose's biggest flaws was that she wanted everyone to succeed and have a good life and so she supported her entire family, starving artists and helped others as often as she could. Rose was a jack of all trades and had various projects always going at once, but what got her known in the world was her Kewpie Doll, this was the one project she did really seem to put her all into and stuck with consistently. I really enjoyed learning about her and her family and loved this story. Thank you to HFVBT for the invite and to the author for the free ebook. I loved it so much, I did purchase a physical copy.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so good! It is engaging, moving, educational, and so much more! Whenever I picked up "The Rose of Washington Square", I was whisked back in time, and learned so much about Rose O' Neill, as well as the time in which she lived.

Pat Wahler is an incredible author, who vividly and descriptively brings the past to life. The story she is telling jumps right off of the page. I can only imagine the amount of research the author must have done, as I felt so immersed in the world of the book that I often forgot I was sitting on my couch reading a book.

This novel tells the story of Rose O' Neill, who was an incredibly artist. Rose follows her dreams, and does not allow anything or anyone to get in her way. I do not want to say too much about the plot due to spoilers, but, I will say, this book truly kept me hooked from the first page to the last.

If you enjoy historical fiction novels, I highly recommend this book!

Thank you so much to Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours and Pay Wahler for the gifted copy of this book. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

[Dianna · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Rose of Washington Square is easily my favorite book so far this year. I am admittedly a huge fan of well-written historical fiction featuring strong women, and this novel did not disappoint. With deft prose, author Pat Wahler transports the reader to another place and time—actually to several places in the U.S. and abroad—and I was completely engrossed from start to finish. Obviously well researched, the dialogue of the times (1893–1940) sounds authentic, and historical references are expertly woven throughout the book without ever pulling the reader away from the story. The Kewpies were before my time, and although I’d heard of them and had seen images, I had never given thought to their creator until now. The story of Rose O’Neill is a fascinating one, brought to life with this thoroughly satisfying novel. Fans of Jennifer Chiaverini (Resistance Women) especially will enjoy this one. Five stars from me—a great read!

[PAMpublish · Rating 5 out of 5]

This well-researched and well-written biographical story of Rose O'Neill, creator of the extremely popular Kewpie doll and characters, author, and artist is a phenomenal read. Written in the first person, the book draws one in immediately, detailing the life of an extremely creative and gifted woman who attempted to break into a man's publishing world in the early 1900s. Extremely independent, her artistic works were presented both in NYC and Europe. An early supporter of the suffragette movement, she lived her private life in her own way, yet supported the needs of her extended family and friends far and near. A most awe-inspiring and engaging read for those interested in learning the story behind a historical trend-setting woman.

[Jeanne Felfe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pat Wahler does it again with another great historical fiction read. I found this one intriguing. I had no idea the history of the Kewpie Dolls and didn't know that one woman created them in spite of struggling in a man's world.

The whole time reading, I was right there with Rose. At Bonniebrook, in New York's Greenwich Village at parties and readings, on her trips overseas, and with all the fascinating real-life characters she met along the way. It was as if I were a tiny passenger in her pocket going on adventures with her.

If you like historical fiction with strong female characters, read this one. You'll be delighted.

[Donna Mork · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent story about Rose O'Neill, best known for her creation of the Kewpie Dolls. Self taught, her talent extended far beyond the creation of a doll. She was a great artist, drawing and selling many drawings for magazines, painting and showing her art work in Europe, and even carving. She used the money from her various outlets to help her impoverished family, as well as various artistic friends she met and made in her travels. The Great Depression was extremely hard on her and her family, as the funds she relied on to support herself and others dried up. She never gave up. This was an interesting book and would be great for book clubs.

[Donna Essner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author Pat Wahler diligently adds perspective and interest to the artistic and personal life of Rose O'Neill and the whirlwind journey that takes her to the top of her career--the Kewpie Doll. Along with a timeline into this journey, we learn personally about O'Neill--her failed marriages, her non-interest in having children of her own, but, by the same token, caring for her family throughout their life, and her connections with other artists she meets along the way. I highly recommend this book.

[Melissa A Comer · Rating 4 out of 5]

"...the greatest lesson of all--the pleasure of living on no one's terms but my own."
Rose O'Neill (b.1874) was a trailblazer in a man's world. As an illustrator, artist, writer, and activist she produced a large body of work as well as being the 'mother of the Kewpie doll'. This book chronicles her devotion to family, her interesting life from her forever family home to New York and many a voyage across the Atlantic to France and Italy. Her craft(s), next to her family, were always her mainstay. The author presents us with story well told.

[Jeanette · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderfully written story that has the reader going to several places across the country and across the ocean. It will captivate you from the beginning to the end. It is obvious it is well researched and that information is given to you expertly in this beautiful story of Rose O’Neill’s life. This is a delightful read that will give you much needed insight to a woman’s plight in a man’s world during the 1893-1940 timeframe. It’s definitely a must read.

[Kelli · Rating 1 out of 5]

I don't know why there were so many good ratings for this book because I just did not like the book at all. Not only did it read more like a biography (making it read short and to the facts more than an actual historical fiction book usually does), but I just did not like Rose at all. I just could not relate to her (except for the women's suffrage movement she participated in). I would never have been friends with Rose if I had known her in real life so I had a hard time reading about her.

[Marissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

E-Book Copy for Review

A historical fiction of the life of Rosie O’Neill and the struggles she faced living at the time. She was the inventor of the kewpie doll we take a glimpse of who she was. Truth and fiction is woven into this tale of history.

A sweeping story putting you into this period of history. It will make you think about the chaotic period in our time. A charming read.

[Leigh Lindahl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written, easy to read. I’m not patient with books that don’t hold my interest. This one kept my interested thru out. I wanted to know what was going to happen next through out the book.
I learned some history. There was love woven through out, which of course peaks interest; but there were no torrid sex scenes a plus to me.

[Diane How · Rating 5 out of 5]

History books never told me about strong, philanthropist women like Rose O'Neill. Thank goodness for authors like Pat Wahler who choose to tell the stories of female artists, writers, and suffragist. Rose was so much more than an artist trying to make a living in a man's world. This book won't disappoint.

[Gwendalyn Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐖𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐛𝐲 @𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐰𝐚𝐡𝐥𝐞𝐫
𝐀 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐑𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐎'𝐍𝐞𝐢𝐥𝐥, 𝐂𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐊𝐞𝐰𝐩𝐢𝐞 𝐃𝐨𝐥𝐥

𝙎𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙚𝙩 𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙢𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙬𝙖𝙮 𝙞𝙣 𝙖 𝙢𝙖𝙣'𝙨 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙡𝙙, 𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙤𝙗𝙨𝙘𝙪𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙤 𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙤𝙨𝙩 𝙛𝙖𝙢𝙤𝙪𝙨 𝙬𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙣 𝙤𝙛 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙚𝙧𝙖.

[Terri Staten · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent historical fiction about a woman who was artistically talented and persistent in her pursuits in a time when women weren’t valued as business people or artists. Her financial support of her family and friends is admirable.

[Vian Zada · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super vivid, I felt completely immersed. Every now and then you find a book that plays like a movie in your head! I had no idea who Rose O'Neill was before reading this book. Now while shopping, when I see little kewpie logos, like on Costco items, I get a little smile and connection to Rose.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was initially drawn to this story about Rose O’Neill because my grandmother had Kewpie dolls. I thought it would be interesting to know more about the woman who created these impish dolls. I had no idea what an amazing woman she was and all that she accomplished. Although this is fiction, Pat Wahler did extensive research and put as much fact into the story as she could find. I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in women’s suffrage, women illustrators, Kewpie dolls, or just anyone who likes to read about women who made their own way in life despite all the obstacles.

[Hapkap · Rating 5 out of 5]

Important book about very strong and interesting woman

[Amy Ruhl · Rating 2 out of 5]

interesting history, very basic writing

[Travelmaven · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well researched and imagined book about a woman I just knew nothing about. What a life!

[Sheryl Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story of her life is fascinating! Well worth the read.