Limitless

September 1, 2018
In order to highlight the "vision, uniqueness, and perseverance" of American women and, "most important," to convey to boys that "women could be role models or heroes for them," fine artist Tinari spotlights 24 American women.Arranged primarily chronologically by birth date, each figure is presented to readers in a double-page spread. On the verso is a quote by or about the woman highlighted (some of these pages feature quotes by men rather than by the women themselves, an oddity that is not explained). On the recto, a fourth-wall-breaking gouache portrait is surrounded by stenciled facts, dates, quotes, and the figure's name. The verso quote, much of the recto text, and part of the otherwise grayscale portraits are highlighted in a single neon color against a white page, making it extremely difficult to read. Some facts feel pointless ("HENRY DAVID THOREAU took young LOUISA on many nature WALKS"), while others will have readers hungry for more (Sojourner Truth was the "1st BLACK WOMAN to take a WHITE MAN to court AND WIN!!"). The majority of the women are cis, straight (or at least not known to be LGBTQ), white, and not disabled. Four black women, one Japanese-American woman (Yuri Kochiyama), one Apache woman (Lozen), and no Latina women are featured. Black, trans model Tracey Norman is celebrated, and there are four out queer women, although, disappointingly, none of them are named as such. The neuroatypicality of some of the women is included, but no other types of disabilities are mentioned.More poster series than book; other, similar titles are better designed, more informative, more inclusive, and more intersectional. (Collective biography. 9-12)

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October 1, 2018
Tinari opens this collection of portraits with an explanation of the project’s origin. After working on portraits of U.S. presidents, Tinari’s “resentment began to grow. I had just spent months painting and researching men and only men.” The death of Carrie Fisher inspired her to create the first portrait of what would become her American Women series. Joining Fisher (whose image graces the cover) are Louisa May Alcott, Aretha Franklin, Carol Kaye, Yuri Kochiyama, Lozen, Georgia O’Keeffe, and Dolly Parton (the latter, she says, “wrote some of her best songs strumming with fake nails”). Tinari brings a decidedly punk rock sensibility to the images, adding vibrant splashes of neon color to the subjects’ hair, faces, and clothing; word collages relating to the individuals’ lives work in visual tandem with the images. On end pages, Tinari offers biographical information and descriptions of each individual’s “powerful moment.” While there aren’t as many women of color depicted as one might hope, Tinari’s paintings are commanding and true to their subjects. Ages 10–up.

October 1, 2018

Gr 6 Up-With strokes and washes of day-glo lime and tangerine, Tinari brings streetwise styling to the portraits of 24 "dynamic doers, makers, creators, innovators, and fighters" in this collection. Using bold black, swaths of charcoal accents, and pops of bright color, Tinari renders a roughly life-size face on each recto page, surrounded by birth and death dates, phrases, quotes, and a life highlight or two. A short quote (and an "accidental" paint splotch or watery blot) stands alone on verso pages. Most women gaze directly at readers, surrounded by words that squeeze on, tumble off, and crowd into nearly all the white spaces. Paint spatters, pointing arrows, and exclamation points lend additional energy to each portrait. The roughly chronological arrangement begins with Sojourner Truth and ends with soccer superstar Abby Wambach. Louisa May Alcott, Yuri Kochiyama, Aretha Franklin, and Ellen Degeneres also appear. The engaging portraits, brief text, and approachable layout make this a solid middle school browse, and a stepping stone to deeper explorations. VERDICT Consider for large middle school libraries.-Maggie Knapp, Trinity Valley School, Fort Worth, TX

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