100 Immigrant Women Who Changed the World

October 5, 2020
The third book in the Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls series, this volume profiles 100 women who at some point immigrated to a new country, seeking freedom, safety, or success. Favilli defines a rebel girl as someone trying to make a positive difference in the world, and she includes a wide array of subjects, organized alphabetically by first name, such as financial executive Chinwe Esimai, WWII spy for England Noor Inayat Khan, and table tennis world champion Angelica Rozeanu. Stylish illustrations from a variety of female artists show figures in their milieu—Karina Cocq presents hematologist Marcela Contreras surrounded by blood cells—and accompany brief, accessible biographies about and quotations from each woman. While readers won’t come away with an in-depth view of each life, and the subjects’ adopted countries lean overwhelmingly toward the U.S. and U.K., the book successfully includes a range of subjects. A volume full of inspiring role models. Final art not seen by PW. Ages 7–up.

October 15, 2020
Grades 4-7 This is a collective biography vast in scope, if not depth. Consistent text features make the collection of mini-biographies easily accessible, with each two-page spread including a short narrative that captures the subject's accomplishments, the obstacles in their way, and a few personal details. At the bottom of the entries are dates of birth and death (if applicable), along with the locations from and to which the women immigrated. A glossary attends to highlighted words in the entries. Bold, stylized portraits by 100 different female illustrators accompany the biographies. Favilli has united an admirable cast of women and girls from all over the world, spanning centuries, excelling in areas too numerous to list here, and representing all walks of life. A unifying message is that sexism is universal, women are resilient, and those with the dreams and the means will cross all sorts of borders in order to fulfill their destinies. A must-read for upper-elementary and middle-school children.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)

November 1, 2020

Gr 3-6-The newest installment in the series spotlights and celebrates women who were immigrants. The text follows the winning combination of short profiles of courageous, impressive individuals alongside vibrant illustrations created by various artists. Women from all over the world are featured, including Anna Wintour, Carmen Herrera, Claudia Rankine, Gloria Estefan, Ilhan Omar, Min Jin Lee, Rihanna, and Marjane Satrapi. Each profile outlines how both their home country and their adopted country impacted their lives and work. Notably, this collection features more contemporary women who are alive today, such as Peruvian-born, immigration rights activist Lorella Praeli, alongside historical figures, including Black and Native American (Mississauga Ojibwe) sculptor Edmonia Lewis. The brief prose is readable without diminishing the impact of the women. As with previous entries, this title features a wide range of women. Diverse ethnicities, countries of origin, fields of interest, ages, and time frames are all represented. A glossary and an index of artists are included. VERDICT An inspiring addition to any library that will appeal to all readers.-Savannah Kitchens, Parnell Memorial Lib., Montevallo, AL

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