Nobel's Women of Peace

January 1, 2009
Grades 6-9 Brief, engaging biographies of female Nobel Peace Prize laureates make up this welcome title in the Womens Hall of Fame series. The format is lackluster; grainy black-and-white photos provide the only illustrations. But the lively text, which covers both the subjects personal lives and public accomplishments, easily makes up for the lack of visual polish. Substantive enough to support basic reports, the profilesinclude many women who are rarely featured in books for youth, such as Bertah von Suttner, a Czech-born, nineteenth-century peace advocate who helped convince Alfred Nobel to establish the Peace Prize. The international stories of individuals dedicating their lives tohumanitarianeffortswill inspire young activists, who will want to move on to the extensive list of appended resources, entitled What Can You Do: How You Can Be a Troublemaker for Peace. Source notes corresponding to direct quotes used in the text conclude this inspiring title.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2009, American Library Association.)