She Persisted: 13 American Women Who Changed the World

by Chelsea Clinton (Author) Alexandra Boiger (Illustrator)

She Persisted: 13 American Women Who Changed the World
Reading Level: 2nd − 3rd Grade
Series: She Persisted
Chelsea Clinton introduces tiny feminists, mini activists and little kids who are ready to take on the world to thirteen inspirational women who never took no for an answer, and who always, inevitably and without fail, persisted.

Throughout American history, there have always been women who have spoken out for what's right, even when they have to fight to be heard. In early 2017, Senator Elizabeth Warren's refusal to be silenced in the Senate inspired a spontaneous celebration of women who persevered in the face of adversity. In this book, Chelsea Clinton celebrates thirteen American women who helped shape our country through their tenacity, sometimes through speaking out, sometimes by staying seated, sometimes by captivating an audience. They all certainly persisted.

She Persisted is for everyone who has ever wanted to speak up but has been told to quiet down, for everyone who has ever tried to reach for the stars but was told to sit down, and for everyone who has ever been made to feel unworthy or unimportant or small.

With vivid, compelling art by Alexandra Boiger, this book shows readers that no matter what obstacles may be in their paths, they shouldn't give up on their dreams. Persistence is power.

This book features: Harriet Tubman, Helen Keller, Clara Lemlich, Nellie Bly, Virginia Apgar, Maria Tallchief, Claudette Colvin, Ruby Bridges, Margaret Chase Smith, Sally Ride, Florence Griffith Joyner, Oprah Winfrey, Sonia Sotomayor--and one special cameo.

Praise for She Persisted

★ "[A] lovely, moving work of children's literature [and a] polished introduction to a diverse and accomplished group of women." --Publishers Weekly, starred review

"Exemplary . . . This well-curated list will show children that women's voices have made themselves emphatically heard." --Booklist

"[She Persisted] will remind little girls that they can achieve their goals if they don't let obstacles get in the way." --Family Circle

"We can't wait to grab a copy for some of the awesome kids in our lives . . . and maybe some of the grown-ups, too." --Bustle

"A message we all need to hear." --Scary Mommy

"This will be a great read for kids (especially young girls)." --Romper

"We cannot wait for the launch of Smart Girl Chelsea Clinton's new book to help remind kids everywhere that the fearlessness that characterizes the thirteen women in the book is what has emboldened us to constantly strive for progress and justice." --Amy Poehler's Smart Girls
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Publishers Weekly

Starred Review

Mitch McConnell's dismissal of Elizabeth Warren during a Senate confirmation hearing immediately became a feminist rallying cry. Clinton (It's Your World) and Boiger (Max and Marla) further transform it into a lovely, moving work of children's literature that might even win over those cynical about celebrity efforts in that space. Clinton succinctly summarizes the lives of women who "did not take no for an answer"; each story reiterates "she persisted" in bold type and is paired with an inspiring quote. Familiar figures (Helen Keller, Sally Ride) join ones who may be new to some readers, like union activist Clara Lemlich and Claudette Colvin, the teenager whose courageous decision to keep her seat on a Montgomery bus helped "inspire Rosa Parks to make the same choice nine months later." Boiger's celebratory watercolors effortlessly mix drama and playfulness: a luminous Harriet Tubman guides escaped slaves to freedom; a few pages later, babies beatifically float around Virginia Apgar as she examines an infant. Clinton's mother isn't profiled, but readers will spot her portrait in a gallery scene that opens this polished introduction to a diverse and accomplished group of women. Ages 4-8. (May)

Copyright 2017 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

School Library Journal

K-Gr 3--In this brief but elegant introduction to 13 women who "persisted"--such as Harriet Tubman, Nellie Bly, and Sonia Sotomayor--the author details the many ways that women have refused to take no for an answer. Instead, they rigorously pursued lofty, inspiring, and purposeful aims for the betterment of themselves and others. Readers see that working toward a far-reaching objective is a virtue. Rather than offering a more in-depth history of any single figure, this book explains the meaning of persistence and places it in a positive light. The artwork depicts a museum gallery with students looking at portraits of the 13 women, including one of Hillary Clinton wearing a red pantsuit, though she is not mentioned in the text. After a brief introduction, the format is largely consistent, with a paragraph about each subject's goal, a quote by her that exemplifies her persistence, and an illustration. As Florence Griffith Joyner said, "When anyone tells me I can't do anything...I'm just not listening anymore." VERDICT Use as a read-aloud to promote discussion, raise questions for research, and share related experiences. And since the book is dedicated to Sen. Elizabeth Warren, a current connection could be made, too.--Myra Zarnowski, City University of New York

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes

Praise for She Persisted

★ "[A] lovely, moving work of children's literature [and a] polished introduction to a diverse and accomplished group of women." —Publishers Weekly, starred review

"Exemplary . . . This well-curated list will show children that women's voices have made themselves emphatically heard." —Booklist

"[She Persisted] will remind little girls that they can achieve their goals if they don't let obstacles get in the way." —Family Circle

"We can't wait to grab a copy for some of the awesome kids in our lives . . . and maybe some of the grown-ups, too." —Bustle

"A message we all need to hear." —Scary Mommy

"This will be a great read for kids (especially young girls)." —Romper

"We cannot wait for the launch of Smart Girl Chelsea Clinton's new book to help remind kids everywhere that the fearlessness that characterizes the thirteen women in the book is what has emboldened us to constantly strive for progress and justice." —Amy Poehler's Smart Girls
Chelsea Clinton
Chelsea Clinton is the author of the #1 New York Times bestseller She Persisted: 13 American Women Who Changed the World; She Persisted Around the World: 13 Women Who Changed History; She Persisted in Sports: American Olympians Who Changed the Game; Don't Let Them Disappear: 12 Endangered Species Across the Globe; It's Your World: Get Informed, Get Inspired & Get Going!; Start Now!: You Can Make a Difference; with Hillary Clinton, Grandma's Gardens and Gutsy Women; and, with Devi Sridhar, Governing Global Health: Who Runs the World and Why? She is also the Vice Chair of the Clinton Foundation, where she works on many initiatives, including those that help empower the next generation of leaders. She lives in New York City with her husband, Marc, their children and their dog, Soren. You can follow Chelsea Clinton on Twitter @ChelseaClinton or on Facebook at facebook.com/chelseaclinton.

Alexandra Boiger has illustrated nearly twenty picture books, including the popular Tallulah series by Marilyn Singer and the Max and Marla books, which she also wrote. Originally from Munich, Germany, she now lives outside of San Francisco, California, with her husband, Andrea, daughter, Vanessa, and two cats, Luiso and Winter. You can visit Alexandra Boiger online at alexandraboiger.com.
Classification
Non-fiction
ISBN-13
9781524741723
Lexile Measure
1170
Guided Reading Level
13
Publisher
Philomel Books
Publication date
May 20, 2017
Series
She Persisted
BISAC categories
JNF007120 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Biography & Autobiography | Women
JNF023000 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Girls & Women
JNF025000 - Juvenile Nonfiction | History | General
Library of Congress categories
United States
Women

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