Amazing Women of the Middle East: 25 Stories from Ancient Times to Present Day

Gr 5-8--This collection describes 25 notable women who lived in the Middle East, from ancient times through the present. Many of the women are prominent political leaders and social activists; others are innovative artists, poets, astronauts, scientists, and athletes. Historical and public figures are highlighted, such as Nefertiti, Cleopatra, Lebanese British human rights lawyer Amal Clooney, and Nadia Murad, who is a Yazidi Iraqi and received the 2018 Nobel Peace Prize. Each profile begins with an introduction and illustrated portrait followed by two pages of text, ending with an inspirational quote. The sections about the Queen of Sheba and Sheherazade are stylized like folktales with character dialogue, providing an entertaining reading experience. The rest of the biographies are written as informational articles, but the conversational tone will engage readers. The colorful artwork enhances the text. Using distinctive styles and design elements, five different illustrators bring the women to life. The beginning of the text features a map of the Middle East, which includes Palestine. A glossary is included in the back matter. VERDICT Recommended for upper elementary and middle school libraries looking to expand their collected biographies or women's history nonfiction sections.--Maile Steimer, Jones M.S., Buford, GA

Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Tarnowska, a multilingual storyteller and translator, brings a brimming enthusiasm to this collection of short biographies of Middle Eastern women. With vivid illustrations by five female illustrators, the book's profiles, arranged chronologically, present women who broke the mold, from Queen Nefertiti to Zahra Lari. The author strikes a casual tone, sprinkling her prose with "did you know?" queries and exclamation marks. Portraits of well-known ancient women such as Scheherazade and Cleopatra lack wider historical context, blending elements of fact and myth (many scholars discount the theory that Cleopatra died by cobra bite, as Tarnowska claims). However, the book introduces readers to lesser-known women rulers, such as Theodora, Empress of Byzantium, and hits its stride with narratives of modern women, including architect Zaha Hadid, astronaut Anousheh Ansari, and human rights lawyer Amal Clooney. Its upbeat, empowering message assures readers that "achieving our goals might be hard sometimes, but that's why we need positive role models to guide us." The book includes a single uncontextualized historical map of the region. Ages 9-up. (Sept.)

Copyright 2020 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

[An] inspirational collection ' Tarnowska presents a range of extraordinary women, including queens, writers, scientists, activists, athletes, and artists from several countries ' A few (Nefertiti, Cleopatra, Amal Clooney) will be recognizable to American audiences, but most won't be, making this resource all the more valuable. Readers will be impressed ' this serves as a necessary spotlight on women from a region where they are particularly underestimated and as a testament to female achievement as a whole. — Booklist