Women Who Led the Way: Great Explorers and Adventurers

Gr 4-7—The notion that a woman's age, ethnicity, education, financial circumstances, or nationality does not define her abilities or passions is the theme of this delightfully illustrated book. The women's narratives are told in chronological order starting with Aud the Deep-Minded, a ninth-century Scottish-Irish grandmother who was an early voyager to Iceland. The last person featured is Arunima Sinha from India; born in 1988, she is the first woman amputee to climb Mount Everest. Manning showcases these explorers and adventurers by recreating their stories in short, first-person conversational narratives. Each spread includes the woman's birth and death dates, noted accomplishments, and nationality. Action-packed illustrations include a speech bubble quote which gives the book a graphic novel vibe. Over a third of the women featured were noted for their pioneering endeavors in the sciences, including early astronomer Caroline Herschel and astronaut Mae Jemison. Sidebars contain either fascinating facts concerning the featured women or introduce a similar noteworthy trailblazer. Back matter includes a glossary. VERDICT Library collections and STEM programs would benefit from this book's age-appropriate blending of biography with diversity, history, geography, and social commentary.—Lynne Stover