Author: Chelsea Clinton
Illustrator: Alexandra Boiger
Publisher: Penguin Putnam
Details: 32pp, £12.99, hardback
ISBN: 9780525516996
Teacher review
This book by Chelsea Clinton is the follow-up to her New York Times list bestseller about American women who have fought for change, persisted and broken down barriers. It is a growing format and most bookshops, quite rightly, contain a selection on their shelves.
Clinton’s book title is a reference to the American feminists’ expression: “Nevertheless, she persisted.” The meaning of the phrase, after its initial derogatory use, was expanded to refer to women’s persistence in breaking down barriers, despite being silenced or ignored at first.
The book contains 13 pen pictures of women from around the world who have fought throughout their lives to break down barriers, and partake and succeed in life. She’s trying to inspire a new generation and make them aware of notable women of recent times.
Some of those contained within the pages I had heard of, such as JK Rowling; others, such as Yuan Yuan Tan, I had not. There were others that were not in the 13. For example, two British women who persevered and broke down barriers during their lives, Jocelyn Bell Burnell (physics) and the late Jennie Lee (education), but it would be impossible to include everyone.
Clinton’s book is large and colourful, and it is easy to read in pairs - whether in class or on the library book-corner cushions. The book claims to be aimed at key stage 1 children, but I’d pitch it at lower KS2. Either way, this book and others of its genre should be a growing section of primary school libraries.
Robert Eves is a teacher at St John’s Green Primary School, Colchester
Pupil review: ‘The best book I’ve read so far’
I really liked how Chelsea Clinton wrote about famous women. I liked the book and it had lots of information about a lot of women persisting and achieving their goal from around the world. I would have liked it better if there was more text and details about the women in the book.
My favourite bit was when the author wrote about Joanne Rowling writing the Harry Potter books in Edinburgh. I love these novels, especially the bits about Hermione Granger.
I would recommend it to my family and friends, and more importantly, to girls of my age and a bit older that want to learn about what is possible if you try.
Nicole, Year 2
The book is about how girls should persevere. It provides us with examples of how women have done it in the past and the way they succeeded. How they fought to get what they wanted so much. But it was a good thing that they got the good things they wanted, as it makes the way easier for us that come after them.
It would be better if people listened and didn’t shoot women they felt threatened by; for example, in Pakistan, when Malala Yousafzai got shot and the school bus was abandoned.
My favourite bit was when Yuan Yuan Tan, a poor girl from China, worked hard to become the principal ballerina in the very nice San Francisco Ballet Company, and probably the best dancer in the whole wide world, going on to win many awards for her tall, grown-up dad.
I would recommend this book to our classroom learning-support assistant and his two daughters. But maybe also boys, who could be nicer if they tried, as well as girls in Year 2.
Aaisha, Year 2
I liked the book because it has lots of information about women bravely fighting for equality in their world. The words are clear and it has good illustrations, so it encourages people to read.
It’s also the best book I have read so far because it emboldens girls to persist for greater things. At the end it says “they persisted and so should you”, which I also find very inspiring.
I think that more than 13 women should have been included in the book because 13 is a small number for what womankind has done over the last few centuries. At least 20 women should be in the book. But it’s still a good book.
My favourite bit in the book is about Malala, who gets injured because a man shoots her with a gun, but she still tries to go to school. To me, it was like she was very brave and one of a kind. I would recommend this book to all my friends and cousins because they should persist for all good things and causes, too.
Ruqayyah, Year 2
