This biography anthology is one of a spate of books published for the Middle grades (tweens) and YA (teens) market. As such there is nothing really outstanding about this book except it's subject list and its design. The subject list is diverse and features women of as many different kinds, places, and interest as possible. It is not meant to be a compare side list and because of the needs of the audience and the format it was by necessity limited in the number of women that could be featured. The book is divided into five sections that feature five women in each section. The sections are in themselves of interest, covering less traditional categories of fame than normal, such as rebels, villains and amazons. (This in itself will make the book popular with the intended audience.). This allows the authors to have vignettes that feature out-of-the-ordinary and often less acceptable proper heroines than found in many such anthologies. Nothing is sugar coated in this book. The women are what they are. No excuses. No apologies.

The writing style is as irreverent as is the subject matter. The tone is slightly condescending and causal and home girl style of cool. The authors seem, to be telling readers that you should already know this but since our ability to learn about anybody other than white men is impaired your ignorance is excused. There is tons of straight talk and good sensible commentary in the pages and the authors make sure that the reader know which is commentary and which is fact. All of this makes for Irresistible hooks that mean those who start reading this book are likely to finish it.

The art and design of this book is exceptional. No expense has been spared in order to present an attractive volume that a reader would be happy to show to others and have comment made about it. This kind of extravagance is rare these days. But it is appreciated and is really cool. It has a cool graphic design that will make it very attractive to its intended audience. The colors are striking and grab attention almost as fast as does the unusual glossy heavy stock paper used.

All-in-all, a quality artistic production that should attract readers for its quality text, illustrations, and design. ( )

I just finished reading, History vs. Women: The Defiant Lives that They Don't Want You to Know, by Anita Sarkeesian and Ebony Adams. From the first page to the last, women whom I had never heard were revealed to me. These women's fascinating lives and amazing accomplishments kept me riveted. Even though I “knew” some of these women, e.g. Ida B. Wells, Hypatia, and Maria Tallchief, there was so much that I did not know about their lives...more ( )