Canadian Women Now and Then

March 1, 2020
This anthology honors the accomplishments of contemporary Canadian women as well as their predecessors who paved the way. The members of this impressive ensemble are diverse in age, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and ability, ranging from activist Anjali Katta, who founded GirlsCo. to raise money for girls' education at the age of 16, to Shanawdithit, the last surviving member of the Indigenous Beothuk people in Newfoundland, whose drawings and writings are the sole records of her people. Actors, athletes, dancers, inventors, explorers, painters, scientists, and the like are each given a dedicated chapter. Typically one contemporary individual is spotlighted on verso opposite a pioneer of that career. Occasionally an additional woman is highlighted or there's a footnote with additional names and accomplishments. Each account includes Faddoul's realistic portrait as well as a brief biography. These highlight important dates, early influences, and struggles as well as contributions to the advancement of society. About 50 women are honored in this format while an additional 50-plus more are recognized with a smaller portrait and brief description placed after the discussion guide and before the biography and index. The sheer number of individuals prohibits in-depth details of the life and work of any one, but MacLeod writes efficiently, even addressing controversies some individuals may present. An inspiring resource for readers as well as a springboard for research. (Collective biography. 9-12)

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May 1, 2020

Gr 5-8-This collection of short biographies highlights Canadian women who have overcome adversity and discrimination to become innovators and leaders in their fields. Each page pairs a woman from the present with a woman from the past. The author includes trailblazers from a wide variety of occupations, such as activists, inventors, mathematicians, poets, and Olympians. While many of the women may be unfamiliar to young readers, their accomplishments will be familiar. For example, Ayah Bdeir created the tech company littleBits to teach children engineering skills, and sisters Tegan and Sara recorded "Everything Is Awesome," a song featured in The Lego Movie. The book includes a variety of women from diverse backgrounds and shares interesting details about their personal lives. MacLeod uses a conversational writing style that children will find easy to understand. The book is organized alphabetically by the professional field. Each profile is accompanied by an illustrated image of the woman. A palette of earth-tone colors is used throughout the book. While the overall continuity is pleasing to the eye, primary photographs of the contemporary women would have been more authentic. An additional list of "More Inspiring Canadian Women" and a list of selected sources are included in the back matter. VERDICT A recommended purchase for upper elementary and middle school libraries needing to build their reference section or nonfiction collection about women's history.-Maile Steimer, Jones Middle School, Buford, GA

Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 1, 2020
Grades 4-7 As women across the globe continue to push limits and become leaders, this informational book identifies Canadian women who blazed the way for future generations. Double-page spreads cover myriad career and life paths, from journalists and mathematicians to culture keepers and Paralympians. Now and Then profiles spotlight, respectively, women doing inspirational work in their fields today and groundbreaking women from the past. For instance, actor Lilly Singh incorporates her Punjabi culture when writing and starring in YouTube videos, while early twentieth-century actor Mary Pickford demanded higher wages and cofounded the United Artists studio. Occasional Then + Now profiles show how women, like writer Margaret Atwood, broke new ground and remain influential. Including women from various races, ethnicities, and sexual orientations, as well as women immigrants and a transwoman, the breadth of representation is commendable.The profiles also include colorful portraits, dates and places of birth, quotes, and related facts. A concluding section offers additional short profiles of notable Canadian women. Whether or not they are immediately recognizable, all of these women are unforgettable.Women in Focus: The 20th in 2020(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)