Janet Howell

"Leading the Way: Women in Power" profiles 50 female political leaders in the United States. The two-page biographies offer readers an accessible introduction to women who served in various capacities, such as Supreme Court Justices, congresswomen, governors, and social activists. The women included range from ones currently active (Nancy Pelosi, Kamala Harris, and Sonia Sotomayor) to historic figures and trailblazers (Ida B. Wells-Barnett, Margaret Chase Smith, and Mary McLeod Buthane). Additionally, as the examples listed above suggest, there is a mix of well-known figures and those who are lesser-known but are still important. Beyond the biographical information, the book's other features are less successful. As others have noted, the pictures leave a great deal to be desired (most are unremarkable, some as genuinely unnerving in their lack of fealty to their subjects). Additionally, the badges that are included with each woman and are supposed to signify different traits, such as as communication, persistence, and integrity, are baffling and require the reader to go back and forth between the key and the biographies.

Despite these shortcomings, the book provides some useful information on the women and would give young readers a good starting place for learning about female leaders and their role in shaping the country. While it likely won't be a book that will be read cover-to-cover in a single sitting, it seems ideal for classroom use as an introduction and as a starting place for further research.… (més)