By Jeannine Atkins
New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2025. Fiction. 310 pages.
This beautiful cover caught my eye when I was walking by our "new book" shelf. I quickly opened the book to thumb through the pages. When I saw it was written in verse I practically ran to the checkout station to claim it for myself. That was a great decision!
The book tells the stories of three women and spans multiple decades of time. Although the author wrote this book as a work of fiction, it is based on the lives of real women. I loved that as the book progressed and I learned more about each of the women, they were becoming dear friends. Each of the women are fortunate to have mentors who try to teach them both academic skills and life skills.
One of my favorite lines in the book was:
"She encourages them to ask Why?
an ordinary question that can spark big change."
I absolutely love a book that inspires learning and growth and the exchange of ideas. This book left me feeling hopeful for people to pursue careers in any field that interests them, and they feel passionate about. I loved the acknowledgement that education is a lifelong pursuit. I appreciated seeing how the various historical events happening during each woman's lifetime influenced her decisions and the people of those around her. All in all, this was a lovely book, and I would highly recommend it.
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