“I never thought of myself
as a particularly brave person, certainly not a hero. But I found that inside every human being
there is a hero waiting to emerge. I
never could have done what I did without the help of many heroes.” --Luba Tryszynaka-Frederick
This contemporary media
driven world is all about teaching women to find THEIR happiness and demand
THEIR rights. On the contrary, I think
the best gift we, as women, can give ourselves is to contribute positively to
our spheres of influence. The focus of this post is on girl power—the kind that
is about helping others. I chose these biographies and
stories because the women demonstrate compassion, selflessness, vision, and courage for
the betterment of people in their communities. They represent the type of heroes
and women I would like to see young girls aspiring to be.
Publisher Summary: Meet Kate Sessions, a young
woman with a grand passion for trees.
She has guts. She has vigor. And she has vision—a green, leafy vision that
will one day transform a city.
Why I Picked It:
Not only does Kate study
science at time when women generally were discouraged from doing so, she goes
on to be the first women to graduate from the University of California with a
degree in it. Women in her era were
limited to a few specific roles. However, Kate broke the mold of expectations. She
saw a problem in her community—no trees or greenery—and used her knowledge and
talents to make a difference. Working and studying diligently, she found plants
and trees from all over the world that thrive in San Diego’s climate. Every
year she cultivated a variety of trees and plants. Then, she donated them to
the local park and around the city. Kate took a barren landscape and made it a
place of lavish natural beauty for all the citizens to enjoy. People traveled
from far away to visit the city, and do so even to this day. Jill McElmurry’s
illustrations capture the splendor and impact of Kate Sessions’ contribution to
the city and to science.
Publisher Summary: When Clara Lemlich arrived in America, she couldn’t speak English. She
didn’t know that poor young women had to go to work, that they traded an
education for long hours of labor, that she was expected to grow up fast. But
that did not stop Clara. She went to night school, spent hours studying
English, and helped support her family by sewing in a factory. Clara never
quit. And she never accepted that girls
should be treated poorly and paid little. So Clara fought back. Fed up with
mistreatment of her fellow laborers, Clara led the largest walkout of women in
the country’s history.
Why I Picked It:
Brave Girl
is a wonderful historical biography that depicts a time of immense hardship and
struggle for many people—especially immigrants. Markel does an excellent job
describing the arduous
conditions while Melissa Sweet illustrates them effectively. Clara is an
example of perseverance and boldness. Marching to help marginalized workers,
she endured constant exhaustion and even a physical beating by gangsters. She
helped not only the thousands of women who were being mistreated, but she
impacted genuine change throughout the country for all Americans working in
sweatshop conditions. Clara Lemlich reminds women that when they have a
worthwhile cause and work together, they can help rectify injustice.
Publisher Summary:
Ever since she was a
little girl, Jane Addams hoped to help people in need. She wanted to create a
place where people could find food, work, and community. In 1889, she chose a
house in a run-down Chicago neighborhood and turned it into Hull House—a
settlement home—soon adding a playground, kindergarten, and a public bath. By 1907, Hull House included thirteen
buildings. And by the early 1920s, more
than nine thousand people visited Hull House each week.
Why I Picked It:
Jane did not complain
about problems or demand the government fix everything. Instead, she saw a
problem and worked to remedy it. Kids
getting into mischief – Put them to work doing something productive. New Immigrants can’t find jobs – Teach them
English and job skills. No safe place for children to play – Build a
playground. Jane is also an outstanding
role model. She lived in the settlement house in the midst of poverty and
filth. Everyday and every item she
received were used to help others. Not only did she use her own money to help, but
she also won over many other wealthy people who helped her. Jane is the epitome
of what needs to be done to solve contemporary problems—individuals
working in their communities, giving of their time, money, and resources.
Publisher Summary:
Florence Nightingale
revolutionized the world of medicine by emphasizing cleanliness, food that was
hot and nutritious, and organization in hospitals. What began as an attempt to
make army hospitals safer and more effective became a lifelong mission, and the
innovations that began with Florence remain relevant today.
Why I Picked It:
I was struck by the fact
that Florence grew up wealthy and confortable, yet she had an overwhelming
desire to help the needy. She was not
just a nurse, an amazing occupation in its own right. Instead, she studied and revolutionized the
profession. Her tireless efforts helped men injured in battle recover and the
poor receive proper medical care. As she traveled all over the world and
corresponded with professionals everywhere, she gained the tools and knowledge
to lessen the suffering of all patients. Helping to start the Nightingale
Training School for Nurses and inspiring the founding of the Red Cross ensured
that people well beyond her reach and life would be impacted. Demi’s trademark
illustrations bring her immense contributions to medicine.
Publisher Summary:
Why am I still alive? Why was I spared?
One cold December night in
1944, Luba Tryszynska questions were answered when she found fifty-four
children abandoned behind the concentration camp at Bergen-Belsen. And Luba
knew the consequences of rescuing these children. If the Nazis caught her, she
could be executed. But they are someone’s children. And they are hungry. Despite
the mortal dangers, Luba and the women of her barracks cared for these
orphans—known to history as the Diamond Children—through a winter of disease,
starvation, and war.
Why I Picked It:
I was so humbled after
reading this story. I cannot imagine living in a concentration camp, separated
from my husband and child. Luba did—for 2 years. Like many people, she questions
why is she here. Why is she still alive
when so many others have died. When she saw the opportunity to help others,
even worse off than herself, she took it. Her example prompted the other women
to open up their hearts to a group of orphans. Every day she went around the
camp and convinced people—who were also put in peril by helping her—to give her
extra food and supplies to take care of the children. The fact she was able to
move around the camp so freely to get what she needed is a miracle in itself. When the war finally came to an end, dozens
of children walked out of the camp and into new lives because of her compassion
and courage. An epilogue, additional historical background information, and
list of resources are also included. The haunting pictures by Ann Marshall round
out this heart-wrenching text. You would
be hard-pressed to find a better picture of leadership through compassion and
self-sacrifice than Luba’s story.
