Secret Engineer: How Emily Roebling Built the Brooklyn Bridge

by Rachel Dougherty

On a warm spring day in 1883 , a woman rode across the Brooklyn Bridge with a rooster on her lap.

It was the first trip across an engineering marvel that had taken nearly fourteen years to construct. The woman's husband was the chief engineer, and he knew all about the dangerous new technique involved. The woman insisted she learn as well.

When he fell ill mid-construction, her knowledge came in handy. She supervised every aspect of the project while he was bedridden, and she continued to learn about things only men were supposed to know:

math,
science,
engineering.

Women weren't supposed to be engineers.

But this woman insisted she could do it all, and her hard work helped to create one of the most iconic landmarks in the world.

This is the story of Emily Roebling , the secret engineer behind the Brooklyn Bridge, from author-illustrator Rachel Dougherty.

Genres: Picture Books, Biography, Nonfiction, History, Stem, Childrens, Engineering

40 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2019

Reviews

[Darla · Rating 4 out of 5]

The construction of the Brooklyn Bridge was an epic project that spanned years of preparation and then the actual building process. It was relatively early in the timeline when Washington Roebling, Emily's husband, became so ill from working in the caisson that he had to take some time off. Emily stepped in to be a liaison to the crew and soon found herself actually making key decisions. She suffered from sex discrimination and also the absence of her husband as an able partner in their work. When I read the recently released book by Tracey Enerson Wood concerning this same subject ("The Engineer's Wife"), the tensions that descended upon the Roebling marriage relationship were clearly presented. Emily did accomplish an amazing feat and as the author of this book notes, "Emily proved that women could be as successful in science and engineering as any man." This book will inspire young women to pursue STEM careers and remind young men of the gifts in this area that are bestowed on both sexes. If I lived in proximity to the bridge, I am sure the reading of this and other books on the subject would quite transform my perspective on the iconic structure.

[Kathryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 STARS
So, lots of good stuff here but it could have been better. First, that title. Emily Roebling didn't build the Brooklyn Bridge, nor did she design it. I'm all for shining the spotlight on unsung heroes in history, but the hyperbole is a bit much here. What Emily did do was keep the Brooklyn Bridge project going when her husband became ill and unable to do it himself. She possessed a greater education than most other women in her time as regards science and other "academic" pursuits, then self-educate herself about engineering when she married an engineer who did just that. She wanted to come with him on his trip to Europe to study the bridges there in preparation for his company building the Brooklyn Bridge. When work on the Brooklyn Bridge commenced and her husband fell ill with caisson sickness (now known as decompression sickness or "the bends") and was confined to bed she became his eyes and ears so that he could continue to work on the project, and she often went to meetings to represent his ideas. I certainly applaud all of her efforts, especially given how few women of the time were doing anything like this, but I was left with several questions. There is a mention that if word got out about how sick her husband was, and that "a woman was in charge" then the project would be taken away from the Roeblings, yet Emily insisted on attending meetings with manufacturers, etc. I'm unclear as to why there were no other (male) assistants in the firm that would have gone out in her husband's place (it mentions she learned from her husband and "the assistant engineers" while he was sick)? Wouldn't someone have eventually wondered what happened to the husband or why Emily only attended the meetings? Was it eventually public knowledge what she was doing? It's also never really clear to what extent she was making her own decisions versus simply conveying information to and from her husband, it seems he was in control of his mental faculties just not able to read or write or travel? Again, I completely admire her contributions and her courage (love the illustration when she was the first to ride across the finished bridge to show it was safe) but I'm just left feeling fuzzy on the exact whys and hows as to her being "in charge" of the project. And that title still rankles me--she may have carried it out, but it was her husband and her father-in-law who had created the project, if we want to talk about unsung heroes, how about the many poor workers who suffered serious illness or even death in the actual physical building of the bridge? I still recommend the book (the illustrations are very good and I appreciate the way the concepts of tension, compression, weight etc. are show in them) as I am all for showing early women in STEM and I think the story would be especially interesting to budding engineers.

[Cindy Dobrez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Why am I always surprised when I learn of yet another suppressed achievement by a woman? If the picture book biography trend has done nothing else (and that's not the case), it has highlighted overlooked achievements by women in our history. Science and math achievements seem to figure prominently in the trend. Like Lynn noted in her review, I wonder what else Emily Roebling might have achieved given more opportunity. Fascinating that after her role in helping get the Brooklyn Bridge built, she went on to get a law degree and fight for equal opportunities for women. Add this to your STEM collections.

Historic photos in the endpapers and details and diagrams in the text to explain techniques like the use of caissons and how cables support bridges add to the appeal and extend the audience range.

[Kaethe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a fan of the "who did that and how" picture book, as well as a fan of stories about women who have been overlooked by history. STEM goodness!

Library copy

[Emily Mae Dilley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book by accident when I auto-filled a Google search incorrectly. Because I share a name with Emily Roebling, and I knew that John and Washington Roebling take credit for building the Brooklyn Bridge, I was intrigued by the title and started digging.

It is incredible to me that Emily has been nearly erased by history, when her impact was and is so great. Young girls NEED stories like the one in this book - that tell them they can be more than what the world says they can be, and if they work hard they can achieve amazing things. I am so grateful that Rachel Dougherty chose to write this book. I'm looking for other materials to read more about Emily Roebling, and hope others will also hear her story.

It should be noted that the book includes information about the engineering that goes into building a bridge. It does a great job of explaining things in a way that kids can grasp, but I do think that older children would be better suited for the content. That said, the book would be a great accompaniment to building a model bridge with a student!

[Nancy Kotkin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Picture book biography of the woman who took over the supervision of the Brooklyn Bridge construction when her engineer husband fell ill in 1872. The text only briefly mentions how Emily dealt with the opposition over a woman dong a man's job during a time period when girls rarely even attended secondary school, but I craved more details on that aspect of her situation. The basics of bridge construction are discussed, yet the impact on the communities that the bridge connected is left out. Well-written back matter contains a short author's note, more biographical information on Emily Warren Roebling, a glossary, select bibliography, and further reading recommendations. I learned from the back matter that Emily and her husband had a child; this is never even mentioned in the book's body text. This is a sound biography, with a heavy dose of bridge engineering concepts mixed into the text, but much of the social context is missing. What makes Emily so unique is her refusal to allow her gender to define her potential, even though women were not recognized for their intelligence during Emily's lifetime; this biography touches on that but does not explore it fully.

Equations, mathematical measurements, and engineering terms are mixed directly into the illustrations to support the book's content in a meaningful way. The artist very effectively breaks down the engineering terminology and processes. The endpapers are especially impressive; the front endpapers contain photos of the original Brooklyn Bridge in the 1800s and the back endpapers contain modern photos of the bridge.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

The iconic Brooklyn Bridge is an important landmark in New York City. Emily Roebling was a woman before her time. Growing up she learned about traditional women roles with cooking, cleaning, sewing and piano but she also studied math and science. Emily's father-in-law was a famous engineer and her husband worked with him. She would accompany him on his trips to learn new techniques of bridges. When her husband became ill she took charge. Diving into studying and learning all she could about bridges. Emily was successful in working as an engineer for ten years. While many times her husband was afraid the project would be taken away simply because a woman was running it Emily was up for the challenge. The book does a great job of mixing biography with engineering terms. The illustrations demonstrate the story and engineering vocabulary well. Reading the endnotes you find out that Emily earned her law degree and fought for laws that treat men and women equally before her death in 1903.

[Baby Bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review was originally written for The Baby Bookworm. Visit us for new picture books reviews daily!

Hello, friends! Our book today is Secret Engineer: How Emily Roebling Built The Brooklyn Bridge by Rachel Dougherty, an awesome look at a woman ahead of her time.

As a child, Emily was fascinated by science and math, pursuits rarely encouraged for girls in the 1800’s. She eventually grew up to marry Washington Roebling, a fellow lover of knowledge and the son of famed engineer John Roebling. When John sent his son to Europe to learn about new technologies for building bridges, Emily joined him and studied the techniques as well. And when John passed away during the early stages of construction on a bridge – the biggest and most advanced of its kind at that time – her husband took over, only to fall gravely ill as well. Though she had never received a formal education in engineering, Emily became Washington’s right hand, conveying his instructions and notes by day and teaching herself engineering by night. Over the next ten years, Emily became an expert on the bridge: conducting negotiations, answering questions, and allaying doubts on her own. When the bridge was finished, she became the first person to cross it, proving that her and her husband’s work had built a structure that would last lifetimes: the Brooklyn Bridge.

Hands up: who’s ever heard of Emily Roebling? Fortunately, this loving biography shines a light on her remarkable efforts to build one of the world’s most beloved bridges, a technological marvel in its time. The text can be a bit dense at times, but only to provide important context on the complexities of the bridge, and science-minded bookworms will love the mini-lessons on the bridge’s construction and design. In this respect, the art does a marvelous job as well, nimbly integrating blueprints, engineering terms, and mathematical concepts with art that is instructional, inspiring, and often both at once. The length may be best for slightly older bookworms, but JJ enjoyed it and so did I. A wonderful profile of an unsung hero, and it’s Baby Bookworm approved.

(Note: A copy of this book was provided to The Baby Bookworm by the author in exchange for an honest review.)

Be sure to check out The Baby Bookworm for more reviews!

[Sandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm a little perplexed, it's seems to be seriously downplaying the amount of work she did or what she already knew before helping her husband in order to explain engineering elements to the reader. I mean, their honeymoon was studying bridges in Europe. It also doesn't mention anything about her going on to get a law degree except in the endnotes. Not terrible, but still pretty disappointing. This feels more like the story of the bridge than the woman.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating story of Emily Roebling's key role in the building of the Brooklyn Bridge.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

The iconic Brooklyn Bridge is an important landmark in New York City, and this picture book only made me appreciate it even more. Who knew that its construction owes a great deal to a woman--Emily Roebling? As a young girl, Emily Warren studied math and science and was interested in engineering. When her husband traveled to Europe to learn about new bridge building techniques, Emily accompanied him. They returned with plans to use a caisson to build a bridge that would link Brooklyn and Manhattan. When Washington became ill, Emily took up his role in the project, reading as much as she could about how the bridge was intended to work. Emily supervised the project in secret for ten years, and when naysayers worried that the bridge wasn't safe, she proved them wrong, riding across the span in a carriage while carrying a rooster. It opened for everyone else on May 23, 1883. I loved all the details included here about how to build a bridge like this one as well as the back matter that tells more about Emily. The use of the caisson was innovative, and the story is made even better when readers consider how hard Emily must have worked to understand the formulas and measurements that went into the project. The end papers include a blueprint of the bridge as well as archival black and white photographs of its early days and more recent photographs that show traffic crossing over the river. It's so exciting to have a book that honors this woman's contributions and determination and to know that her story won't be lost to history since this one gives her justified credit. This would be a fine addition to a classroom collection devoted to women in roles and pursuits not considered typical, and it provides a great example for someone interested in a STEM-related career. The images are bright and bring out Emily's personality as well as providing details of how the bridge actually was designed.

[Catherine Petrini · Rating 5 out of 5]

This terrific picture book tells the story of Emily Roebling, who stepped in and oversaw the building of the Brooklyn Bridge after her husband, who was leading the project, became ill with what we now know was decompression sickness, or the bends.

Unlike most girls of her time, Emily received an education in science and mathematics. After she married engineer Washington Roebling, who came from a family of bridge designers and builders, she became intensely interested in his work. It was her father-in-law who was supposed to be in charge of the Brooklyn Bridge project, and who sent his son to Europe to study the latest advances in bridge-building. Emily accompanied her husband and learned the same things he did. But his father passed away before construction started, so Washington led the project in his place. When he became bedridden, Emily stepped in, at first just carrying his instructions to the engineers on the site. But she was not an engineer, and wanted to understand more. So she read voraciously, educating herself until she could speak knowledgeably with engineers and steel mill executives. The project took ten years. When it was nearly finished, the public became concerned about this new type of bridge, thinking it would be unsafe. Emily took charge of a public-relations campaign to convince people otherwise.

I had known a little about Emily Roebling before I read this book, but only a little. The prose is entertaining while also explaining the engineering behind the bridge in a way that makes it clear. Emily's brilliance and courage come through; she is a great role model for children. The colorful artwork is perfect. And a helpful section at the back provides more information and a bridge-building glossary.

Now I want to buy copies to give to every little girl I can think of!

[Ben Truong · Rating 4 out of 5]

Secret Engineer: How Emily Roebling Built the Brooklyn Bridge is a children's picture book written and illustrated by Rachel Dougherty. This affectionate biography tells the story of Emily Roebling, who was pivotal to the design and construction of the Brooklyn Bridge.

March, at least in my part of the world is Women's History Month, which I plan to read one children's book, particularly a biography, which pertains to the subject everyday this month. Therefore, I thought that this book would be apropos for today.

Emily Warren Roebling is known for her contribution to the completion of the Brooklyn Bridge after her husband Washington Roebling developed caisson disease. Her husband was a civil engineer and the chief engineer during the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge.

The text is rather simplistic, straightforward, and informative. Dougherty's lively narration of the events provides readers with an accessible, factual account of a remarkable woman's accomplishments. Backmatter includes author’s note, glossary, additional biographical information, bibliography, further reading, architectural blueprints and photographs. Dougherty's accessible artwork, Roebling appears as a gentle, smiling figure, undaunted by the task at hand.

The premise of the book is rather straightforward. A curious learner as a child, Emily Roebling later marries engineer Washington Roebling, who plans to construct a means to finally link Manhattan and Brooklyn. However, when her husband falls ill, Roebling educates herself about engineering and oversees the building of the initially controversial, but soon beloved landmark.

All in all, Secret Engineer: How Emily Roebling Built the Brooklyn Bridge is an inspiring biological picture book about Emily Roebling.

[Christine Turner]

On a warm spring day in 1883, a woman rode across the Brooklyn Bridge with a rooster on her lap. It was the first trip across an engineering marvel that had taken nearly fourteen years to construct. The woman's husband was the chief engineer, and he knew all about the dangerous new technique involved. The woman insisted she learn as well. When he fell ill mid-construction, her knowledge came in handy. She supervised every aspect of the project while he was bedridden, and she continued to learn about things only men were supposed to know:math,science,engineering.Women weren't supposed to be engineers. But this woman insisted she could do it all, and her hard work helped to create one of the most iconic landmarks in the world. This is the story of Emily Roebling, the secret engineer behind the Brooklyn Bridge.

Subject: Bridges -- New York (State) -- New York -- Design and construction -- Juvenile literature.
Women engineers -- United States -- Biography -- Juvenile literature.
Subject:
Roebling, Emily Warren, 1843-1903-Juvenile literature.


Notes
Rachel Dougherty is the illustrator of three nonfiction picture books, Your Life as a Cabin Attendant on the Titanic, Your Life as a Pioneer on the Oregon Trail, and The Twelve Days of Christmas in Pennsylvania. She is a lifelong history buff and has always paid special attention to brave and commanding women. Secret Engineer is the first picture book she has both written and illustrated. She lives in Philadelphia.

[Nadine in NY Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'd never heard of Emily Roebling, so I was thrilled to discover this book. Huge points for a picture book about women in engineering!!! One full star just for that!!!

But I didn't really learn much. This story makes it sound like Emily just acted as a note-taker for her husband, but I suspect it was much more than that. I wish it emphasized a bit more how much work she did and how difficult it was for her in a time when women were it engineers. The end notes say she got a law degree, but nothing about other college - did she try to get an engineering degree?

I also didn't learn anything about how a bridge is designed. I learned what a caisson is, so that was cool, but the book didn't explain how suspension bridges work. I get that this is just a picture book, but the text says things such as:

The cables create the tension force, and the towers create the compression force.

with no explanation of how that works, exactly. I'm an engineer (obviously not a civil engineer), and I was confused! If I read this to a kid, and the kid asked, "how does that work?" I'd have to say "I don't know!"

The book also casually mentions that Washington Roebling was sick in bed for ten years and holy cow that's a long time! Were they worried? Did he make a full recovery? Did they design other bridges? No idea.

I was hoping there would be a photo of Emily Roebling among the photos of the bridge, but there was not.

[Rebeca Sanchez · Rating 4 out of 5]

When thinking about a "secret engineer," what can be said about that? In this biography, Emily Roebling was the main person who built the Brooklyn Bridge. She was a curious learner as a child, she then marries an engineer known as Washington Roebling who planned to construct the bring. When her husband fell ill, she decided to take on the role to build the bridge. She decides to educate herself about engineering and oversees the construction of the bridge instead. One way that it was seen with the wires and that people were unsure on the way that it was built. In her artwork ad blueprints, she integrates her architectural and engineering skills to the bridge. Her husband wasn't there she took charge and decided to help her husband in a way that some may not. In the illustrations, there is a lot of bolded letters and emphasis on the construction of the bridge itself. I found this appealing with some kids knowing that bridges are used with the words that may describe the arches and other forms that were built.

As a soon-to-be teacher, I would have this book as part of my science and math curriculum for the students. Students may learn how women are able to make history and that it may be rewritten. In the sense of history, some women are excluded from these themes and discussions. Nowadays, some people are writing books about women and that's something that can change.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A remarkable story about a truly remarkable woman who essentially taught herself the math, science and engineering necessary to oversee and complete the building of the innovative Brooklyn Bridge. I didn't know this story and it is a welcome introduction of a brilliant and determined woman. Another example of the real tragedy of society's repression of women throughout history. Roebling didn't let much stop her but I can't help but wonder what ELSE she might have also accomplished under different circumstances.

My one quibble with this book is that I was distracted by the issue of Washington's "caisson" illness. It isn't until the glossary where that is really explained and I wish that could have been incorporated into the main text. Related to that was that I was felt unsure about the length of time that it took to build the bridge. A time line in the back matter would have been really helpful for me.

A really excellent book for a STEM class.

[Sheri Levasseur · Rating 4 out of 5]

A STEM/engineering gem request by one of my 2nd grade teacher friends: “Secret Engineer: How Emily Roebling Built the Brooklyn Bridge” by Rachel Dougherty.

This is the true story of how Emily, wife of the bridge engineer Washington Roebling, stepped in to finish her husband’s massive endeavor to complete the Brooklyn Bridge. Wow! Just wow!

The opening sentence though… “Emily Warren was a bright, shiny spark who loved to learn”… another great book emphasizing how curiosity and motivation can change the world! And engineering giant, herself.

This biography also demonstrates step-by-step sequential thinking and processing (how bridge caissons are buillt), tension, compression & weight AND push/pull forces of motion. It could be an engaging entry point, even for middle school science…but definitley a worthwhile nonfiction story for elementary …complete with more info about Emily in the back and a glossary.

Read this if you ever plan to walk across the Brooklyn Bridge!

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about the building of the Brooklyn Bridge connecting Brooklyn and Manhattan Island. It was begun by John Roebling in the 1880's and finished by his widow, Emily Roebling after he passed away from an infection. Emily was very much involved in the building of the bridge and learned lots of math and engineering concepts to supervise the men. This book is about Emily and John and the Brooklyn bridge. This is a book with a lot of big words like Caisson Sickness and Catenary. Fortunately, the author includes a small glossary of the biggest words at the back of the book. One website for this book suggests an audience of 5-8 year old children, but I think even older children would appreciate this.

[Ms. Tongate, TLC Librarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who knew that it was a woman who led the way to the building of the Brooklyn Bridge?! An excellent secondary read-aloud for STEM, bridge building, and Women's History Month. This book is about the building of the Brooklyn Bridge by John Roebling in the 1880s and finished by his wife, Emily Roebling after he passed away from an infection. Emily Roebling proved in the 1800s that women could be as successful in science and engineering as any man.

Students may have walked over The John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge in Covington, KY to walk to the Cincinnati Reds/Bengals games. The suspension bridge between Covington, Kentucky, and Cincinnati, Ohio opened to traffic on January 1, 1867. Its central span of 1057 feet was the longest in the world.

[Molly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This picture book tells the story of Emily Roebling who greatly contributed to the planning and building of the Brooklyn Bridge at a time when women were discouraged from studying STEM subjects. While John Roebling, her father-in-law, and Washington Roebling, her husband, are considered the creators of the bridge, Emily was the actual driving force behind most of the operation. Her work is often overlooked and this book brings it to the forefront. While the book does deal with very technical things, it explains them in an accessible manner and has great illustrations. Overall, a great book about one of history's great women.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was about a secret engineer, I don't know, so, the first captains got sick so Emily Rœbling had to take over. And I bet little kids would not like this book, it's just about an engineer who works, but I bet I would recommend Grace Hopper: Queen of Computer Code and Ada Byron Lovelace and the Thinking Machine.

[Sophia Gholz · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fabulous biography all around! Doughtry skillfully tells the tale of Emily Roebling, the wife of the engineer hired to construct the Brooklyn Bridge. But when Mr.Roebling fell ill, it was Emily who stepped in and supervised the entire project. Beyond project supervision, Emily learned the ins and outs of bridge engineering, oversaw meetings and solved problems that arose. The colorful illustrations are detailed, beautiful and lively. SECRET ENGINEER not only introduces readers to Emily Roebling, but also teaches the reader about bridge construction and the history of the Brooklyn Bridge itself. This book is a fun and enlightening read that all will enjoy.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Did you know it was a woman who ended up leading the way in the building of the Brooklyn Bridge?! Read all about it and learn some incredible specifics regarding how this iconic bridge was engineered and built. Use this book as a springboard for STEM bridge challenges or biography projects. This would be an excellent addition to your collection of books about strong women role models – perfect for Women’s History Month!

I received a copy of this book from the Library Learners groupo in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love people who do amazing things, especially when they mostly go unnoticed. I have never contemplated the building the of Brooklyn Bridge, but found this book very interesting. In fact, I imagine my dad liking this book. I remember him once talking about how they built a bridge off site and then assembled it in the location it would remain. Engineers do crazy things.

The thing I didn't like about this book was the fact that it didn't go more into caisson sickness and the science behind that illness and treatment. Plus, I wanted more information on Emily's husband as well.

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emily Roebling was a total badass. She was born in 1843; while growing up, she studied science, history, and math along with the mandatory traditional education for women back then (i.e. how to be a good wife, blech). I love that her brother encouraged her to pursue scientific knowledge - I'm a sucker for awesome sibling relationships. This picture book tells her story from there and how she became the essential chief engineer of the Brooklyn Bridge project. I think the author did a great job of making concepts in physics approachable and understandable throughout the story.

[Emily✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

We need more books about women's overlooked contributions in history! I was really looking forward to this because I did a report on the Brooklyn Bridge when I was in elementary school. There was certainly no mention of Emily Roebling in my research back then-- all the sources made it sound like Washington Roebling managed to continue the project from his bed even after becoming sick. Yay for recognition of women's accomplishments, especially in STEM fields!

[MeganRuth - Alohamora Open a Book · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty techy/math minded, but a fascinating story more on how the Brooklyn Bridge was built. You don't get as much impressiveness of Emily Roebling being quite the engineer in spite of the culture of that time.

I don't think many students will gravitate to this book, but a teacher could read this in the classroom. Especially if they're starting or in the middle of a bridge science unit. Very cool book.

[Rachel Chapman · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great STEM biography of Emily Roebling, who nearly took over the duties as chief engineer of the Brooklyn Bridge when her husband fell ill. Probably best suited for older picture book readers, as there are some technical terms in bridge construction. This would be a great mentor text for a STEM activity on building bridges. I loved the scientific- and historical accuracy of time period (complete with Brooklyn Eagle newspaper clips!) and an extensive glossary and bibliography at the end. 4.5/5

[Lisa Yee Swope · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't believe how difficult it was for women to get an education, not that long ago. Her family was in bridges and she married a man who built bridges, and yet she only got to learn as a tag-along. And then hubs got sick, but fortunately someone knew all "his" plans, and construction continued under her unattributed supervision.