We Are Makers: Real Women and Girls Shaping Our World

by Amy Richards

MAKERS is the award-winning video collection of women's stories. And we're bringing these inspirational and amazing stories to young readers in a book!

Did you know that Kathrine Switzer, the first woman to complete the Boston marathon in 1967, was almost pulled off the course before she could finish the race? And that Mae Jemison, an astronaut, was inspired by a Star Trek character to pursue her passion in science?

Behind every successful woman is the fascinating story of how she got to the top. And throughout history, trailblazing women have opened doors for those who followed. Based on the rich collection of interviews and documentaries from MAKERS, this book introduces pioneering women from all walks of life. Readers will get to know these women's hopes, dreams, challenges, and accomplishments in chapters filled with personal stories, historical information, inspiring quotes, and much more. They will learn about the women's movement and its impact today, and about common experiences women have.

Most importantly, they'll be inspired to follow their dreams and become MAKERS themselves!

Genres: Nonfiction, Middle Grade

112 pages, Hardcover

First published November 19, 2019

Reviews

[Sarah Allen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has some great true stories of women who have made a difference in history. This includes women, young and old, who are making an impact right now. My daughter and I enjoyed reading about Diane von Furstenberg, Sophie Kruz, and Katherine Switzer.

I like some of the shorter sections with quotes or a photo and a very small biography…

I wish that it didn’t have long chapters about a topic, or that the chapters were broken up with sub headings that would let me know who the short biography was going to be on (the woman’s name is bolder, but it doesn’t seem to have the same effect).

Although it is chock-full of interesting information, as a middle school teacher, this book does not seem that accessible to my students because of the sheer amount of text.

* I accessed an early release copy through the IRA teachers choice project*

[Alicia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Chock full of powerful content about how women have impacted industry, art, and sports (just to name a few) it's not focused on women in STEM, but women in general and how they created something from nothing (like an entire construction business) or used their skills to be the GOAT (Serena Williams).

In the spirit of some others with similar content, it would have been jazzy to add caricatures or illustrations or a few more images of the women in these roles, especially because it's targeted toward middle grade the visualization is important. Otherwise, it's a good launchpad to start discussion about women in various fields like female astronauts and Temple Grandin impacting agriculture with autism.

[Kris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the cover of this book so much that I wish the art had been continued throughout. This is a good, if disjointed, compilation of women from all kinds of fields (sports, art, STEM, business, etc.) who have been influential. There were a few I hadn't heard of, and one of my favorite additions was about the women who had experienced failure, sometimes HUGE failure, and didn't let that define them and their stories.

[Andréa]

Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book through Edelweiss.

[Carter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like that no matter how old you are, a girl can make an impact. Ellen is cool, too.