Brazen: Rebel Ladies Who Rocked the World by Penelope Bagieu - ADVISABLE

Brazen: Rebel Ladies Who Rocked the World by Penelope Bagieu, 291 pgs. First Second (Macmillan), 2018. $24.99 Language – PG (9 swears, 0 “f”), Mature Content – PG (heterosexual and homosexual content); Violence – PG; 

MS, HS – ADVISABLE. 

Bagieu tells brief biographies of little-known influential women in history—including musicians to activists and scientists to writers. These women come from different time periods and different places around the globe, but they all have a common desire to be themselves. As these women illustrate in their lives, being themselves helped them to look outside of themselves to do good based on what they excelled at. All twenty-nine women highlighted went through trials, but following their hearts led them to make great contributions to the world. Through the lives of these amazing women, Bagieu teaches her readers that you are you, and the world needs you the way you are because you have a unique contribution to make.

While I wish that the women had been put into chronological order, that is my only complaint. I love all the women highlighted here and how the message of having the courage to be yourself is evident throughout the experiences shared. I was shocked that I had only heard of one of these women prior to reading this book, and some of these women are still alive! We have a need to discover the wonderful female role models in the world to help expand the good that women can do when they believe in themselves. 

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen