Roses and Radicals by Susan Zimet - ADVISABLE

Roses and Radicals: The Epic Story of How Amercican Women Won the Right to Vote by Susan Zimet. 149 pages. NON-FICTION. Viking (Penguin), 2018. $20.

Language: G; Mature Content: G; Violence: PG.  

BUYING APPEAL: MS, HS – ADVISABLE.  

KID APPEAL: LOW.  

In 1840, a World Anti-Slavery Convention was held in London which was attended by Elizabeth Cady Stanton. That convention had rules that women had to sit in a separate gallery than the men and that didn’t sit right with Elizabeth Stanton, so she slowly became involved in fighting for women’s rights.  Over time, as the anti-slavery movement grew, it became obvious that there were many rights women didn’t have as well.  Women were not protected by any laws and their property was considered their husband’s property.  Women were also denied entrance to most schools and jobs.  This book follows the strong women who pushed the Women’s Rights Movement until women were eventually given the right to vote.  

I found this historical account fascinating.  The history starts with Elizabeth Cady Stanton in 1840 and ends with the women’s right to vote in 1920, but throughout there are little biographies of the many women who helped gain rights for women.  The text is dense, but well done and I couldn’t put it down.  This could be used in a classroom to supplement lessons and history lovers will enjoy it, but I’m not sure the average student will pick it up and dive in.  

C. Peterson