January 1, 2022 by Stone Arch Books
Library copy
Marika is 13 in 1970, and starting to argue with her parents about a lot of things. Her father is an accountant, and Marika loves to secretly read a history of economics that he has, but she has to hide it from him because he and her mother believe in "traditional values". Marika's mother is Indian, so her parents were very forward thinking for marrying in the 1950s, but they now think that Marika should have a more "family friendly" major in college, and that she should give up her dream of attending Harvard. When her father hears on the news that there is a women's march going on, he's angry that it might disrupt things, but Marika is intrigued. Her best friend Beth's family is thinking of going to the march, but when Marika makes some signs for it, her parents find out and ground her. She lies to Beth's family and goes with them, and is of course and interviewed on television, and her parents are angry. They change their minds a little when they hear how positively the news and the people at the march react to Marika, and have some good conversations.
Strengths: There are so few fictional books about women's rights, and this is a great starting point for elementary school readers. It seems odd, but I've been looking for years, and about all I've found is Starting from Seneca Falls (2020) and The Hope Chest (2008), both by Karen Schwabach. Oh, and Bolton's 1971 Never Jam Today which I had to get rid of because it smelled really bad. Marika's drive to go to Harvard and major in economics is admirable, and I'm sure that a lot of women born in 1957 faced pushback from their families. Marching in protest is not covered in many books, although Nell in Klein's 1974 Taking Sides does go to a protest with her mother; they wear nice skirts so that people take them seriously. Betty Friedan and some leaders of the women's movement are mentioned, and there is a glossary and notes about becoming an activist at the end of the book. This is very short, and there are pictures throughout, making this a good choices for elementary school students. It feels a little like the Pleasant Company's American Girl books.
Weaknesses: While there are some good details of Marika's room that are historically accurate, I got the feeling that the author is younger and did not live through this time. There are a few things just half a bubble off, like the skirt on the cover. In 1970, just about all skirts were well above the knee. Will younger readers pick up on this? Absolutely not.
What I really think: This was disappointing for me personally, since I have vague memories of this year. My cousins are Marika's age, and all became professional women. Perhaps this needed an older sensitivity reader! I did look up pictures of the marches and was a little surprised that so many of the women were wearing slacks. It's a fine book, but just didn't offer the nuances that I wanted.
Weaknesses: While there are some good details of Marika's room that are historically accurate, I got the feeling that the author is younger and did not live through this time. There are a few things just half a bubble off, like the skirt on the cover. In 1970, just about all skirts were well above the knee. Will younger readers pick up on this? Absolutely not.
What I really think: This was disappointing for me personally, since I have vague memories of this year. My cousins are Marika's age, and all became professional women. Perhaps this needed an older sensitivity reader! I did look up pictures of the marches and was a little surprised that so many of the women were wearing slacks. It's a fine book, but just didn't offer the nuances that I wanted.
Of course, in 1957, girls could not apply to Harvard. Even in 1982, my diploma said Radcliffe College, Harvard University. When my mother arrived at Radcliffe in 1955, some of the men were astonished to find their classes were co-ed. That happened during WWII when there was a professor shortage and did not revert afterwards.
ReplyDeleteI don't remember reading any books about suffrage as a child except the COFA Susan B. Anthony and Lucretia Mott books. I did not read Never Jam Today until recently, although I remember eyeing it in my library. I did recently read Things a Bright Girl Can Do which was good although more for older YA readers.