Book Review: Wonder Women

Book: Wonder Women: 25 Innovators, Inventors, and Trailblazers Who Changed History by Sam Maggs with illustrations by Sophia Foster-Dimino

Source: Borrowed from Publisher/NetGalley for an honest review

Publication: Available now

Description:

A fun and feminist look at forgotten women in science, technology, and beyond, from the bestselling author of THE FANGIRL'S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY

You may think you know women’s history pretty well. But have you ever heard of. . .

·  Alice Ball, the chemist who developed an effective treatment for leprosy—only to have the credit taken by a man?

·  Mary Sherman Morgan, the rocket scientist whose liquid fuel compounds blasted the first U.S. satellite into orbit?

·  Huang Daopo, the inventor whose weaving technology revolutionized textile production in China—centuries before the cotton gin?

Smart women have always been able to achieve amazing things, even when the odds were stacked against them. In Wonder Women, author Sam Maggs tells the stories of the brilliant, brainy, and totally rad women in history who broke barriers as scientists, engineers, mathematicians, adventurers, and inventors. Plus, interviews with real-life women in STEM careers, an extensive bibliography, and a guide to women-centric science and technology organizations—all to show the many ways the geeky girls of today can help to build the future.



Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Lately, I've found myself gravitating towards nonfiction because sometimes that happens but this is the last one I'm reading for a while. Reading Wonder Women was so eye opening because there were so many women who did amazing things but their stories were relatively left out of the history books. There were names that were familiar to me but all in all for most of these women this was the first time I was learning about them. Which is a shame but it made it that much more interesting because I wasn't reading about the same people that I usually find in nonfiction/history books.

This book is organized into five sections where the author profiled five women in each of the following subjects: Science, Medicine, Espionage, Innovation and Adventure. At the end of each section there are additional women who were given a mini profile which is then followed by an interview with a change maker of today.

I would say that this book is probably for readers who are late middle grade to older. I like that this was inclusive with the author focusing on a diverse group of women from all throughout time and the world. Although the times and women may have been different they all had to overcome many forms of adversity from sexism to racism and more. But something else they all had in common was their determination and perseverance especially when giving up would have been so much easier than continuing to pursue their interest when it seemed like everything and everyone was against them succeeding.

This is the second time I have read something by Sam Maggs, the first was The Fangirl's Guide to the Galaxy and I wasn't exactly thrilled after reading it. However, it's a different story with this book, I found it fascinating and where the writing didn't quite work for Fangirl it does for this one. I like that Maggs adds in a touch of humor to the writing because even as fan of history it can sometimes be a little boring but no fear the small dose of humor doesn't distract from the story of these awesome women.

There are not many history/nonfiction books where I would say is an instant favorite but Wonder Women would definitely qualify for it.