(Extra)Ordinary Women: Ten Inspirational Stories

Gr 7 Up—Each chapter in this collected biography describes how the subject overcame dire situations on the path to success. Reading through each of these true stories is an emotional journey. One of the profiles is about a woman named Rasheera Dopson. She was born premature and has had over 100 surgeries in her life so far. Bartzokis's thoughts on Dopson best sum up the tone of the entire book: "She encourages everyone she meets to embrace their stories, to love their flaws, and to be different. And she reminds everyone that just because others might place limitations on you, you do not have to place those same limitations on yourself." A photo of each women and a charitable organization that is close to their hearts is included with each chapter. The book is easy to read and can be dipped into or read from cover to cover.