In Good Hands: Remarkable Female Politicians from Around the World Who Showed Up, Spoke Out and Made Change

Gr 9 Up–Young women interested in politics may be overwhelmed by the challenges of campaigning and sexist expectations and pressures. MacKendrick successfully reassures readers that it is possible for women to excel in politics, and that they have significant and unique voices that should be heard. Split into three parts, the book’s first and largest section shares brief biographies of 19 female politicians. All of the women share commonalities: they battled significant obstacles on the path that led them to political leadership. From British Columbia’s Michelle Stilwell who was paralyzed from an accident and went on to become an Olympic star and politician, to Malawi’s Juliana Lunguzi who dealt with institutional corruption, all of the profiles highlight persistence and strength. Additionally, the women portray different points on the political spectrum. The book’s biggest strength is its honest and empowering depiction of the very real adversities women in politics face. The text makes it clear that feelings like self-doubt are not weaknesses.