Leading the Way: Women in Power

Gr 5 Up–This book provides brief biographies of 50 women who made a difference as leaders, advisors to presidents, political trailblazers, or congresswomen. A few acted outside of government but advocated for those with less power, such as Wilma Mankiller, the first female principal chief of the Cherokee Nation, and Ida B. Wells-Barnett, who reported on lynching. The book is organized in alphabetical order; each woman receives two pages that feature an oversize illustration and quote. Readers may recognize some of the women, like the five first ladies, Elizabeth Warren, and Kamala Harris. Most interesting are less familiar subjects, such as Crystal Bird Fauset, the first African American woman elected to the state legislature in the United States. Back matter provides names of additional women who might have been included, and sources from speeches and the press. There is an instruction guide on how to stand up, speak out, and make a difference.