Sanctuary: Kip Tiernan and Rosie’s Place, the Nation’s First Shelter for Women

Gr 1-3–This exquisite retelling of the unsung hero, Kip Tiernan, begins when she is a young child growing up in the heart of the Great Depression. Tiernan’s life of service begins in Granny’s small kitchen where the older woman helps those in need, feeding men and giving away shoes and clothing. Following the death of her father, Tiernan is raised by this generous and giving grandmother. Tiernan grows up and leaves home, working in Boston aiding those in need. She makes her life’s work to provide a space for women experiencing hardships, and she opens the first shelter for women only in 1974. McDonnell chronicles this journey in rich language; the illustrations convey an atmosphere of warmth, generosity, and respect. The first pictures during the Depression are deeper gray and brown, with an occasional splash of lighter colors. As Tiernan grows older and her work affects more people, the scenes introduce more and more vivid colors. Overall, this is a meaningful and resonant story of how one person can change the lives of so many others.