Trailblazers: 33 Women in Science Who Changed the World

Gr 5–8—Focusing on the fields of technology, astronomy, medicine, and biology, Swaby provides brief introductions to 33 women renowned for their scientific contributions. She includes well-known names such as Hedy Lamarr, Sally Ride, and Florence Nightingale, along with lesser-known figures such as Ruth Benerito, Emmy Noether, and Maria Sibylla Merian. Each chapter informs readers of the subject's discoveries and contributions to her respective fields as well as the struggles she encountered, mostly because of gender. Though the book is well written, the material is scant and readers will be left longing for more on the personal and professional achievements of the subjects. However, it does present women who are not usually found in other books, and that would perhaps encourage readers to explore more on their own.