100 Tales of Extraordinary Women (Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls #1)

Packaged as a "heartwarming and thought-provoking" bedtime selection, this offering aims to inspire readers with brief biographies of notable women. As an introductory text, the volume is a browsable resource that promotes a multifaceted view of womanhood: scientists and supermodels are presented alongside activists and athletes. But as a collection of biographies, it lacks depth. Each entry is a single page in length, with the subject's birth (and death, when applicable) date at the bottom of the page. Relevant details are often omitted, eliminating context from accomplishments: an entry on the Bronte sisters includes talk of "when [their] novels came out," without mentioning what these influential novels were or in what year they were published. The entry on Malala Yousafzai does not specify at what age she was shot or when she won the Nobel Peace Prize—only that she is the youngest person to have been awarded it. However, a note on the title page verso states that "this is a work of creative nonfiction...not an encyclopedic account of events and accomplishments of [the subjects'] lives." Full-color portraits, illustrated by a number of artists, add visual interest. VERDICT Though inspirational, this book will be of little use to school libraries.—Brandy Danner, Coakley Middle School, Norwood, MA