Extraordinary Women Explorers

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"A fascinating book...The women covered range across history and a broad range of lifestyles. All of these women faced hardship and public disapproval to travel and see new places. As such, they are an inspiration to all women who hunger to go beyond the limits of their safe environments."

KLIATT

An inviting introduction to 12 daring female expeditioners, Rooney's work covers a range of adventures in Canada, the US, Siberia, Tibet, Liberia, and Antarctica. Beginning with Sacagawea, the collection describes the variety of motivations the women had, from guiding for hire to mission work, nursing, and exploring Antarctica. Photos capture the exuberance and determination of women pushing themselves to their physical limits. A resources section suggests reference works and websites and lists another 20 plucky females who left the security of home to broaden their horizons. An attractive volume at a reasonable price, this work is a must for the junior high and high school library. (The Women's Hall of Fame Series). KLIATT Codes: JS*—Exceptional book, recommended for junior and senior high school students. 2005, Second Story Press, 118p. illus. bibliog., Ages 12 to 18.
—Mary Ellen Snodgrass

School Library Journal

Gr 4-7-Most of the dozen adventurous women described here had a few things in common: an insatiable curiosity, a need to challenge the mind and the body, and a desire to share with others what they learned. The entries are arranged chronologically, beginning with Sacagawea and concluding with Matty McNair and Denise Martin's 1997 British Women's Polar Relay to the North Pole. Other profiles include preacher and missionary Amanda Berry Smith, Canadian mountaineers Phyllis Munday and Sharon Wood, Inuit wilderness guide Ada Blackjack, French Buddhist traveler to India and Tibet Alexandra David-Neel, Near East enthusiast Freya Stark, and Irish bicycling explorer Dervla Murphy. Each account details some of the life-threatening dangers and extreme hardships these women endured to reach their goals. Remarkable photographs taken by American Edith S. Watson combine with the sensitive writings of her companion Victoria Hayward to record now-vanished ways of life and cultures of many Canadian peoples from the 1890s through the 1920s. Halftone photographs of the subjects, often in the field, and small sidebars of inspiring quotes or supplementary facts highlight the text. Rooney took much of her information from the women's own writings as evidenced by the list of resources appended. In size and scope, this work resembles many others on women explorers, discoverers, and inventors, but is certainly a valuable supplement to them rather than a duplicate.-Ann G. Brouse, Steele Memorial Library, Elmira, NY Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.