Gender Equality

VOYA

Based on these two volumes, Gender Equality and The Right to Vote, this series is highly variable and should be considered title by title. The Right to Vote is a strong, historically based introduction to the role of democratic participation, beginning in Ancient Greece and continuing up to the international process found in the United Nations General Assembly. It focuses on English-speaking nations, although there are boxes on the French Revolution and recent elections in Haiti and Zimbabwe. Separate chapters also focus on the expansion of voting rights to women and persons of color around the globe. An entire page devoted to the attacks on September 11 seems out of place, but overall it is a nice introduction to the evolution and importance of the right to vote. On the other hand, something is just not right with Gender Equality. It is epitomized by the photograph of a man and woman fighting as they both leave the house in the morning (he is in a suit, they both have briefcases) that is captioned "'. . . role reversals' including more men staying at home." The overwhelming emphasis of the book is on women better covered in other works, including Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Sojourner Truth, Nefertiti, Amelia Earhart, and Marie Curie. Nearly fifty percent of the text focuses on the suffrage movement (an expansion of the chapter mentioned above), and the history feels as if it stopped with the death of the ERA, even though there are illustrations and stray sentences covering more recent times. There are better choices on this topic. (Campaigns for Change). VOYA CODES: 2Q 2P M (Better editing or work by the author might have warranted a 3Q; For the YA with a specialinterest in the subject; Middle School, defined as grades 6 to 8). 2006, The Creative Company, 48p.; Glossary. Index. Illus. Photos. Further Reading., PLB . Ages 11 to 14.
—Beth Karpas

School Library Journal

Gr 5-8-Both titles feature appealing page layouts and an abundance of archival photographs and full-color illustrations. Gender Equality offers this insight: "-women in many ancient societies enjoyed more basic rights than women in19th-century England or the United States." The major historical events and people of the suffrage movement closely linked to women's equality are examined; the final chapter, "Looking Ahead," is a concise discussion of some of the challenges yet to be met. Right to Vote presents a sweeping overview, describing briefly the rise of dynasties and continuing with a chapter on "The Dawn of Citizenship" in ancient Greece. The idea of voting, of an involved citizenry, is traced through medieval Florence and the Renaissance and into the New World with the arrival of the Pilgrims. Contemporary efforts at democratizing nations are also briefly discussed. These books are attractive and accessible and would be valuable reference resources.-Lee Bock, Glenbrook Elementary School, Pulaski, WI Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.