Secret engineer How Emily Roebling built the Brooklyn Bridge

Continuing the trend of STEM-centric picture-book biographies, this text-rich title tells of Emily Warren Roebling, who saw the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge through to its arduous completion. Much like that of Hedy Lamarr or Ada Lovelace, Roebling's legacy has long remained in the shadow of male contemporaries. Dougherty begins with young Emily's interest in math and science, a keenness which follows her into her marriage to engineer Washington Roebling, who took over the construction of the bridge after the death of his father, chief engineer John Roebling. When Washington falls ill with decompression sickness, Emily finds herself thrust into the world of engineering still very much the world of men. Dougherty's illustrations are bright and communicative, patiently illustrating the science behind the bridge's construction. Particularly delightful are the sprawling double-page spreads of the bridge's final stages, which seem to grow grander and more imposing as young Emily finds her footing and confidence. A bittersweet, stirring tale of a woman ahead of her time, with substantial back matter and a glossary for budding engineers.--Ada Wolin Copyright 2019 Booklist

In this affectionate biography, Dougherty tells the story of Emily Roebling, who was pivotal to the design and construction of the Brooklyn Bridge. A curious learner as a child, she later marries engineer Washington Roebling, who plans to construct a means "to finally link Manhattan and Brooklyn." But when her husband falls ill, Roebling educates herself about engineering and oversees the building of the initially controversial ("The skinny wires look too weak") but soon beloved landmark. In Dougherty's accessible artwork, Roebling appears as a gentle, smiling figure, undaunted by the task at hand. The integration of architectural blueprints provides readers with a sense of the bridge's design, as do photographs appearing in endpapers. Ages 5-8. (Feb.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

Emily Warren Roebling was way ahead of her time. As a young girl she studied math and science. She married Washington Roebling, an engineer whose father, John Roebling, was known for his innovative ideas. He designed a suspension bridge spanning the treacherous waters of the East River that would employ new technology and construction methods. When John died, Washington became the chief engineer. Working tirelessly, he went down into the dark, sweltering caissons to dig at the bottom of the river. Like many of the workers, Washington contracted "the bends," also known as caisson disease, causing him to be incapacitated for years, only able to see the bridge from his window. For more than 10 years, Emily became his go-between, bringing daily plans to the work site and reporting progress back to her husband. She taught herself to understand and interpret equations and drawings, and she was able to answer any questions and negotiate with confidence. In 1883, to calm the public's fears, she proudly took the first trip across the bridge. Dougherty's lively narration of the events provides readers with an accessible, factual account of a remarkable woman's accomplishments. Brightly colored illustrations enhance the action, presented in double-page spreads and framed vignettes, with blueprints and thumbnail informational sidebars and incorporating equations and engineering terms. The endpapers display historical and contemporary photos. All characters depicted are white.Inspiring. (author's note, glossary, additional biographical information, bibliography, further reading) (Picture book/biography. 6-10) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.