Review by Booklist Review
Throughout history, women have needed to take on male guises, masculine names, or let others assume they were men in order to pursue their dreams. Writer and actress Dawson outlines the lives of over twenty women who broke every rule to accomplish things men deemed weren't allowed. From Maria Toorpakai defying the Taliban to compete in squash to the ancient Egyptian queen Hatshepsut, women from every time period grace these pages. While not all are "good guys," such as witch-pricker Christian Caddell, each is an undeniable revolutionary. Not only are women who physically dressed like men included in this anthology, but women who let others assume they were men as well, either by using initials or with their anonymity. Whether describing how women escaped enslavement, defined literary movements, ensured women can compete in judo on an Olympic level, or take to the high seas as pirates, Dawson's biographies are as informative as they are entertaining. Full-color illustrations by artist Tina Berning beautifully round out the collection.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Rule-breaking women who "disguised themselves as men or adopted a male pseudonym" in order to pursue their "true calling" take center stage in this quip-filled debut history from TV writer and actor Dawson. Profile subjects include Hannah Snell, who joined the British Army in the 1740s in order to track down her philandering husband, and Egyptian ruler Hatshepsut, who built the memorial temple at Deir el-Bahri and expanded trade routes but was painted as a "vile usurper" by early Egyptologists. Born in the tribal region of northwestern Pakistan in 1990, professional squash player Maria Toorpakai defied the Taliban by dressing as a boy in order to play sports, while 18-year-old Joan of Arc defeated British forces at the Battle of Orléans in 1429 after "angelic messengers" told her "to save France by driving out its enemies and to install Charles the Dauphin as its rightful king." Irish aristocrat Margaret King, who was influenced by the "unorthodox beliefs" of her governess, feminist writer Mary Wollstonescraft, disguised herself as a man in order to study medicine. Stylish ink and watercolor drawings complement Dawson's amusing yet pointed biographical sketches. This spirited feminist history entertains and enlightens. Illus. (May)
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Review by Library Journal Review
In this spirited debut, actor, comedian, and writer Dawson explores the legendary lives of 21 patriarchy-subverting women who dared to live their dreams. Each well-researched essay is full of intriguing facts and snarky asides, with diverse subjects hailing from a wide variety of time periods and countries. They're not all heroes--one is Christian Caddell, who hunted "witches" in Scotland in the 17th century. Still, there are plenty of inspiring stories: see Ellen Craft, an enslaved woman whose daring escape involved dressing as a white male plantation owner, and Rena "Rusty" Kanokogi, who disguised herself as a man to compete in judo tournaments. Kendra Hoffman's narration captures the spirit of Dawson's essays, from "get a load of this" incredulity to delight at the ingenuity of these courageous women. VERDICT An entertaining and well-narrated collection of historical sketches; suggest to those who enjoy feminist history or tales of women defying the odds.--Nanette Donohue
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