School Library Journal

Gr 2-5-Biographies of 40 often-covered and not-as-often covered Latinx women fill the pages of this unique collection. A spread is dedicated to each woman, with a hand-painted illustration depicting the subject as a young girl on one page and a short biography filling the second. The entries focus largely on each woman's childhood experiences and the inspirations that led them to pursue their dreams. The pieces provide information about the time periods the subjects lived in and the customs that were popular then. Each woman accomplished incredible feats; from becoming a spy, military leader, engineer, or a writer, to becoming an artist, activist, or judge. What do they have in common? They all fought for what they believed in, such as the right to an education and equal workers' rights. Readers will be inspired by the intelligence, ingenuity, and extraordinary courage shown by each girl, many of whom overcame outdated notions about the capabilities of women. Ten additional mini biographies are included in the back matter that are sure to encourage readers to seek out additional information. VERDICT A must-have for Spanish nonfiction collections for children.-Selenia Paz