Before Kip Tiernan came along, the US had no shelters for women. Here is the inspirational story of a singular woman and what her vision and compassion have brought to life.
“Justice is not three hots and a cot. Justice is having your own key.” —Kip Tiernan
When Kip Tiernan was growing up during the Great Depression, she’d help her granny feed the men who came to their door asking for help. As Kip grew older, and as she continued to serve food to hungry people, she noticed something peculiar: huddled at the back of serving lines were women dressed as men. At the time, it was believed that there were no women experiencing homelessness. And yet Kip would see women sleeping on park benches and searching for food in trash cans. Kip decided to open the first shelter for women—a shelter with no questions asked, no required chores, just good meals and warm beds. With persistence, Kip took on the city of Boston in her quest to open Rosie’s Place, our nation’s first shelter for women.
Christine McDonnell, a former educator at Rosie’s Place, and illustrator Victoria Tentler-Krylov bring warmth to Kip Tiernan’s story of humanity and tenacity, showing readers how one person’s dream can make a huge difference, and small acts of kindness can lead to great things.
More about Kip Tiernan. Source notes. Full-color illustrations were created with watercolor and digital media.
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Gr 1-3-This exquisite retelling of the unsung hero, Kip Tiernan, begins when she is a young child growing up in the heart of the Great Depression. Tiernan's life of service begins in Granny's small kitchen where the older woman helps those in need, feeding men and giving away shoes and clothing. Following the death of her father, Tiernan is raised by this generous and giving grandmother. Tiernan grows up and leaves home, working in Boston aiding those in need. She makes her life's work to provide a space for women experiencing hardships, and she opens the first shelter for women only in 1974. McDonnell chronicles this journey in rich language; the illustrations convey an atmosphere of warmth, generosity, and respect. The first pictures during the Depression are deeper gray and brown, with an occasional splash of lighter colors. As Tiernan grows older and her work affects more people, the scenes introduce more and more vivid colors. Overall, this is a meaningful and resonant story of how one person can change the lives of so many others. VERDICT This is a must-have for biography collections on strong women.-Erin Olsen