Girls to the Front

December 1, 2024

Gr 3-7-Forty Asian American women are profiled in this illuminating, attractively designed collection. Subjects run the gamut from artists, activists, and journalists to scientists, athletes, politicians, and multi-hyphenates. Each single-page profile is accompanied by a stunning illustrated portrait set against a colorful, doodle-adorned background that gives the slightly awkward text fresh, tween-friendly appeal. Young readers will be excited to see familiar faces (musician H.E.R., Olympic athletes Chloe Kim and Suni Lee) while learning about lesser-known, yet equally impactful, pioneers (desegregation activist Mary Tape's work was a predecessor to the landmark case Brown v. Board of Education; Dorothy Toy thrived as half of the successful Asian American vaudeville duo "Toy and Wing"). The entries pack a great deal of information into a single page, necessitating rather small text. Though the book lacks a bibliography, students could use this as an internet alternative when picking subjects for further research. Back matter includes a list of "Other Notable Women" with birth and death years, and vocations; a glossary of the terms bolded throughout the book; and a profile and fact list about the author/illustrator herself. VERDICT A strong overview of a wide range of Asian American icons who have helped, and are helping, to shape the world; recommended for juvenile nonfiction collections, and as a research jumping-off point.-Ashleigh Williams

Copyright 2024 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from October 21, 2024
Mata (Belong) makes her authorial debut in this illuminating illustrated anthology that highlights the lives and achievements of 40 women of the Asian American diaspora. In a personable introductory note, the creator recounts how the “countless violent acts against people of Asian descent” during the pandemic and her desire to expose her daughter’s generation to “women who made giant waves in history just by being themselves and
following their hearts” brought about this project. Throughout, readers learn each individual’s origin as well as the hardships and
discrimination they endured on their journey to becoming trailblazing movers and shakers. A softly shaded digital portrait of the showcased figure, her name, and her profession appear on the verso,
followed by a brief, emphatic overview of the subject’s life on the recto. Entries arranged in an unspecified order feature women such as Chinese American actor Anna May Wong (1905–1961), “considered the first Asian American movie star”; transgender Filipino model and activist Geena Rocero (b. 1983); and Jamaican and Indian American vice president Kamala Harris (b. 1964). A list of other notable women, a glossary, and a spread
of Mata herself conclude this thorough compendium. Ages 8–12. Agent: Christy Ewers, CAT Agency.

Starred review from December 1, 2024
Grades 3-7 *Starred Review* Mata's creative anthology focuses on 40 incredible Asian American women from the twentieth and twenty-first centuries who overcame obstacles to become vanguards of change and leadership in the nation. Each profile comprises a one-page biography that spotlights formative life events and greatest achievements in a direct, conversational tone, as well as a colorful representational portrait. Together, they include a wide range of Asian cultures and fields of interest, from Korean American Susan Ahn Cuddy, a U.S. Navy gunnery officer, to Gyo Fujikawa, a Japanese American illustrator for Disney and of groundbreaking children's books, to Filipino and Black singer Umpeylia "Sugar Pie" DeSanto. Readers will also meet many, many "firsts," such as Cristeta Comerford, who became the first woman, first person of color, and first Asian American executive chef of the White House, and Dr. Mabel Ping-Hua Lee, the first Chinese woman to graduate with a PhD in economics. Tammy Duckworth, the first disabled female U.S. senator, and transgender activist and model Geena Rocero also make appearances. Rather than grouped by categories, the profiles flow in no particular order, allowing readers to discover comedian Ali Wong, obstetrician Kazue Togasaki, and ballerina and physicist Merritt Moore successively, or to dip in and out according to their own curiosity. An engaging celebration of Asian American ingenuity and triumph.

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