The Women Who Built Hollywood

March 1, 2023
A look at trailblazing women of early Hollywood. This title covers the early days of Hollywood, from 1900 to 1940, presenting women who not only left their marks, but opened doors for those who would follow. The subjects include Mary Pickford, beloved as America's Sweetheart; Frances Marion, one of the highest paid screenwriters of the time; Dorothy Emma Arzner, a successful director who was in a same-sex life partnership with choreographer Marion Morgan; Margaret Booth, the first person to receive the title of "film editor"; and Helen Holmes, action star and stuntwoman. In addition to these White women, the book includes women of color such as Fredi Washington, a light-skinned Black actor who pushed back against racism in the mainstream film industry; Hattie McDaniel, the first Black person to win an Academy Award; and Anna May Wong, the first world-famous Chinese American film star. With a clearly written narrative bolstered by delightful, behind-the-scenes photography, the book not only delves into the histories of 12 women who played various professional roles in the industry, but examines how historical events like world wars, the Great Depression, the 1918 influenza pandemic, and Jim Crow impacted their careers. The racism some of these women faced is described with thoughtfulness and accuracy. An afterword reflects on progress still to be made. An accessible, well-researched book highlighting pioneering women creatives. (note on terms and subjects, note on Anna May Wong, author's note, where to see films, bibliography, source notes, index, picture credits) (Nonfiction. 12-18)

COPYRIGHT(2023) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

April 1, 2023
Grades 7-10 During the first 30 years of the twentieth century, a surprising number of women worked for Hollywood movie companies, where jobs were often available, partly because of openings created by men joining the military during WWI, and later, due to the deadly 1918 flu pandemic. Rubin describes aspects of filmmaking during the era, and chronicles the lives of 12 women who made significant contributions within their fields of expertise. Beginning with the silent-film era, they include white actresses Mary Pickford and Lillian Gish; screenwriter Frances Marion; Black actresses Louise Beavers, Fredi Washington, and Hattie McDaniel; Asian American actresses Marion Wong and Anna May Wong; director Dorothy Arzner; film editor Margaret Booth; costume designer Clare West; and white actress/stuntwoman Helen Holmes. Captioned, black-and-white photos appear on more than half the double-page spreads. Rubin provides a well-researched, smoothly written account of each woman's life, achievements, and legacy, while well-chosen quotes from the women and their contemporaries bring their voices into the narrative. An informative, enjoyable account of women's contributions to the early history of Hollywood movies.

COPYRIGHT(2023) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

March 20, 2023
Attentively recounting their impact on the film industry, Rubin (Madame Alexander) centers intersectionally diverse pioneering women from 1900 to 1940, including Dorothy Emma Arzner, a queer film director; Hattie McDaniel, the first Black person to win an Academy Award; and Chinese American actor Anna May Wong. A foreword by Ruth E. Carter, the first African American to win the Academy Award for Best Costume Design, praises the women discussed for their bravery and asserts that “because they dared to dream, I was able to.” Rubin notes in a brief introduction that “moviemaking wasn’t taken seriously” as a lucrative opportunity, a widely held belief that allowed women to pursue jobs in film. Carefully researched chapters chronicle the highlights of each subject’s accomplishments while also providing historical context surrounding the time they lived in and how significant events—the Great Depression, Jim Crow, world wars, and widespread sickness—impacted their careers. Illuminating b&w photographs feature throughout, providing behind-the-scenes glimpses into the women’s professional lives and elevating the timely appeal of this worthy telling. A beginning note addresses era-specific language and phrases used. Extensive back matter concludes. Ages 12–up.

June 1, 2023

Gr 5-8-An illuminating collective biography that goes behind the scenes to shed light on 12 groundbreaking women who made their mark on film and early cinema. Rubin covers familiar names from Old Hollywood, such as Mary Pickford, Lillian Gish, Anna May Wong, and Hattie McDaniel. Their biographies present them as actresses, but also as studio heads, producers, directors, and activists. She puts forward Marion Wong, a Chinese American screenwriter, director, and actress; Dorothy Arzner, a queer director who was the first woman inducted into the Director's Guild; and Margaret Booth, the first person to be given the title of film editor. The writing is succinct and accessible and will inspire readers to do more research. This book has multiple entry points and will interest fans of untold histories and film. Every profile is accompanied by multiple gorgeous, black-and-white archival photos. Each entry opens with a quotation from the subject and is about 10-16 pages. Well-researched, the work is heavily sourced with extensive notes, bibliography, and index. Rubin takes extra care to preface the book with a note on the derogatory terms used during the time period. In her author's note at the conclusion of the volume, she explains her thought process in selecting the different women. While she makes an effort to include several people of color and queer artists, there is a lack of Latinx and Indigenous representation. VERDICT A fascinating and browsable collective biography that will inspire further research. Recommended for women's and film history studies.-Shelley M. Diaz

Copyright 2023 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.