THE BRAVEST WOMAN IN AMERICA by Marissa Moss and Andrea U'Ren, ill., Tricycle Press, July 2011, 32p., ISBN: 978-1-58246-369-8

"Whoever wrote the book of 1 Timothy claimed to be Paul. But he was lying about that -- he was someone else living after Paul had died. In his book, the author of 1 Timothy used Paul's name and authority to address a problem that he saw in the church. Women were speaking out, exercising authority and teaching men. That had to stop. The author told women to be silent and submissive, and reminded his readers about what happened the first time a woman was allowed to exercise authority over a man, in that little incident in the garden of Eden. No, the author argued, if women wanted to be saved, they were to have babies (1 Tim. 2:11-15).

"Largely on the basis of this passage, the apostle Paul has been branded, by more liberation minded people of recent generations, as one of history's great misogynists. The problem, of course, is that Paul never said any such thing. And why does it matter? Because the passage is still used by church leaders today to oppress and silence women. Why are there no women priests in the Catholic Church? Why are women not allowed to preach in conservative evangelical churches? Why are there churches today that do not allow women even to speak? In no small measure it is because Paul allegedly taught that women had to be silent, submissive and pregnant. Except that the person who taught this was not Paul, but someone lying about his identity so that his readers would think he was Paul. -- from the 3/25/11 article "Who Wrote The Bible and Why It Matters" by Bart D. Ehrman

Strong women. 

Geraldine Ferraro died this weekend.  I can recall my excitement, twenty-seven years ago, when I got to shake her hand after hearing her speak at a local high school during the 1984 Presidential campaign. 

Strong women.

Back in my bookstore days, I once got to sit beside Michael Moore at a publisher's breakfast.  As we conversed, Michael railed about all of the men he was encountering who feared Hillary Rodham Clinton because of her strength and outspokenness.  "Why are men afraid of strong women?" he kept asking me rhetorically.

Strong women.

THE BRAVEST WOMAN IN AMERICA is the true story of a strong woman.  It is a picturebook biography for little kids as well as not-so-little kids.  This is the story of Ida Lewis, the first woman to receive the American Cross of Honor; a woman who had previously been recognized for her heroism with the Congressional Life Saving Medal.  This is a girl with guts. 

The daughter of a lighthouse keeper, Ida learned from her father how to row, how to maintain the light and the lighthouse, and how to rescue those needing rescuing.  She practiced rowing until she could row like nobody's business.  Then, one winter evening when she was sixteen and her father was ill, she saw a sailboat with four boys capsize and she rowed out into the turbulent water and successfully rescued all four.  Thereafter, and for many decades to come, Ida Lewis operated the lighthouse at Lime Rock (in Newport Harbor) and saved many lives.  

It is great to discover that the local yacht club there is named in her honor.  But it is far better to know that we now have this beautiful picturebook biography that portrays yet another nineteenth century woman who wasn't conforming to the stereotype that children still get from far too many American history texts.

I also really like Andrea U'Ren's illustrations here.  The gulls flying, the waves crashing, and the storm clouds rolling in impart a great flavor of the northeast coast throughout the story.  And be sure not to miss the cute-as-the-dickens seal on the back of the dust jacket.   

Richie Partington, MLIS
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FTC NOTICE: Richie receives free books from lots of publishers who hope he will Pick their books.  You can figure that any review was written after reading and dog-earring a free copy received.  Richie retains these review copies for his rereading pleasure and for use in his booktalks at schools and libraries.