I've come to the conclusion that there need to be about a billion more books like this. In US society we tend to assume "man" for "default human". Further, we tend to assume white, anglo-saxon, protestant, not-disabled, straight, middle-or upper- class, etc. It doesn't matter that one doesn't have to fit any of those criteria to be newsworthy or historically interesting. What matters, I think, is reminding everyone again and again if need be, that plenty of people have achieved interesting lives without fitting into some, or even all, of those norms. So bring them on, all the lists anyone can think of, all the people who are intriguing in whatever fields. Let the children's libraries of the US and other nations be chock full of increasing obscure lists of Women Athletes, POC Inventors, Non-Christian or Utterly Irreligious Military Heroes, Disabled Scholars, GLBTQ Entrepreneurs, Poor Scientists, and cetra. I'm confident that in some way everyone who ever lived was important and interesting, if only for never having been recognized as important or interesting, and I would like every kid, with whatever identities they may have, to be able to find people like them who have done fascinating things.

And also, I find books like this great fun.

Library copy.

This book is an informational book. It includes the short biographies of women daredevils like Annie Taylor, who went over Niagra Falls in a barrel, Mabel Stark who was a tiger-tamer, and Sonora Carver, who dived into water on horseback. These brave women performed these brave acts in a time when women were expected to be home-makers. Their courage and bravery made them inspiring in an era time when women were simply testing the waters of equality and freedom. It's a great historical book to show brave women throughout history. I would use this in a history unit of the early 1900s, probably in a 4th or 5th grade classroom. ( )

Provides information in an easy to understand format about little known women daredevils. Pictures are enticing and add to the reader's interest in the topic.

performers, wingwalkers, divers, entertainment, history, derring-do ( )

This interesting and informative book recalls the lives of ten of history's most spunky women. They were daredevils, putting on death-defying feats for the entertainment of others (and for their own thrills... or for fame and fortune in some cases). The women in this book were shot out of cannons, went over Niagara Falls in a barrel, danced the Charleston on the wings of an airplane, drove automobiles in loop-the-loops, or rode horses diving off platforms into a pool of water. And so much more. This is a women's history book sure to spark the interest of elementary and middle school kids. ( )