Review: She Persisted: Clara Lemlich
She Persisted: Clara Lemlich
by Deborah Heiligman, illustrated by Alexandra Boiger and Gillian Flint
Philomel (imprint of Penguin Random House)
Category: Middle Grade
Reviewer: Leah Cypess
She Persisted: Clara Lemlich is the latest entry in "She Persisted," a
series of chapter books about women in history who made a
difference. This book focuses on Clara Lemlich, a Jewish woman born in a
small village in the Ukraine. After her family fled to the United
States, poverty forced Clara to give up her dream of becoming a doctor
in order to work in a clothing factory. However, the now-notorious
conditions for workers in such factories -- especially female workers --
led Clara to become involved in union activities, including taking a
key role in the largest strike of women in the history of the US.
This is an interesting, well-written book that is ideally suited for a
younger middle grade audience. Difficult subjects, such as the Triangle
Shirtwaist Factory fire, are dealt with in a straightforward,
age-appropriate way. The very end of the book becomes a bit didactic,
perhaps as required by the series' structure, but overall, Clara's story
and her beliefs are interwoven smoothly and compellingly. This book is
highly recommended for middle grade readers with an interest in history,
especially American history.
This books meets the criteria for consideration for a Sydney Taylor Award. Although it is not clear to what extent Clara's union work was motivated by Jewish values, her Jewish identity is clearly relevant to her story and is frequently stressed. This book should be a strong contender for the award.
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