Book Summary: This book details the journey Elizabeth Blackwell took to becoming the first female doctor. It tells of her life from growing up as in an independent child to applying and getting rejected from several medical schools before being accepted. The book continues to tell of her life throughout medical school, where her classmates at first scorned her until she proved herself just as smart as they were, and concludes with her graduation at the top of her class from medical school. The author's note at the end of the book provides further detail about her life after medical school and a list of resources used provides additional materials for those interested in learning more to peruse.
APA Reference of the
book: Stone, T. L. (2013). Who says women can't be doctors? The story of Elizabeth Blackwell. New York, NY: Henry Holt and Company
Impressions: I greatly enjoyed reading this book for several reasons. Firstly, it tells the story of Elizabeth Blackwell in a way that students will find engaging, particularly younger students. It gives just enough details of her life to give the reader an idea of what she was like without overwhelming the reader with too much detail crammed into the text. Secondly, the bright illustrations bring the story to life, showing the reader what it was like to live in that time period and what the expectations of girls and women were during that time, which also shows just how much social tradition Elizabeth Blackwell defied in choosing to become a doctor. Overall, I think this book is an excellent example of a picture book biography and would definitely spark young reader's interest in the first female doctor.
Professional Review: "K-Gr 2--This picture-book biography of America's first woman doctor takes readers back to the 1840s when "girls were only supposed to become wives and mothers. Or maybe teachers, or seamstresses." Stone presents the highly readable and detailed story of a girl who is sure to inspire aspiring young doctors. The anecdotes are well chosen to demonstrate Blackwell's unflagging determination, and the conversational text and dynamic illustrations present a glimpse of her strong, caring personality. Priceman's vivid gouache and India ink illustrations capture the emotion of each scene, as on the page where an exhausted Blackwell lies on a sofa under a cloud of "no's," overwhelmed by rejections (28 in all). Once admitted to medical school, she was not taken seriously by her peers, but studied hard and graduated first in her class, opening the door for women to follow. An author's note continues her life story as well as the discussion of her impact on modern-day medicine, and a list of sources is included for curious readers. A worthwhile addition to any biography collection."
McLeod, M. (2013). [Review of Who Says Women Can't Be Doctors? The Story of Elizabeth Blackwell by Tanya Lee Stone]. School Library Journal 59(2), p. 96. Retrieved from: http://www.slj.com/
Library uses: This book could be used in a display about women who were the first in their field, and could be used to discuss how gender roles have changed throughout time with students. It could also be used in a display of biography books in general, or picture book biographies specifically.
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