SHE REPRESENTS

Women in the United States and around the world have taken different paths to political involvement and power.

This look at 44 individuals explores the ways women have made a difference in the political lives of their communities. Donohue has chosen past and current elected officials, primarily from the United States but also from other countries and including women with varying political points of view. Many of the subjects make headlines regularly, such as Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and former vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin; others do not. On the international front, women such as Jacinda Ardern, the prime minister of New Zealand who drew attention for taking family leave while in office, and Camila Vallejo Dowling, a Communist member of the National Congress of Chile’s Chamber of Deputies, are featured. The sobering story of Marielle Franco, an openly queer black city councilor from Rio de Janeiro who grew up in a favela and was killed because of her activism, demonstrates the price some women have paid for speaking out. Sidebars define important terminology, and nestled among the bright portraits of many of the subjects are lists of distinguished women leaders. The tone of this richly diverse and well-sourced work is conversational and lively. Each short biography contains the subject’s life story, their primary causes, significant achievements, and quotes; despite the brevity, the coverage provides keen insight into each subject.

A must-have title.