Reviews

The First Ladies by Marie Benedict, Victoria Christopher Murray

amurray2023's review

Go to review page

challenging emotional informative reflective medium-paced

4.0

rileygatlin's review

Go to review page

inspiring medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

kahkmyers's review

Go to review page

challenging emotional inspiring slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

booktalkwithkarla's review against another edition

Go to review page

hopeful informative inspiring medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.25

This is a story of two First Ladies - Eleanor Roosevelt and Mary McLeod Bethune - and a relationship built on a common mission and shared vulnerability. Reading about their individual accomplishments and what they achieved together was fascinating. 

The story is written by two authors whose friendship grew by having conversations much like Eleanor and Mary might have had I n their day. The writing is clear and easy to read. I read on a kindle and a few times had to remind myself who was talking - Mary or Eleanor. Other than that this was an enjoyable historical fiction book with a compelling invitation to be in conversation and not be silent against racism, recognizing that we have to be the change we want to see in the world. 

“‘Her report asserts that silence on the issue of lynching is tantamount to guilt.’ I consider her words. I have never perceived silence around violence or racist actions to be the same as the acts themselves. But why shouldn’t it be? Silence suggests agreement, and anyone who knows about these terrible acts—including me—should take a stand against them.”

“Despite the gulf in our origins, we have so many commonalities: a belief that the youth are our future, the desire to elevate women, a drive for service, and a dedication to education.”

katierussell798's review

Go to review page

informative inspiring medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

lammeyb's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional informative inspiring reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

prettypious's review

Go to review page

4.0

This book was better than I thought it would be. I was excited to learn more about Mary McLeod Bethune and appreciated the care with which her story was told. I didn’t know as much about E. Roosevelt but was happy to learn about her and her work for civil rights. It’s amazing the way she put her self out there when she had every privilege in the world to stand ten toes down with Mary is admirable. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in either woman, historical fiction, women’s rights or the rights and history of Black Americans.

mollycarter7's review against another edition

Go to review page

informative inspiring medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

lmj51's review

Go to review page

informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.0

sjoblomk's review

Go to review page

challenging emotional reflective medium-paced

4.75