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Brave Girl: Clara and the Shirtwaist Makers' Strike of 1909 by Michelle Markel, Melissa Sweet
mjfmjfmjf's review against another edition
3.0
Children's picture book biography about a non typical subject. Art was not all that impressive, nor the writing. But the subject was interesting and the afterword was fine. 3.5 of 5.
the_lobrarian's review against another edition
- Illustrations are watercolor, gouache, and mixed media
pwbalto's review against another edition
5.0
I had my doubts. Labor history? Garment workers? But I read this to my sons tonight and they were spellbound. I think the young protagonist, present-tense storytelling, and straight talk about working conditions brought this story home to them. Melissa Sweet's vibrant water colors, collaged with found paper and stitched together on a machine, put the reader at the worktable alongside Clara.
What more could I ask for? A photograph of Clara Lemlich.
What more could I ask for? A photograph of Clara Lemlich.
misspentdays's review against another edition
5.0
Immigrant Clara Limlich works in the garment district by day and attends school by night. Disgusted by working conditions, Clara leads the largest strike of female garment workers the United States had seen to that point. This strike led to improved working conditions and the ability to unionize for many, but not all, garment workers.
Michelle Markel, who began her writing career as a freelance journalist, grounds her story in fact. By including a "More About the Garment Industry" afterword and a selected bibliography of sources for readers to investigate, she improves an already interesting biography for elementary school students. Using short sentences and energetic phrasing, Markel moves the story along at a good pace.
Melissa Sweet, recipient of a string of awards including a Caldecott Honor, often illustrates non-fiction material like personal favorite Balloons Over Broadway. Here she uses a mixed media background on some pages, combining it with watercolors to create high interest illustrations. A favorite two page spread uses time sheets, checks, and ledgers to form New York's tall buildings, while the workers are non-descript dark ink marks- with the exception of Clara, in a vibrant pink hat, heading the march. These rich backgrounds really help fill out the story visually.
Brave Clara does an excellent job conveying the tribulations and trials faced by workers in the early twentieth century without feeling like a lecture. This book, a 2015-16 Louisiana Young Reader's Choice nominee, is a great introduction to inequality, worker's rights, and social unrest without being "scary" to the target audience. Aside from the obvious lessons, Clara's story is excellent for teaching "stick-to-itiveness" and introducing historical context for refugees and immigrants (many of the workers were fleeing religious persecution in Russia and Eastern Europe) without knocking the reader over the head with these concepts.
As a LYRC nominee, it is an essential purchase for elementary school libraries and public libraries. However, it is an excellent supplemental purchase for middle or high schools that teach the worker's movement in their curriculum.
Michelle Markel, who began her writing career as a freelance journalist, grounds her story in fact. By including a "More About the Garment Industry" afterword and a selected bibliography of sources for readers to investigate, she improves an already interesting biography for elementary school students. Using short sentences and energetic phrasing, Markel moves the story along at a good pace.
Melissa Sweet, recipient of a string of awards including a Caldecott Honor, often illustrates non-fiction material like personal favorite Balloons Over Broadway. Here she uses a mixed media background on some pages, combining it with watercolors to create high interest illustrations. A favorite two page spread uses time sheets, checks, and ledgers to form New York's tall buildings, while the workers are non-descript dark ink marks- with the exception of Clara, in a vibrant pink hat, heading the march. These rich backgrounds really help fill out the story visually.
Brave Clara does an excellent job conveying the tribulations and trials faced by workers in the early twentieth century without feeling like a lecture. This book, a 2015-16 Louisiana Young Reader's Choice nominee, is a great introduction to inequality, worker's rights, and social unrest without being "scary" to the target audience. Aside from the obvious lessons, Clara's story is excellent for teaching "stick-to-itiveness" and introducing historical context for refugees and immigrants (many of the workers were fleeing religious persecution in Russia and Eastern Europe) without knocking the reader over the head with these concepts.
As a LYRC nominee, it is an essential purchase for elementary school libraries and public libraries. However, it is an excellent supplemental purchase for middle or high schools that teach the worker's movement in their curriculum.
heisereads's review against another edition
5.0
A strong addition for a collection of biographical historical picture books.Many may know about Clara, but after reading this book, will have a strong sense of her dedication and bravery and why she was important to the NYC garment workers and union movement in the early 1900s. Sweet's illustrations add depth to the story with primary source documents collaged with illustrations. Well-written and engaging. Will definitely be sharing this one with students.
canuckmum's review against another edition
4.0
Informative and inspiring. Well researched and beautifully illustrated. The collages are stunning.
yapha's review against another edition
4.0
An excellent and engaging look at this period in history. Clara shows the difference that one person can make in inspiring hundreds of people to work together for the betterment of all. Especially timely in light of the recent fast food worker strikes. Recommended for grades 2 and up.
abigailbat's review against another edition
5.0
Melissa Sweet's mixed-media illustrations pair perfectly with this nonfiction text about women workers and the garment industry strike of 1909. This is a great book for women's history. DON'T MISS IT!
http://www.abbythelibrarian.com/2013/02/nonfiction-monday-brave-girl.html
http://www.abbythelibrarian.com/2013/02/nonfiction-monday-brave-girl.html