by Penny Noyce Book list Although Irène Joliot-Curie won her own Nobel Prize in chemistry, most readers will probably be more familiar with her mother, Marie Curie. Many of the other 16 female scientists featured in this collective biography have also been overlooked or forgotten by history, often because of their gender. Arranged chronologically, the book looks at pioneering women (born between 1706 and 1921 in the United States and Europe) in physics, chemistry, astronomy, electrical engineering, medicine, and mathematics. Among them are Sophie Germain, whose work in elasticity helped establish mathematical physics as an area of study, and Helen Taussig, whose research in pediatric congenital heart abnormalities began saving children's lives. Each entry provides an overview of the scientist's personal and professional lives and describes each woman's obstacles and accomplishments in relation to her time period. In the introduction, the author explains the inclusion of only one scientist of color due to lack of opportunities earlier in history. Time lines, archival photographs and reproductions, sidebars, and highlighted quotations add useful visuals to the scholarly text.--Leeper, Angela Copyright 2015 Booklist From Booklist, Copyright © American Library Association. Used with permission. School Library Journal Gr 7 Up-This well-researched, interesting companion to the author's Magnificent Minds: 16 Pioneering Women in Science and Medicine (Tumblehome Learning, 2015) adds 17 women. Examining notable figures who worked in areas as diverse as astronomy and DNA research, this exploration is a revelation. Readers may recognize Marie Curie's equally accomplished daughter, Irène Joliot-Curie, but what of Émilie du Châtelet, who explored the worlds of mathematics and physics (and found time to delve into the world of love as well-a pastime tolerated by her often absent military husband)? Or Marietta Blau, the first to photograph cosmic rays, who was forced to abandon her research in the face of Nazi threats? Or Jane Cooke Wright, who made great strides in the field of chemotherapy? Here is a solid cadre of determined women, inspired in their approach to their chosen domains, all using their considerable talents to overcome the social expectations of their times to further knowledge. Each is awarded a lucidly written, readable biographical essay that not only delineates her research but also includes personal details that bring her to life. Each chapter is accompanied by a time line of personal experiences from the woman's own life and of historical and world events (including dates such as the start of World War I and Charles Lindbergh's solo flight across the Atlantic). Sidebars on relevant topics add to the appeal, and illustrations (many tiny) are liberally scattered throughout. VERDICT This scholarly look at 17 remarkable, intelligent women devoted to research in science and medicine will round out science or biography collections.-Patricia Manning, formerly at Eastchester Public Library, NY © Copyright 2015. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. (c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. |
|
|||
