ALA Booklist

These stories, presented in a graphic novel format, provide short, fictionalized biographies of women who disguised themselves as men in order to achieve their goals, and illustrate some of the things determined women have accomplised throughout history, often against great odds. The subjects range from the famous, such as Hatshepsut of Egypt, Mu Lan (whose story was popularized by Disney's animated film), and the daring slave Ellen Craft, to the more obscure in Viking princess Alfhild and Civil War soldier Sarah Rosetta Wakeman. Readers searching for strong women should enjoy this book, but not all the stories ended happily. For instance, Wakeman died during the Civil War. The quirky, but clear, black-and-white art works well with the terse text, conveying humor and drama that enhance the stories. The book includes suggested reading for anyone who wants to learn more about the women portrayed within.

Horn Book (Wed Apr 01 00:00:00 CDT 2009)

This series introduces very young children to scientific inquiry, in this case about the solar system. The accessible main text is supplemented with factual asides in smaller font. Engaging space photographs and other images outlined in white are set on colorful backgrounds. Accessible text and thoughtful design make this an amiable introduction to the subject. A concluding spread includes thought-provoking questions.

Kirkus Reviews

This collective biography in graphic form depicts the lives of seven women from a range of eras and cultures who each reached the conclusion that they could only attain their goals by posing as men. Featuring both historical figures that may be recognizable to kids (Ellen Craft, Mu Lan) and those more obscure (Hatshepsut, Alfhild), the collection offers a succinct overview of each. Early on, a pedantic tone is established that seems at odds with the graphic format and distances readers by telling them rather than allowing them to experience these stories ("Hatshepsut slowly transformed her public image"). Readers with particular interest in women's history, however, will find that Hughes's simple language and Dawson's clean, black-and-white ink drawings steer the work in the same no-nonsense direction and do an adequate job of presenting this uniquely themed offering. Source notes are not included, though there is a short list of further reading and a largely superfluous afterword. (Graphic biography. 8-12)

School Library Journal (Mon Sep 01 00:00:00 CDT 2008)

Gr 3-5 Seven stories, in chronological order, introduce women in various times and countries who passed for men in order to get around restrictive societal codes. Most of the selections are quietly charming, with a mild wit in their execution. The bold black-and-white art clearly depicts each account, allowing breathing room for both the occasional piece of visual flair and the accessible narratives. Most of the stories feel similar in tone and presentation. There are variations in the storytelling, just not always for the best. The chapter on James Barry is curiously disconnected, as if the author were lacking credible sources, and the one on Ellen Craft is considerably narrower in scope and event than those of her fellows. But the tale of the Viking pirate Alfhild is undeniably fun, and the ending and message with regard to a girl fighting during the American Civil War provide an effective close for the volume. Amiable and slight, the book ends with a brief list of books that expand on each figure. Benjamin Russell, Belmont High School, NH

Voice of Youth Advocates

Spanning 3,000 years of world history and four continents, this title presents a collective biography of seven gender-bending women. Hatshepsut donned a pharoah's garb to advance her power in ancient Egypt. Mulan and Sarah Rosetta Wakeman posed as male soldiers to fight the Huns and the Confederate Rebels, respectively. Alfhild and Esther Brandeau rebelled against Europe's gender roles by sailing the high seas as men. James Barry was born a woman but lived as a man for years, pursuing higher education and eventually becoming an eminent surgeon in the British Army. The brevity and graphic format makes the book quick, easy, and eye-catching. It might serve best as a springboard for research ideas. A lack of citations or sources makes it unsuitable for reports, yet it provides just enough tantalizing information about each subject to whet the reader's appetite to seek out other resources. Hughes and Dawson offer a meager list of seven further reading recommendations (one for each person profiled) that are geared toward a juvenile audience. Two of the suggestions are, oddly enough, novels instead of nonfiction. The illustrations are stark, woodcut-esque renderings of action in black and white. Sometimes, however, the lack of detail makes it difficult to discern the main subject from the other characters, particularly in the profile of Hatshepsut. Nevertheless the book is probably one of the few-perhaps only-graphic works available on this topic.-Angelica Delgado.