Fabulous Female Physicians

June 1, 2002
Reviewed with Jill Bryant's "Amazing Women Athletes."

Gr. 4-8. These two entries in the Women's Hall of Fame series offer short portraits of accomplished women in sports and medicine. Bryant's book profiles 10 athletes, from mountain climber Annie Smith Peck to tennis stars Venus and Serena Williams, many of whom succeeded in sports previously dominated by men. All the women except two are from North America. The Kirshes' book is broader in scope, including physicians from around the globe. For the most part, these doctors served specialized populations or handled the treatment of women in communities where cultural taboos kept women away from traditional medical care. With the exception of Maria Montessori and, possibly, Susan LaFlesche Picotte, most will not be familiar to American children. Both titles feature short chapters, black-and-white photos, lists of sources (many of them Web-based) and photo credits, making them solid choices for career units or report writers. Neither book has an index. (Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2002, American Library Association.)