Wednesday, April 18, 2018

Book Review: That's What She Said

I picked this one to review because I'm raising three daughters (and a boy) and I want them to all grow up to be feminists. This is such an inspiring book to have on your table. Go get it.

That's What She Said- Wise Words From Influential Women: Kimothy Joy

An artist and activist committed to the empowerment of women and girls has created a gorgeous illustrated volume, blending watercolor and short biography to showcase the contributions of more than fifty influential female leaders whose words and actions are a passionate call to arms.


Distraught by the results of the 2016 election and the realization that the nation was not ready for its first female president, Kimothy Joy found herself poring over the biographies of brave women throughout history—those who persisted in the face of daunting circumstances—to learn from their experiences.

Turning to art, Joy channeled her feelings to the canvas, bringing these strong women to life in bold watercolor portraits surrounded by inspirational hand-lettered quotes. With each creation, Joy found catharsis and hope. She shared her watercolors with her online community and encouraged everyone to raise their own voices and recharge for the battles ahead.

Now, in this beautiful gift book, Joy has gathered her stunning illustrations and quotes and paired them with surprising, illuminating biographies of her subjects to inspire women of all ages, races, and backgrounds. That’s What She Said honors a powerful and diverse group of over fifty women—from Maya Angelou, Gloria Steinem, and Virginia Woolf to Sojourner Truth, Malala Yousafzai, and Ruth Bader Ginsburg—role models whose words and insights remind us that we must never give up the fight for a more just and equitable society.

Reclaiming the derogatory cultural barb "that’s what she said," this stunning book celebrates strong female leadership throughout history and empowers current and future generations to find their voices and inspire change in their communities.


I have to say I'm not sold on the cover, but I can see why an understated and simple design would be pleasing to the eye. If you are looking for positive affirmations and encouraging words every day, this is a great book to add to your collection. Forget Pinterest motivational quotes from nobody, this has what you need from people we all know (Maya Angelou, Anne Frank, Ellen DeGeneres, Oprah Winfrey, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, etc) and some that aren't household names (Zaha Hadid, Wilma Mankiller, Patsy Mink, Emmeline Pankhurst, Shirley Chisholm, etc).

The book includes a short bio of each woman featured, including why you should know about them, and the opposite page has a stand out quote from them. The book also has each contributor drawn in a brilliant illustration. I got through the book rather quickly (it's just over 100 pages) but I finished it feeling more pride in women than I did before and had a greater appreciation of the trials these women went through to get to where they are today (or when they passed away, in some cases). If your daughter has the task of dressing up as someone famous, this is your one stop shop on who to pick and the choices are pretty fantastic.

It's currently available on Amazon (of course) but I encourage you to peruse the HarperCollins online store because you're going to find great deals on this book and many others!

   

1 comment:

Heather J @ TLC Book Tours said...

I like the idea of using this as a reference for your kids' school assignments when they have to dress up as someone famous - great idea!

Thanks for being a part of the tour!