WHERE ARE THE WOMEN?

In author/illustrator Hechter’s educational nonfiction children’s book, kids learn a valuable lesson about how to use activism and perseverance.

In 2016, a troop of New York City Girl Scouts on a museum visit were shocked to learn that no real-life women were commemorated by any of the many statues in Central Park. They immediately took action, joining with an organization called Monumental Women to picket, fundraise, and challenge elected officials about this omission. They spoke to passersby, the media, the parks department, and, eventually, then-Mayor Bill de Blasio. This is an illustrated book aimed at middle-grade readers; the writing is straightforward, describing the determined Girl Scouts’ fight via a handful of short episodes. Although it’s light on text, it contains complex ideas and language suitable to its intended age group. Most illustrations depict the Girl Scouts, showing them to be a diverse group. The specificity of each girl is eye-catching and compelling, and it’s effectively amplified by the attribution of all dialogue to real-life girls, identified by their full names. Images of settings and supporting characters are often rough sketches, creating a sense of depth while highlighting the girls. In a striking illustration of the completed monument, three bronze figures of women’s rights pioneers are set against a greenish-gold background that effectively evokes Central Park as well as a feeling of celebration. Only the presentation of the text falls short; the typeface choice is uninspired, the letters are small and close together, and the placement of text blocks is awkward at times.

An inspiring true story of female empowerment.