Deb Haaland

The She Persisted series (3 new titles) of middle-grade biographies honors women who excelled in their endeavors, sometimes after overcoming obstacles such as poverty and discrimination. With attractive covers, wide-spaced lines of type, and pleasing grayscale illustrations on many of the double-page spreads, these volumes have an inviting look, particularly for children who can handle chapter books but aren't ready for full-scale biographies. Not every woman profiled is widely known, but each has an interesting story, written and presented with a young audience in mind. Deb Haaland profiles the determined public servant who became one of the first two Native American women elected to the U.S. Congress and the first Native person to head a federal executive department (Interior). In each book, the back matter includes a section entitled "How You Can Persist," which includes ideas for action that are relevant to the interests, practices, and achievements of the person discussed in that volume. This biography series honors the successes of women in various fields and encourages children to strive for greatness.

Gr 3--7--Deb Haaland, the first Native American woman to be appointed to the President's Cabinet, is portrayed for young readers with an empowering message of perseverance. The title delves into Haaland's childhood, as a military brat and the grandchild of Native Americans who cherished and passed on their heritage and traditions. The author spends time on Haaland's relationship with her grandparents and their influence on her choices in adulthood. The work uses clear sentence structure to help readers grasp these encouraging ideas; the authors explain difficult concepts without talking down to the audience. Black and white drawings are peppered throughout the book and further references are listed in the back matter. VERDICT This is a worthy addition to an already successful series.--Esther Keller