Who Says Women Cant Be Doctors?: The Story of Elizabeth Blackwell by Tanya Lee Stone

Who Says Women Cant Be Doctors?: The Story of Elizabeth Blackwell Reviews

• 
  Paul Hankins

  Tanya Lee Stone returns to the picture book format to bring us the story of Elizabeth Blackwell, the first woman doctor in America. The title alone presents a subtle kind of challenge like the one Elizabeth Blackwell received from Mary Donaldson.
  
  Tanya presents Elizabeth as an "every girl" kind of character, the kind of girl who might not have even envisioned herself in such a role. But the suggestion of a respected friend stuck with Elizabeth, a suggestion that became a kind of gnawing that saw Elizabeth through to medical school.
  
  Marjorie Priceman (ZIN ZIN A VIOLIN) illustrates the text reminding me of another of my favorite illustrators, Chris Raschka.
  
  Tanya's author notes present a closer look into Blackwell's life after medical school which should prompt younger readers to think about how far we have come as a culture. Further, younger readers might be invited (read challenged) to consider "Who Says __________ Can't Be ___________?"
  
  As with ELIZABETH LEADS THE WAY, Stone presents a historical figure in a most accessible manner and for this presentation, I am giving the new work the ONE BOOK/FOUR HANDS distinction. I already have four little girls in mind for this title when it releases in February.
• 
  Michelle

  Audience: Primary
  Genre: Biography
  Pre-Reading Strategy: Anticipation Guide
  An anticipation guide is a comprehension strategy used to activate students' prior knowledge and create curiosity about the book.
  I would create an anticipation guide with the following 4 statements.
  * There have always been women doctors.
  * Elizabeth Blackwell was first encouraged by her brother to become a doctor.
  * Elizabeth Blackwell had troubles getting accepted to medical school.
  * The students at medical school wanted Elizabeth to be there with them.
  Students would determine whether they agreed or disagreed with each statement. Depending on the grade level, I would either have the students write their answers, share with a neighbor, or poll the responses of the entire class. I would then read the story aloud (or have the students read the book themselves, depending on reading level). Students would then go back and assess their initial expectations and reflect on what they now know from reading the story. I could see me using this book in several grade levels and could modify the format of the anticipation guide.
• 
  Shiloah

  Loved the message. Love the story. Great short biography at the end. The pictures are bright and lovely.
• 
  Tasha

  Back in the 1830s, there were no women doctors, only men could have that career. But also growing up in the 1830s was a young girl who would end up changing that. Elizabeth Blackwell was not particularly well behaved: she was always exploring, working to toughen herself up, and even carried her brother over her head until he backed down. Elizabeth had not dreamed of becoming a doctor, but she was inspired when an friend mentioned how much nicer it would have been to be examined by a woman. When Elizabeth started talking about her new dream, people mocked her and told her it was impossible. She applied to school after school, until finally the 29th school she applied for said yes! But Elizabeth would have to face additional challenges in school and beyond as well. This is the story of a woman who would not take no for an answer and the way that she changed the face of medicine along the way.
  
  Stone has written a very engaging biography of Blackwell. Much of the story is spent on her childhood and the challenges she faced getting into medical school. I love the image of a spunky young girl who just wants to explore and demonstrates determination from a very young age. She is an inspiring figure for youth, someone who discovered her dream and stood by it despite the many obstacles in her way and the mockery she endured. Stone’s author’s note continues Blackwell’s story and offers a photograph of the real Dr. Blackwell.
  
  Priceman’s illustrations done in gouache and India ink are filled with bright colors. They bring the past to life, showing the energy of the young Elizabeth Blackwell and incorporating the vistas and buildings of the 1800s. While they are bright and vibrant, they also serve to make sure that readers are cognizant of the period in which the book takes place.
  
  Blackwell is a real-life heroine that young readers should be aware of. This bright and welcoming new biography for younger readers is a welcome addition to library collections. Appropriate for ages 6-9.
• 
  KC

  Elizabeth Blackwell became the first female doctor but after graduating from Geneva Medical School in upstate New York in 1849, she and her sister, also a doctor, opened up The New York Infirmary for Women and Children and then a medial school just for women among other endeavors.
• 
  Maureen

  1. Twin Text: Bad Astrid by Eileen Brennan (2013)
  
  2. Rationale: Elizabeth Blackwell went to medical school despite all of the male students that attended Geneva Medical School in upstate New York and community members that surrounded it. She was very determined and a bit stubborn. She was not going to let their opinion affect her attending school. Little Astrid was very stubborn in her own ways but ultimately just wanted a friend once she moved to this new town. I would discuss with students that it is important to set goals and don't let anyone tell you that you can't achieve those goals. I would also focus on both characters how they went about achieving their goals, one in a driven, positive way and the other in a negative, bossy way. I would share what would be the better path to travel on to achieve the goal they are focused on.
  
  3. The text structure would be chronological sequence and problem and solution. A strategy application I would use is the Venn diagram. I would have the students compare both main characters.
  
  4. Book Review: (2013, March 2). Horn Book Magazine.
  
  http://www.booksinprint.com.leo.lib.u...#
• 
  Heidi

  There are more and more great picture book biographies being published about ordinary people who did extraordinary things. I love it. This is another great one to add to the list. Elizabeth Blackwell was clearly a strong-willed person from the time she was little. I loved the examples the author shares illustrating this, for example carrying her brother over her head until he gave in on whatever it was they fought about, and sleeping on a hard floor to 'toughen' herself up. I also really liked the details about how she didn't set out to become a doctor, she didn't even like being around blood or sickness when she was younger. But once the idea was planted in her mind, she persisted until she made her dream a reality, despite a tremendous amount of opposition. I love stories like this because they are inspiring and true! The illustrations by Marjorie Priceman are darling and match the spunky tone of the writing to a tee. The bright colors and expressive faces add a great deal to the enjoyment of the story. I highly recommend this as not only a great picture book biography, but just an awesome story period.
• 
  Holly Mueller

  Elizabeth Blackwell defied all odds when she decided she wanted to be a doctor in the 1830s. I loved the snippets about her determination and strong will - she once carried her brother over her head until he backed down from their fight, and she tried sleeping onthe hard floor just to toughen herself up. I thought it was interesting she hadn't always wanted to be a doctor, but when a friend suggested she consider it, there was a seed planted that started to grow. Despite rejection after rejection, she continued to pursue her goal until she achieved it and graduated from medical school in 1849. According to the author's note, she continued to overcome obstacles and opened the first hospital run by women, for women, a medical school just for women, and helped start the National Health Society. Pretty amazing! I also enjoyed the energetic, vibrant illustrations by Marjorie Priceman. My students and I are going to Skype Tanya Leet Stone on World Read Aloud Day - I'm looking forward to sharing this excellent new title with them so we can discuss it with her!
• 
  Nicole

  Elizabeth Blackwell is a strong willed girl who can be anything she puts her mind to. But, in the 1960's a woman being a doctor was unheard of. This doesn't stop Elizabeth from applying to as many medical schools as possible until she is accepted into one. Nor does this stop Elizabeth from being the top student in her medical school class. Thanks to Elizabeth Blackwell, women can now become doctors!
• 
  Joan

  I did not deliberately group two books by Tanya Lee Stone close together on my "to read" shelf. However, it did happen and it gave me more admiration for Stone, as well as Elizabeth Blackwell. I did not expect to learn anything new about Blackwell since I've admired her since I was a child and have read several biographies on her. Nonetheless I did learn something new: that she had adopted a girl and raised her as a daughter. My point being more that even in a beginning biography meant for perhaps grade 2-3, Stone was able to toss in information that I hadn't known. Stone is gifted at all levels of youth literature. We have fiction by her and we have nonfiction from YA to this one meant for beginning level students. Her theme was to inform kids that once girls couldn't be doctors and by implication, remind kids, especially girls, that they can now be anything they want to be. Certainly I can see myself eating this book up as a child (I had wanted to be a doctor, and my approach was to read biographies of famous people in medicine and the history of medicine and science. The career choice didn't happen, but the interest remained.) This book is perhaps not amazing, although Stone packed a huge amount of information into her two page biography after the main picture book story, but I think it will be a very exciting book for ambitious young girls to pick up. I would consider this closer to a 4 than a 5 star book simply because it didn't blow me away with astonishment, but I rounded the score upward for producing such a useful book for kids.
• 
  Cheryl Dickemper

  I love the fun and conversational style of Tanya Lee Stone's narration, the inspirational story, and Marjorie Priceman's playful illustrations! This is a great and obvious choice for women's history, but the sassy narrative style and the story about overcoming obstacles has universal appeal. Any kid who's ever been told he (or she) "can't" grow up to be something will identify with young Elizabeth and find something to appreciate here. The bright illustrations call to mind both Raschka and Bemelmans, making this a natural book to share as a read aloud.
• 
  Samantha

  A picture book biography about the first woman doctor. Text is well written. It speaks directly to the reader and is empowering. Anecdotes that reveal Elizabeth's strong character make up the majority of the text which makes it so engaging as it's not merely just a collection of impressive facts.
  
  Illustrations were rendered with gouache and india ink on watercolor paper and excel at capturing the strong opinions of Elizabeth's critics. Following the story is an author's note and a list of sources.
• 
  Ann

  I wonder who this book is for. It is filed under juvenile biography at my library. But the cute, clever (clichéd) text--"Elizabeth Blackwell, that's who. A tiny wisp of a girl who wanted to explore around every corner and who never walked away from a challenge"--is more suited to an easy book. All the really interesting facts about Blackwell are in the two-page author's note at the back; so it's not a good resource for a school assignment. My grandmother who was born in Turkey in 1900 became a physician. I don't feel this book does justice to her and earlier generations of women doctors.
• 
  Maria

  Thrilled to add this one to my bookshelf.
  
  I love this format for biography, and I could use it as a mentor text for students to create their own biographies as they research.
  
  Full review
  http://www.mariaselke.com/2013/04/who...
  
  Check out the link at IndieBound to find a local independent bookstore or to order from one online.
  
  http://www.indiebound.org/book/978080...
  
• 
  Donalyn

  Tanya Lee Stone's chatty style and interesting research will engage young readers in this book about the first, modern female doctor, Elizabeth Blackwell.
• 
  Edward Sullivan

  A wonderful introduction to America's first female doctor.
• 
  Carrie Gelson

  I need to share this title and often! Inspirational. Motivating. Important history. Loved the accessible style of both illustrator and author!
• 
  Laura McLoughlin

  Great intro to America's first woman doctor.
• 
  Elisabeth

  Cute illustrations, but I didn't like vibe this book gave off. Medical school is such a lark! I found the author's note at the end more informative and interesting than the rest of the book.
• 
  H

  I am ecstatic that girls today have books like these -- they are so important to show young girls that they can do anything they set their mind to.
• 
  Kathryn

  This true story was so inspiring. All little girls need to know anything is possible. The illustrations were colorful and fun. A truly great book.
• 
  Jeimy

  Cute picture book about the U.S. ‘s first female doctor.
• 
  June

  Elizabeth became a doctor at a friend's request, "blood made her queasy." She was refused by 28 medical schools and only accepted at one, because the male students voted yes as a joke thinking the school would never accept her. "Some people are afraid of anything new or different." Of course "Elizabeth graduated ...with the highest grades in the whole class!"
  
  Wonderful Author's Note talks about how no one would hire her or come to her own office. So Elizabeth started holding free clinics. Over the years Elizabeth and her sister, Emily, had so many female patients they started their own hospital. Elizabeth opened a women's medical school in New York and one in London, and helped start the National Health Society.