English
MG & Up
Suffrage
Graphic Novels
History
Historical Figures
Activism
Legislative Change
Elizabeth Kiehner, Keith Olwell, Kara Coyle, Micaela Dawn, & Mary Sanche
summary
We’ve all seen a quote that says something along the lines of “rights for others don’t mean less for you, it’s not cake”. Which is entirely true, but the Patriarchy seems to still not understand this concept. For #SweetsAndSocialJustice I baked an orange blueberry coffee cake and shared it around…but not with the Patriarchy. They do not deserve cake.
This YA graphic novel jumps between past and present, showing the timeline of suffrage activism with current movements. I loved how the illustrations & dialogue harnessed and focused in on the rage that these women felt about being denied voting rights. This graphic novel does a fantastic job of just showcasing the anger and outrage that marginalized people feel when working within a corrupt and oppressive system.
I really appreciated the present pieces of the book that focused on women of color and their suffrage rights. It’s not often explicitly pointed out the disparity between voting laws being fairly enacted. If you’re interested in reading more about this specifically, I enjoyed this NPR article! This book doesn’t cover in depth about these disparities, but Finish the Fight! covers it thoroughly, and I highly recommend pairing them.
The artwork is powerful, and I can’t recommend how much it brings to life these historical figures that we read about in dry textbooks. Learning real history prevents us from repeating past mistakes, and if we can have educational resources that are engaging and multifaceted this will make the job just a bit easier.
This book was kindly sent by Quarto, but all opinions are my own! It’s out TODAY!
Recipe: Blueberry Orange Coffee Cake (I used this recipe as a jumping off point and then played around with it until I made some changes I liked better)
Ingredient changes: Just in case you’re interested, here’s a list of the changes that I made for my taste preferences.
Streusel: I use oat flour (homemade) to have a crunchier texture and more flavor.
Cake: I use greek yogurt instead of sour cream for more tang, doubled the blueberries, and use my citrus sugar instead of grating it for the recipe. This packs in way more flavor and zest! Whenever I get citrus fruits, I zest them into a Pyrex container of sugar and let it infuse in my pantry until I’m ready to use it. I also added in .25c fresh squeezed orange juice into the batter for an extra punch of flavor.
Elizabeth Kiehner
| Elizabeth Kiehner is the co-author of Good Girls Don’t Make History. A Future of Work leader by day, graphic novel creator by night, she received her bachelor of arts in visual media and literature from American University. She is a 20-year New York City resident, and a lover of music, beaches, and the empowerment of women and girls. Kiehner sits on the board of Upward, SheSays and Women in Tech. She believes that investing in women and underrepresented communities will change the world, and she aspires to reshape conversations inside and outside of the boardroom to drive true equality. You can chat with Liz on Twitter or Instagram at @kiehner |
Kara Coyle
Kara Coyle is an award-winning creative director and writer. Working in the advertising industry, she has been named by Cannes Lions as one of the top future female creative leaders worldwide.
Micaela Dawn
| Micaela is an award-winning freelance illustrator. Her work has been featured in magazines, on book covers, and in several international galleries. She also has a passion for developing art that comments on the continued need for diversity while helping empower women and minorities. Good Girls Don’t Make History speaks to her desire for equality and the promotion of women’s rights. |
Mary Sanche
Mary Sanche is a science & editorial illustrator based in Drumheller, Alberta on Treaty 7 land, the traditional territories of the Blackfoot Confederacy (Siksika, Kainai, Piikani), the Tsuut’ina, the Îyâxe Nakoda Nations, the Métis Nation (Region 3), and all people who make their homes in the Treaty 7 region of Southern Alberta.
She received her Bachelors of Design (Visual Communication Design, major in Illustration) from the Alberta University of the Arts (previously Alberta College of Art and Design). By day she works as a Graphic Designer at the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology, and by night, freelances and runs a YouTube channel. Her favourite dinosaur is Parasaurolophus.