• Age: 9 to 13
• Grade: 6 to 8
• Reading age: 9 to 12

Ten biographies of women reformers from around the world who have made a difference in the realms of politics, social equality, disability, and women’s rights. From the work of abolitionist Sojourner Truth and women like South Africa’s anti-apartheid activist Ruth First and America’s feminist leader Gloria Steinem. Also included are Michelle Douglas, a campaigner for lesbian and gay rights, and Temple Grandin, advocate for the rights of animals and a woman who has revolutionized the way the world looks at people with autism. The collection of biographies is rounded out with the stories of France’s Olympe de Gouges, India’s Sarojini Naidu, American Joan Baez, and Canadians Leilani Muir and Shannen Koostachin.

Joy Crysdale is an educator and award-winning journalist who worked at the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) and CTV Television for more than 20 years as a producer, executive producer and as program director for a specialty channel. The shows she produced garnered many awards, including two Geminis – Canada’s TV broadcast awards. Also the author of Courageous Women Rebels, Joy is now a professor of journalism at Humber College in Toronto.

Joy Crysdale's profile page