Brazen

I highly, HIGHLY encourage you to check out this beautifully illustrated, illuminatingly feminist, all around awesome graphic novel about women who made a difference (sometimes large sometimes small) in the world. I've read quite a few of these, compendiums, for lack of a better word and what I liked about this one is there were some very under the radar women I'd never heard of. Yes, there are your inclusions like Hedy Lammar (amazing, has a graphic novel bio of her own), Nellie Bly (what a legend), but also amazing women like Katia Krafft and Giorgina Reid who I had zero knowledge of.

Go read it. Go!

Often when discussing women in history, it is the same few women, Joan of Arc, Marie Curie, Jane Austen, or Rosa Parks to name a few. The thing is that these women are amazing pioneers but often overshadow courageous women who stepped out of the norm and should also be recognized. That is the magic of this book. It celebrates women who should be praised but do not necessarily have a national holiday named after them or a roadway.

Do you want to learn about the first bearded lady or the first gynecologist? Or, Georgina Reid – the woman who set out over twenty years to save a long-abandoned but beautiful lighthouse? You do, you really do.


Georgina Reid was a little old lady who noticed that after finding her and her husbands dream coastal home, they were losing about a foot of erosion off of the cliff face the house perched on. Pretty soon Georgina's garden would literally fall by the wayside. With no engineering experience, Georgina started to study Japanese terracing techniques. Working tirelessly, sometimes by herself or sometimes with her husband, she remedied the erosion by building terraces of sand and plant. She stopped the erosion of her property while her neighbors eroded away. Next stop, The Montauk Lighthouse was established in 1795. The lighthouse is a longstanding and loved feature of the community that had been recently decommissioned due to erosion. Georgina began to tackle the problem, and it took her 17 years. She steadily worked for 17 years. She saved the landmark, and this woman is a brazen rebel lady.


We need role models like this for people to celebrate.

Joan of Arc was an amazing woman. She led a revolution. But she is far removed from mine and my daughter's comprehension. Georgina Reid is someone I can teach my daughter about and who we can relate to. She is one of many brazen women featured in this graphic novel and worth the celebration.


Each of the selected women has a few page spread giving background on her life and celebrating some big moments. The vignettes also discuss what has happened after they have passed away, if applicable, and the legacy they left. The graphics are simple, but effective and lovely. I read a little of it to my four-year-old, and she loved it, but I was into it also. It is stories and graphics for all ages.

Highly Recommend.