written by Chelsea Clinton & illustrated by Alexandra Boiger
I have come to love the word persist. It’s a word with grit, and I think it best captures what is required in this world as we work to make God’s dream a reality here on earth as it is in heaven.
She Persisted is written by Chelsea Clinton and illustrated by Alexandra Boiger. Inspired by Senator Elizabeth Warren’s persistence in the senate, Clinton tells the stories of 13 women throughout history hoping to inspire young girls to persist, especially when others try to silence their voices and stifle their gifts.
This book highlights a wide variety of persistent women: from Harriet Tubman’s risky determination in the fight for freedom, to reporter Nellie Bly who was told women in the work place are a “monstrosity;” from Ruby Bridges who day after day claimed her right to a quality education amid protests and angry noise, to Sally Ride who became the first woman in space; from media superstar, Oprah Winfrey, to supreme court justice Sonia Sotomayor. This book holds up women you’ve heard of a lot and women you probably don’t know. It celebrates children who showed signs of a persistent personality from an early age and women who have been persisting for a lifetime. It celebrates women across time, race, age, and socio-economic status to remind us all that persistence is required if we want to make a difference in this world.
While this book would be classified as a children’s book, it is for the child in all of us, no matter the age, race, or gender. It appeals to our innocent desire to change the world and challenges us all to dig in and do what it takes to leave our mark on the lives around us. It highlights voices that are often forgotten or pushed aside and gives us hope that we too might be able to change this world for the better.