Brazen: Rebel Ladies Who Rocked the World

Bagieu, Pénélope. Brazen: Rebel Ladies Who Rocked the World. 2018. 291p. ISBN 978-1-62672-868-4. Available at 920 BAG on the library shelves.

Flipping the pages of a history book, the less discerning reader would get the impression that women have played a very limited role in how the world around us is shaped. Although this is far from the truth, the fact remains that most histories were written by men, and therefore highlight the prowess of military leaders, politicians, and rebels. Women, however, have as many claims as these usual subjects of history books, and Brazen seeks to remediate this lack of recorded women’s participation in a graphic novel format.

In no particular order, twenty-nine women are showcased, each having accomplished something significant for themselves and their communities. From Giorgina Reid, who saved a lighthouse in New Jersey, to Lozen, who was a great Apache warrior and leader, these women changed the world around us for the better. Their engagement and desire to push boundaries, not because they wanted to blaze a trail but because they felt stifled by the society that surrounded them, clearly demonstrate that anyone is capable of effecting change through effort and dedication.

Beautifully illustrated, the biography of each woman is reviewed, with highlights of what made her such a brazen rebel who upended convention and social norms on her way to becoming herself. Feminists and fans of history will appreciate the strength that each of these women displayed and will thank them for making the world a better place.