Review - Why She Wrote by Hannah K. Chapman & Lauren Burke
I received a free e-galley of this book from NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Why She Wrote: A Graphic History of the Lives, Inspiration, and Influence Behind the Pens of Classic Women Writers was written by Hannah K. Chapman & Lauren Burke and illustrated by Kaley Bales.
Chapman and Burke explore the lives of eighteen classic women writers in this graphic novel. Each chapter highlights key incidents in the lives of three of these women, describing their struggles and triumphs. This book is a tribute to the contributions of these women and how each of them helped change the world in which they lived. Each of these women challenged how women were treated, both as authors and as people.
This book is unlike anything I have ever read before. Each section begins with a narrative portion that is followed by graphic elements representing each author’s life. Each chapter highlights a central theme and introduces three women writers. The themes describe the ways these women influenced their world and paved the way for greater equality. I enjoyed learning about the lives and impact of these women. I found some of the graphic sections to be lacking in detail that could make them clearer. However, I thought the graphics added interest to each section and helped bring each writer to life.
This book could serve as a great introduction to classic women authors for anyone looking to learn more about the influence of women in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. There are some more mature thematic elements that make this book most appropriate for teens and adults, those some mature older children could also enjoy it.
Why She Wrote by Hannah K. Chapman & Lauren Burke and illustrated by Kaley Bales will be released on April 21, 2021.
