Rebel Women: Achievements Beyond the Ordinary

This book, Rebel Women, in the Amazing Stories series, has the very appropriate subtitle, Achievements Beyond the Ordinary. After an introductory chapter, author Linda Kupecek offers eight chapters profiling eight women who were indeed well beyond the ordinary. They lived in Western Canada and flourished for the most part in the first half of the twentieth century. Ranchers, actresses, mountaineers, aviators, doctors, and writers, Kupecek's women are all rebels, filled with a zest for life and a determination to make their own way, and their own name. They took second place to no one, including no man, even if that were society's expectation that they should do so. Rancher Georgina Binnie-Clark told a hired hand, "If I wanted to be dictated to by a man, I would have married one and let him keep me." Medical pioneer Mary Percey Jackson asserted, "I had never met a woman doctor. I just wanted to be one, so that was that." Kupecek obviously has a keen eye for the telling quotation and her portraits fairly spring to life from the page. This is popular history as it should be, a fascinating glimpse into our roots, without dumbing down, but also without sacrificing a real sparkle in the re-telling of these stories. Kupecek's background as an award-wining screenwriter, performer, and journalist is evident. As a bonus, the book is attractively designed, well formatted, and nicely illustrated. For this price, buy two and give one to a friend. And may Kupecek produce more such delightful volumes in future!