Spanning history from Early America to Modern America, each of these stories of women that had been enslaved is engaging and thoughtfully edited. Each chapter within can lead to a new course of study of history and of current events, especially as the subject of enslavement in the US is rapidly expanding, more information on these women and their experiences is becoming widely available. Thank you for creating this beautiful book on such a terrible subject, we all must learn as much as we can. ( )

This book is a series of biographical sketches of women who experienced slavery and/or made a difference in what happened during different times of slavery. Not only does it cover the American and European enslavement of Africans, but also modern day slavery. I was excited about the possibility of using this books in my classroom, but when I received it, I felt overwhelmed by the density of the book. It would be difficult for most middle school students to feel comfortable tackling a books such as this. I think that I would need to pull passages from the books for my students to read. It will make a great addition to my classroom library, as the information is wonderful, but it is not very reader friendly for younger readers. ( )

I was attracted to this book about slavery when I recognized the name of Harriet Tubman. I knew that she was an important figure in the underground railway and wanted to read more about her. She was not the only woman who was, and is, important in the story of slavery. The book is laid out chronologically and the story of each woman is given its own chapter. It starts with Harriet Freeman whose court case to win her own freedom made slavery illegal in Massachusetts in the 1780s.

The stories about the historical women’s struggles with slavery were very interesting but what was even more enlightening were the stories about slavery in the recent past and current times. I had never before heard about the Aleut and their struggles to become citizens in their own country, nor was I aware of the stories of young foreign women tricked into becoming sex slaves in Canada. These were not the only stories in the book about modern day slavery. It was a real eye opener. ( )

I chose this because I enjoy reading vignette biographies and have begun to take an interest in current state of human slavery around the world. This is a good introduction into the history of the fight against slavery, told through the life and work of women who have taken up the fight. Starting with Elizabeth Freeman in 1781 and ending with Nina Smith in 2015, this book takes the reader from courtrooms to rallies to jungles to boxcars - across the world, telling the stories of the women in slavery, women who have escaped slavery, women who have seen slavery and chosen to not be silent, and women who have dedicated their life to eradicating it. The women chosen span nationality, socio-economic stratus, cultures, and backgrounds - but they share the commonality of not staying silent.

While the stories are excellent, and worth reading, the writing is simple and the stories arranged awkwardly - something that detracts from the stories. The book itself is heavy and filled with glossy photos that add much to the story. In addition to the stories, the author has included resources and more information in the end. In particular, organizations that work against slavery and ways to get involved. This is an excellent touch. I would recommend this for anyone who wants an introduction to the fight against slavery and worth the time to read. It's not a bad book for children, although I would say 10+ and an adult may want to read it first, as there are some plain-telling stories of sex slaves and a picture of a young girl's hands after they were cut off.

Note: I received this free from LibraryThing's Early Reviewers Program in exchange for my fair and honest opinion. ( )

Short biographies of women who have campaigned and fought against slavery from the 1700s to the present. Includes index and resources. ( )