The Voice that Won the Vote is a lovely reminder to children and adults alike to use it or lose it, but in addition, and inadvertently, a cautionary tale about how far we have still to go.
The Voice That Won the Vote: How One Woman’s Words Made History
Author: Elisa Boxer
Illustrator: Vivien Mildenberger
Sleeping Bear Press
Grade level: 2-5, Ages: 7-10
The year is 1920. The country is in the middle of the great debate on women’s suffrage. Thirty-five states have ratified the 19th Amendment giving women the vote, but 36 are needed. It all depends on Tennessee. And Tennessee is deadlocked on the issue.
Elisa Boxer briskly tells the new-to-me story of Febb Burn and her son Harry, who played a pivotal role in ratifying the 19th Amendment and extending the franchise to women. Vivien Mildenberger’s charming illustrations flesh out the narrative.
But nestled in a valley on a farm in Tennessee, one woman was determined to have a voice. And a vote.
Febb’s son Harry doesn’t agree with his mother that women should be granted the vote. But he receives a letter from her that changes his mind, and when the legislature votes to break the tie, Harry votes for universal suffrage.
It’s hard not to be moved by the moral courage shown by the young legislator, and the practical love demonstrated by his mother; however it was also hard not to be disappointed in the short shrift given to Febb. In a story about women using their voices, not only is the protagonist a male, but the reader is left wondering how exactly Henry’s mother persuaded him to change his mind. The Voice that Won the Vote is Harry’s, not Febb’s. Harry’s mother’s voice is silent. Febb’s voice is drowned out.
The Voice that Won the Vote is a lovely reminder to children and adults alike to use it or lose it, but in addition, and inadvertently, a cautionary tale about how far we have still to go.
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My thanks to Sleeping Bear Press for providing a Review Copy of this book. The views expressed herein are my own.
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