A true story about two sisters, four wheels and hordes of angry
fashion police!
Addie and Gussie Van Buren were raised by their father to be confident,
competitive and not much concerned with stuffy opinions about what women
can and can't do. So, when World War I broke out in Europe, the sisters
believed women should be able to join the fight. To prove that women
would make excellent battlefield messengers, they decided to drive their
motorbikes across the country, dressed sensibly in leather coats and
pants. Only, this was 1916, and women didn't ride motorbikes. And women
certainly did not wear pants! Despite being stopped repeatedly for
wearing "men's" clothing, the Van Buren sisters showed that "woman can,
if she will"!
Part of the Head-to-Head History series, this irreverently told,
inspiring story by J. F. Fox showcases one of the many battles in the
history of the women's movement. This thrilling story continues to
delight people today, including the descendants of the Van Buren sisters
who commemorate their accomplishments by re-creating the iconic ride
with dozens of other women bikers. This highly readable book adds
historical context with notes at the back of the book, and a glossary
and bibliography expand the content and help promote inquiry-based
learning. Historical details are incorporated into Anna Kwan's
illustrations, which use comic-style speech bubbles and plenty of humor
to keep the tone fun and lively.
