A Lady Has the Floor: Belva Lockwood Speaks Out for Women's Rights

Gr 3–5—An early proponent of equal rights for women, Belva Lockwood was one of the first female lawyers in the United States and the first to argue (and win) a case before the Supreme Court. Facing nonstop opposition, she campaigned for equal pay, equal educational opportunities, and equal rights to vote and hold office for white women and people of color. ("Belva helped poor widows, Civil War veterans, and freed slaves for what they deserved.") Hannigan thoroughly details Lockwood's many triumphs, beginning with her childhood and young adult years, and concluding with her unsuccessful, though impressive, run for president. The narrative concentrates mainly on her professional accomplishments; much of her personal life is noted in the time line. Nearly each page offers a quote from Lockwood's speeches and writings and most resonate with today's political climate; however, the script font used for these quotes may challenge readers. A time line provides dates and pertinent facts about the subject and the accomplishments of other women in law and politics (Hattie Wyatt Caraway, Shirley Chisholm, Sandra Day O'Connor, etc.).