The Extraordinary Suzy Wright: A Colonial Woman on the Frontier

Gr 4–8—This biography of Suzy Wright is a welcome addition to the very crowded collection of early American history books and a rare example of a work that highlights a groundbreaking Colonial woman. At 16, Wright emigrated in 1714 from England to Pennsylvania with her family to escape religious persecution. She chose to remain unmarried to retain freedoms (such as the ability to own property) only allowed single women. Wright gained acclaim as a poet, correspondent, advocate, and naturalist and for her legal and political work. While the vocabulary is complex and the concepts are somewhat complicated, the many photographs and illustrations, pull quotes, and large page and text size make this a quick read. The volume is beautifully laid out and includes reproductions of the primary sources that it quotes. Kanefield focuses primarily on social issues as they relate to the role of women in Colonial America and examines how Wright tried to advocate for better treatment for Native Americans. An afterword offers more details on the geographic area and the role of Quakers in Colonial America.