The Extraordinary Suzy Wright: A Colonial Woman on the Frontier - Hardcover

Kanefield, Teri

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1419718665 ISBN 13: 9781419718663

Publisher: Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2016

Synopsis

Children are taught much about the men who shaped early America, but history-shaping colonial women remain largely unknown and undiscussed. The Extraordinary Suzy Wright sets about to change that, telling the little-known story of Quaker Susanna (Suzy) Wright (1697–1784), a renowned poet and political activist. Suzy helped settle the Pennsylvania frontier, where she acted as legal counselor to her less literate neighbors, preparing wills, deeds, indentures, and other contracts. Surviving documents and correspondence between Suzy and a host of her contemporaries—including Benjamin Franklin; James Logan, Pennsylvania’s governor and chief justice; and a few signers of the Declaration of Independence—reveal that Suzy, from her home on the frontier, exerted considerable influence in the highest circles of Pennsylvania government. This fascinating and inspiring story includes an author’s note, bibliography, and index.

About this title

About the Author

Teri Kanefield is a lawyer and writer. Her books for children have won numerous awards and distinctions, including the Jane Addams Peace Award in the Older Readers category. She lives with her family in San Francisco, California.

Reviews

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. VERDICT Providing a different perspective on a very familiar time in the United States, this is an excellent look at a little-known but important woman.-Elizabeth Nicolai, Anchorage Public Library, AKα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Edition details

• Publisher: Abrams Books for Young Readers
• Publication date: 2016
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1419718665
• ISBN 13: 9781419718663
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 64