   | Full Text Reviews: School Library Journal - 02/01/2017 Gr 6 Up—This meticulously researched account of early automobiles and women is an excellent companion to Macy's previous title Wheels of Change: How Women Rode the Bicycle to Freedom (with a Few Flat Tires Along the Way). Macy delves into early automobile history through the use of primary sources, period photographs, and archival materials to show how women cracked gender stereotypes and whizzed past societal barriers. The prevailing sentiment in the early 20th century was that driving was too messy, strenuous, and nerve-racking for women. However, women proved themselves over and over again, competing in endurance races, cross-country trips, and speed trials. Of particular interest is the role the car played in the suffrage movement. As women became more mobile, they could gather for meetings and make their collective voices louder. The role female drivers played during World War I is also discussed. Once the Great War ended, some of these figures didn't want to relinquish their employment, foreshadowing similar home front experiences after the Second World War. Overall, it is important to note that this book tells the story of a narrow group of people; many, many women were prohibited from driving well past the time period covered. VERDICT Although it may take a bit of selling on the part of librarians, this insight into women automobile pioneers is well worth it. Highly recommended for tween and teen history collections.—Lisa Crandall, formerly at the Capital Area District Library, Holt, MI - Copyright 2017 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission. Booklist - 02/15/2017 *Starred Review* In Wheels of Change (2011), Macy revealed the liberating effect that bicycles had for women, and here she extends this theme to the empowering history of the automobile. At the turn of the twentieth century, cars were navigating America’s roads for the first time, and women were eager to get out of the house and behind the wheel. While Macy traces early automotive innovations (automation, electric starters, closed carriages, etc.), her focus remains on how women used the car to achieve independence and win the right to vote, embarking on lengthy auto tours to gather support for their cause. She explains how women were banned from auto racing—viewed as a man’s sport—in Europe and the U.S., only to see many silent film actresses embrace roles involving exciting car chases. Later, during WWI, women stepped up to drive ambulances and deliver supplies, further establishing their tenacity and competence behind the wheel. Macy’s lively writing and vivid descriptions of treacherous road conditions become all the more fascinating when combined with the crisp archival photos, car advertisements, news stories, and quotations embellishing each chapter—all captioned and cited. Biographical spreads on “motor girls” and lists of early, absurd driving laws and etiquette add to the engaging nature of this well-researched text. Steer any reader with an interest in history towards this fantastic book. - Copyright 2017 Booklist. Loading...
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