by Eucabeth Odhiambo
Illustrated by Gillian Flint
5 stars
Another fantastic She Persisted book. This one recounts the life and work of Wangari Maathai, an environmentalist and activist who founded the Green Belt Movement. The book describes Maathai’s life growing up in Kenya, her inspirations and influences, her continuing education, her work helping her community, and her resistance against discriminatory systems.
As with the other books in the series, this one is told in short chapters using easy-to-understand descriptions and explanations. There are black-and-white illustrations throughout to help break up the text. At the back is a section on how to persist like Maathai including ways to help the environment and a list of reference.
Maathai’s story is a great example of fighting for the rights of yourself and others while promoting peace and equality. It emphasizes how she persisted throughout her life in order to achieve equal treatment, help those around her, and aid in the care of the environment.
A fantastic read. Odhiambo did a fantastic job telling this story.