Bryant, Jen. Fall Down Seven Times, Stand Up Eight: Patsy Takemoto Mink and the Fight for Title IX. Toshiki Nakamura, Illus. Biography. HarperCollins/Quill Tree, 01/2022. [48]pp. $17.99. 978-0-06-295722-1. HIGH ADDITIONAL. GRADES 1-4.
This picture book biography of Patsy Takemoto Mink, the first Asian American woman elected to Congress, focuses on her efforts to pass legislation to end gender discrimination in schools and colleges. The future Hawaiian representative wanted to be a doctor, but no medical school would accept her because she was female, so she became a lawyer and was active in politics. Her quest to end that type of prejudice resulted in the 1972 passage of Title IX, ensuring girls receive equal access to any school offering, including sports. The book title, which is a Japanese saying, is repeated several times throughout. The digitally created, full-color cartoonish illustrations successfully support the text and make this accessible to younger readers. Back matter includes a bibliography and timeline.
Penny Peck, San Jose State University , iSchool