Rubin, Susan Goldman. Women Who Built Hollywood, The: 12 Trailblazers in Front of and Behind the Camera. Calkins Creek, 05/2023. 207pp. Non-Fiction. GRADES 6 – 12. $18.99. 978-1-66268-010-6. HIGH ADDITIONAL.
In this collective biography, women who influenced the growth of the Hollywood film business are profiled, including actors Mary Pickford, Lillian Gish, Louise Beavers, and Anna May Wong, as well as director Dorothy Arzner, screenwriter Frances Marion, and filmmaker Marion Wong. Each person receives an engaging chapter illustrated with b&w photos, and the introduction and conclusion explain the focus of the book. Each biographical essay clearly explains why the person is significant, and gives a nice summary of their life and achievements. This works as a solid introduction to the growth of the California film industry in the 1920s and early ‘30s, and includes several people of color, although there is one error. It says that after Hattie McDaniel, “The next Black actress to win an Academy Award …” was Halle Berry in 2002, when it was actually Whoopi Goldberg in 1991. Rubin has written many popular biographies and social histories, and this is a nice addition to her work. Back matter includes a bibliography of material used in research, a list of places to see these innovators’ works, an index, and extensive source notes. This book has California-specific content.
Penny Peck—San Jose State University iSchool