The Girl Who Rode a Shark & Other Stories of Daring Women, by Ailsa Ross with illustrations by Amy Blackwell. Pajama Press, 2019. $26.00 ages 10 and up

"The Canadian space program was looking for astronauts. Roberta already had a private pilot's licence. She was the perfect candidate. She won a place out of more than 4,000 applicants. For nearly a decade, Roberta trained for her mission. She exercised her body into peak physical condition. She put together ideas for science experiments,. She spent long hours in NASA's classrooms ... "

The author offers readers a reason for wanting to tell these stories of daring women:

"I hope these women's stories inspire you to listen to your dreams and fall in love with our planet. After all, among all the galaxies in the universe, this world of frogs and fireflies and daytime moons is the only home we have. If you ever feel small, remember: adventure is within you. It's in listening to your own voice. It's going beyond your comfort zone. It's daring to be brave."

Ms.  Ross writes 52 quick biographies of women who live all over the globe, who lived in the past and are living now, who are culturally and geographically diverse. A world map is placed prior to each new section. That map, and the list of women included are placed on a double page spread that is, in effect, a table of contents for the women to come. They are artists, pioneers, scientists, activists, athletes, and seekers.

Each verso includes the name, the title, the birthplace and birthdate, and the home country. The facing recto shows a colorful digital media illustration of the woman presented. Personal quotes are included, as well as a short list of other daring women who fit the category: Zora Neale Hurston's story is briefly told, and an additional list of More Excellent African-American Writers at the bottom of the page includes Maya Angelou (1928-2014) and Alice Walker (b, 1944).

Conversational in tone, and with lovely artwork throughout, this book is full of tales that are sure to inform and entertain. Every one of the women here were looking for adventure and wanting to learn more about the world and the time in which they lived.

The maps are a welcome addition, as is the beneficial glossary. Inspirational, it will surely encourage readers looking for more information.

"Nujeen misses her mother and father, who are still
in Turkey, but she tries not to feel too sad. When she was
asked to define herself beyond labels like "refugee" and
"disabled", she said, "Nujeen Mustafa is happy with who
she is. She loves herself. She loves everyone else as well.
Nujeen Mustafa loves life and the whole world."

Other brave young women added to her biography page
are Malala Yousafzai (b. 1997, Pakistan), Greta Thunberg (b. 2003, Sweden)