Bettina Ling,
Aung San Suu Kyi, Standing Up for Democracy in Burma.
Series Women Changing the World, The Feminist Press, 1999

The story of Aung San Suu Kyi's struggle to bring democracy to Burma is so compelling that it is hard to imagine a boring book about her life. In this book Bettina Ling clearly has worked hard to tell Aung San Suu Kyi's story in a way that upper elementary to middle school children can understand and appreciate With many side bar explanations about related topics such as Burma's history and Mahatma Gandhi (who greatly influenced Aung San Suu Kyi) and liberal use of photos, this book introduces young students to a remarkable woman - winner of the Nobel Peace Prize - who has been a beacon of hope for the people of Burma at great sacrifice to herself. Along the way the book explains complicated issues such as human rights and why people become refugees, and helps children understand the realities of life in a country such as Burma. Aung San Suu Kyi's story provides a heroic role model for children all over the world.

The Women Changing the World series is a remarkable series, with profiles of women around the world who have lived inspiring lives Three of the books are about women who were winners of the Nobel Peace Prize. It is a shame the books are not more widely available in public and school libraries Often the books in the juvenile non-fiction sections are full of the most remarkably lightweight information, they teach children virtually nothing Let's hope that books that provide real information, such as the Women Changing the World series, catch on.

Sumi Hayashi