| Bettina Ling,
Aung San Suu Kyi, Standing Up for Democracy
in Burma (Women Changing the World Series).
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
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