Who Did It First?: 50 Scientists, Artists, and Mathematicians Who Revolutionized the World by Caitlin Kuhwald, Julie Leung
Published by Henry Holt & Company on October 15, 2019
ISBN: 1250211719
Pages: 128
Genres: Biography/Autobiography, Non-Fiction
Format: Chapter Book Nonfiction
Goodreads

“Representation is absolutely fundamental in terms of what we expect from our culture, and from our politics. We all want to feel represented. We want to feel seen and heard and valued.” –Riz Ahmed, First Man of Asian Descent to Win an Emmy. This is a quote that can be found boldly displayed in a two-page spread, and embodies the spirit of this unique collection of fifty profiles of diverse trailblazers in the fields of science, technology, and the arts, primarily women and people of color working against societal barriers and achieving great things. There are a few of the usual suspects like Nikola Tesla and Jane Goodall, but many names will likely be new to young readers, such Alexa Canady, the first female African American neurosurgeon, or John Herrington, the first Native American in space. Some profiles feature more specific firsts, such as Thai Lee, the first Korean woman to graduate from Harvard, or Zaha Hadid, the first woman to win the Pritzker Architecture Prize. The biographical summaries are no more than a page in length, accompanied by a vivid digital illustration and occasionally an inspiring quote, and serve more as a brief introduction that might inspire further research. A useful timeline at the end helps to chronologically position each figure’s accomplishments. There is also an interesting illustrator’s note which outlines the creative process for creating the illustrations found in the book. Recommended for grades 5-8, and a nice addition to a biography collection in need of some refreshing.

Reviewed by Kat Luedke, Long Island Community Library