teen Trailblazers “I’ve been absolutely terrified 30 Fearless Girls every moment of my life and i’ve never let it keep me who changed the world from doing a single thing that i wanted to do.” before they were 20 —Georgia O’Keefe jennifer calvert illustrated by vesna asanovic CASTLE POINT BOOKS NEW YORK contents Introduction.......................................1 Frida Kahlo .....................................63 Cleopatra ................................................3 Jackie Mitchell ...........................67 Joan of Arc .........................................7 Anne Frank ...........................................71 Pocahontas ........................................11 Barbara Johns ............................75 Eliza Lucas ..........................................15 Claudette Colvin ....................79 TEEN TRAILBLAZERS. Copyright © 2018 by St. Martin’s Press. Phillis Wheatley .......................19 Elizabeth Eckford ...............83 All rights reserved. Printed in China. For information, address St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010. Élisabeth Susan Eloise Hinton ..........87 Vigée-LeBrun ...................................23 www.stmartins.com Samantha www.castlepointbooks.com Sybil Ludington ........................27 Reed Smith .............................................91 The Castle Point Books trademark is owned by Castle Point Publications, LLC. Jane Austen ........................................31 Emma Watson ................................95 Castle Point books are published and distributed by St. Martin’s Press. Sacagawea ......................................... 35 Tavi Gevinson ................................99 ISBN 978-1-250-20020-4 (trade paperback) Mary Shelley ................................39 Malala Yousafzai..............103 Design by Katie Jennings Campbell Editorial by Monica Sweeney Anita Garibaldi ..........................43 Katie Stagliano ....................... 107 Our books may be purchased in bulk for promotional, educational, or business use. Margaret Knight ..................... 47 Emma González ..........................111 Please contact your local bookseller or the Macmillan Corporate and Premium Sales Department at 1-800-221-7945, extension 5442, Anna Elizabeth Maya Penn............................................115 or by e-mail at [email protected]. Dickinson ...............................................51 Jazz Jennings...............................119 First Edition: October 2018 Elizabeth Cochran, a.k.a. Nellie Bly ......................... 55 about the author 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 & illustrator ................................ 55 Mary Pickford ............................59 introduction “I alone cannot change the world, Changing the world sounds like a big, scary in this book were often the first of their kind, but i can cast a stone across the endeavor meant for the leaders of countries and with no one to look up to but themselves. Mary political movements. But real change is simple. It Shelley (page 39) published the first science water to create many ripples.” happens slowly, a little bit at a time. Change is not fiction novel in history, Mary Pickford (page 59) —Mother Teresa an enormous snowball charging furiously down created the movie star, and Nellie Bly (page 55) the hill—it’s the snowflakes that drift softly onto pioneered investigative journalism—all in an era the mountain. The snowball is nothing without when women were told to sit down and be quiet. them, and they are nothing without each other. Society didn’t expect much from these girls, so they had to expect more from themselves. Even the smallest actions can add up to Although we’ve come a long way, there’s still incredible change. Claudette Colvin (page 79) progress to be made and paths for new teen refused to give up her seat on a bus. Her act trailblazers to forge. “we do not need magic to change the of courage inspired the actions of others, and soon the snowball was moving toward the end The amazing young women in this book were world, we carry all the power we of the segregated bus system. Emma Watson different from each other in every way—place, need inside ourselves already: we (page 95) auditioned for a movie and brought time, and social standing. Some had the benefit to life a beloved book character. Then she of supportive parents, or the gift of talent. have the power to imagine better.” realized she could use her fame to help women Others just believed in something greater than —J. K. Rowling all over the world, and the snowball started themselves. Some set out to change the world, moving toward equality. others did it almost by accident. But every one of them was smart, creative, resilient, brave, But change can happen only when someone hopeful, and kind. And every one of them had to imagines that things can be different than they overcome obstacles like poverty, sexism, racism, are. Not everyone has the vision to strike out on war, and the inescapable specter of fear. a new path, or the strength to oppose the people who say it can’t or shouldn’t be done. Those who These teenage trailblazers are proof that anyone do are called trailblazers. They set the snowball in and everyone can change the world. The stories “Be not afraid of greatness. motion. And the world needs more of them. contained here are just the beginning. When some are born great, some you find someone or something that speaks to We’re lucky today: most women have the you, do what these brilliant girls did, and set out achieve greatness, and others freedom and confidence to move in any direction to learn more. Then take one small step in the we like. We also have those who came before us direction you want the snowball to move. Start have greatness thrust upon them.” as role models. They paved the way. But the girls today. Start before you’re ready. Just start. —William Shakespeare, Twelfth Night 6 • Teen Trailblazers introduction • 1 CleopatraThe Last Active Pharaoh of Egypt Born: 69 BC • Died: 30 BC • Became queen of Egypt when she was 18 years old • Brought peace and prosperity to Egypt during her 22-year reign • Was a brilliant political mind and take-charge leader “For her beauty, as we are told, was in itself not altogether incomparable, nor such as to strike those who saw her; but converse with her had an irresistible charm.” —Plutarch, Life of Antony Egypt: The Soap Opera Cleopatra made history for her ruthless She could have been a dazzling dame in an For all of its murder, intrigue, and romance, political tactics, sensational love life, and old Hollywood movie—larger than life and Cleopatra’s reign over Egypt could put Game of bold ambition. But these qualities were smarter than anyone in the room. Cleopatra Thrones to shame. But that’s how the Romans never without their qualifier: her gender. spoke eight languages, was beloved by her rolled. (Egypt was part of Rome, off and on.) Those history-making attributes were most subjects, and knew her way around a military Family members marrying each other to commonly assigned to men. They were operation. Her incredible library was her keep bloodlines pure wasn’t uncommon. Nor applauded in men. In a woman, they were most prized possession. With intellect, was murdering those same family members considered shocking and unbecoming. grace, and dramatic flair, she brought peace over money or power. What was a little Women could be powerful, of course, but and prosperity to Egypt and set treasonous society felt (and still feels, in some circles) an example for assassination that their power should be quiet and female leaders plot between understated. Cleopatra was neither quiet for millennia to friends? nor understated. come. cleopatra • 3 Cleopatra was just 18 years old when predictable in its unpredictability), the new Learn from Cleopatra’s legacy: Don’t be her father died and she became queen ruler of Rome requested her presence. Not afraid to show people how smart you are, of Egypt. She had 100 years of royal only did she keep him waiting, but when she to use your intellect, to be different from ancestry to live up to, and three ambitious did arrive, it was on a gilded boat with purple other girls, to be better than the boys. siblings to contend with. One of those sails, and oars rowing to music. The woman Some people might be intimidated. Some siblings, her younger brother, ran her out knew how to make an entrance! And her plan might lash out. But the ones who matter of the country just three years into her paid off—Marc Antony was enchanted. will get you. Just rule. She fled to Syria and began raising up focus on being the an army against him. Cleopatra made one miscalculation, best you that you though. She fell as deeply for Antony can be. as he had for her. While most men were intimidated by her intellect, Marc Egypt under Cleopatra At the time, Rome was becoming increasingly Antony was her admirer and her equal. combustible thanks to a country-splitting spat He won her affection by adding scrolls to Cleopatra’s first priority was always that Egypt between leaders Julius Caesar and Pompey. her treasured library, where they spent flourish under her family’s rule. That was her Pompey sought refuge in Egypt, where evenings eating extravagant meals and guiding principle in ousting her brother, in Cleopatra’s little brother didn’t think twice reading together. They were the Romeo captivating Caesar and Antony, and in governing before having him killed. But this is where and Juliet of their time, and their love History is Written day to day. Although she had a cunning political Cleopatra and her brother differed: she gave story ended just as tragically. mind, she was a kind and empathetic queen. careful thought to every action. by the Winners When flooding from the Nile ruined food crops, Rome was still embroiled in conflict, she opened her stores of grain to all of Egypt. You might be asking yourself why Cleopatra is Cleopatra saw an opportunity in Caesar, with the heir to the empire, Octavian, always portrayed as a conniving seductress. Although Greek by birth, she learned and spoke whose large army would ensure her return to plotting against Antony and Cleopatra.