Finding Rebecca

by Shani Mahiri King, Nicole Tadgell (Illustrator)

Overview

We should all know the name Dr. Rebecca Lee Crumpler, but you probably don't—or at least, you don't yet.

 Finding Rebecca examines the casual disappearance of America's first Black female doctor from records and memory. But the search for her story and her final resting place, more than one hundred years after her death, turned up a few murky details that author Shani King uses to piece together a picture of the life she led, her hardships, and her many accomplishments. Young readers will discover more about this trailblazing first—and help ensure that she is lost no longer.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781958394083
Publisher:	Tilbury House Publishers
Publication date:	10/15/2024
Pages:	64
Product dimensions:	7.10(w) x 9.30(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	7 - 10 Years

About the Author

Shani Mahiri King is Vice Dean and a professor at Rutgers Law School, where he is also the director of the Center for Immigration Law, Policy and Justice. Shani is the father of two, for whom he wrote the picture books Have I Ever Told You? and Have I Ever Told You Black Lives Matter?


Nicole Tadgell was born in Detroit, Michigan. A shy child whose family moved frequently, art was a fun escape for her. While studying studio art at Wheaton College, Nicole discovered children’s book illustration and knew it would be her path. Today she is the illustrator of over 30 books, many of them honored with awards. When she’s not drawing, Nicole visits schools and conducts lectures and workshops. She also practices tai chi and watches Doctor Who. Nicole lives in central Massachusetts.

Editorial Reviews

"King tells Crumpler’s story well, focusing on facts while acknowledging (in the back matter) the difficulties of conducting research on a little-known person and the importance of archives. Tadgell’s graceful illustrations, which appear to be ink drawings with color washes, re-create the period setting while portraying Crumpler as down-to-earth. Calling Crumpler brilliant, brave, and hardworking, King closes by urging readers, “Remember her name.”"— Booklist Reviews

"A study in perseverance—both that of the book’s subject and the author who unearthed her story."— Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher

2024-07-19
The story of the first Black American female physician is lifted from obscurity.

Rebecca Lee Crumpler was born in 1831 to free parents in Delaware. Little is known about her childhood except that, early on, she went to live with an aunt in Philadelphia who raised her. When Rebecca was 17, she enrolled in the West Newton English and Classical School in Massachusetts. In Boston, she worked as a nurse, both with doctors and in her own practice. Rebecca received letters of commendation from doctors and was the first Black student admitted to the New England Female Medical College, completing her medical degree in 1864. In 1865, Rebecca married Arthur Crumpler, and together they relocated to Richmond, Virginia, where she worked for the Freedmen’s Bureau. In 1869, the couple returned to Boston, where she maintained a nursing practice. Upon retirement, she continued to teach, and wrote a book,Medical Discourses, published in 1883. The book’s introduction provides much of our knowledge about her life and work. With this intriguing look at a woman who made great strides, King demonstrates the difficulty of finding information about lesser-known historical figures. He seamlessly incorporates quotes from Rebecca’s book and uses what is known about the times and places she inhabited to craft his detailed narrative. Rebecca’s support and care for her community come through clearly in Tadgell’s warm watercolor illustrations.

A study in perseverance—both that of the book’s subject and the author who unearthed her story. (more information on researching Rebecca Lee Crumpler, activity, select sources)(Nonfiction. 7-10)

Kirkus Reviews