Rosie the Riveter: Women Working on the Homefront in World War II

by Penny Colman

Overview

Now in paperback—the award-winning account of how 18 million women, many of whom had never before held a job, entered the work force in 1942-45 to help the United States fight World War II. Their unprecedented participation would change the course of history for women, and America, forever.

An ALA Best Book for Young Adult

An ALA Notable Book

A Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books Blue Ribbon Book

An IRA Teachers' Choice

A Junior Library Guild Selection

An NCTE Orbis Pictus Honor Award Winner for Outstanding Nonfiction  

A New York Public Library Best Book for the Teenager

A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year  

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780517885673
Publisher:	Random House Children's Books
Publication date:	02/10/1998
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	128
Product dimensions:	8.06(w) x 9.31(h) x 0.30(d)
Lexile:	1060L (what's this?)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Penny Colman is the author of ten children’s and young adult books, among them Rosie the Riveter and Girls: A History of Growing Up Female in America.

Editorial Reviews

"Colman expertly explores the enormous changes in the lives of women in their own homes and beyond. The strengths of this book are in the happy combination of abundant primary source material, a clear narrative style, and effective well-placed photographs. An important contribution."—Kirkus Reviews, pointer

From the Publisher

This WWII history of the over 18 million women serving in the labor force includes first-hand accounts, propaganda posters and numerous period photographs. "The author explain[s] the events surrounding the war and the economic conditions that temporarily produced a female-dominated work force," said PW. Ages 10-up. (Feb.)r

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

Gr 6-9Colman chronicles the drive to get women to enter wartime industries, providing insight into the federal government's propaganda campaign and incentives. She also supplies the facts and figures: many more women than one might suppose had full-time employment before the war, and many continued to work after it, sometimes in positions that were considerably less important and less lucrative. The author also discusses the sexual harassment and racial discrimination women experienced while doing their patriotic duty. The compromises they had to make in order to manage child care and to prove to men on the job that they were their equals are frequently ignored in other historical treatments of the Rosie-the-riveter phenomenon. From Colman's point of view, the experiences of stateside workers led the way to some of the more liberal reforms later in the century, especially for women and minorities. The abundant black-and-white photographs included are a real treat. An excellent addition.Ruth K. MacDonald, Bay Path College, Longmeadow, MA

School Library Journal