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"A Woman for President: The Story of Victoria Woodhull" by Kathleen Krull

Author:

Kathleen Krull

Illustrator:

Jane Dyer

Publisher:

Walker and Company

Reviewed by:

Marilyn J Ward, Carthage College

A Woman for President by Kathleen Krull presents a passionate biography of a little known women's rights and presidential politics. Victoria Woodhull (1838-1927), born in poverty, was supporting her family by the time she was eight, as a gospel preacher and conductor of séances. She became weathly as a spiritual and a financial advisor to Cornelius Vanderbilt, the richest man in America, and then took an active role in the women's suffrage movement. She broke many boundaries by starting her own newspaper, forming the first female-owned American company in the business of buying and selling stocks, and being the first woman ever to address what was then an all-male Congress. In 1870, when women could not legally vote, Woodhull declared herself a candidate for president. "It was a wild moment in American history, and times would never be the same for women.” An author's note explains what happened after the election and Woodhull's clash with the famous family of Harriet Beecher Stowe. In 1927, eight years women won the right to vote, Woodhull died, a forgotten figure. "To be perfectly frank," she told reporters, "I hardly expected to be elected. The truth is I am too many years ahead of this age …and the unenlightened mind of the average man." Krull's engaging prose and Dyer's realistic, dignified watercolors period capture details, as well as Woodhull's radiance and determination. The story is told in a fresh way that relates to the lives of contemporary kids. It reminds us that by being informed and active citizens in our community and government, we can each make an impact and even end up in the White House. A bibliography includes three books on Victoria Woodhull, a video, and 2 websites.