She Persisted: Patsy Mink

April 15, 2022
Politician and equal rights activist Patsy Mink persists despite racism and misogyny. A propulsive narrative moves quickly through Mink's life, from her birth in Hawaii in 1927 to her experiences at White-dominated educational institutions, where educators often marginalized her, to her marriage to John Mink, her political career, and, finally, her death in 2002. A woman of many firsts--she was the first Asian American woman to practice law in Hawaii and the first woman of color in the U.S. Congress--Mink was also one of the authors of Title IX, the bill that limits sex-based discrimination. True to the series name, rejection, sexism, and racism impacted Mink, but she persisted even if the path looked different than she might have imagined. The book is decidedly inspirational in tone, yet the text includes brief, accurate, and age-appropriate explanations of the laws, people, and ideas that contributed to structural racism and oppression. Mink's happy childhood is contrasted with her life after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, when Japanese Americans like her family were imprisoned in concentration camps. Although her family escaped imprisonment, racism "seeped into all aspects of [her] life." Aftermatter explains the intentional use of the term concentration--rather than internment--camps. Like the ever popular Who Was... series, this title features short chapters, a large font, and ample white space, all supportive for children still gaining confidence as independent readers. A concise yet stirring biography. (references) (Nonfiction. 7-10)

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July 8, 2022

Gr 1-4-Persistence was a character trait that Patsy Mink exhibited from a very young age. Born in Hawaii in 1927, she had a nurturing family that allowed her to pursue her curiosity and explore the world around her. However, life was not without its challenges. Her Japanese ancestry and gender often created roadblocks as she worked hard to advance to higher education. Mink's first choice was to become a medical doctor. Unfortunately, due to prevailing racism and misogyny, she found that goal unattainable. Realizing that helping others was her passion, she found that her competitive nature and interest in government led her to politics. Working hard, she became a star, achieving many firsts along the way, including the first woman of color and the first Asian American woman elected to Congress in 1964. Mink is best known for being a coauthor of the Title IX amendment of the Higher Education Act. This early chapter book's illustrations add to the age-appropriate narrative. Included are a table of contents, references, acknowledgements, and an appended section listing six things readers can do to achieve persistence. Keller's end note explains her use of the term concentration camp over the more commonly used internment camp when addressing the institutionalized racism Asian Americans encountered after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. She noted that the U.S. Supreme Court did not overturn the use of these facilities until 2018. VERDICT This biography's focus on perseverance, prejudice, women's issues, and uncomfortable historical events makes it an important addition to all libraries.-Lynne Stover

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July 29, 2022
This entry in the She Persisted series focuses on Patsy Mink, the first woman of color elected to Congress. Keller takes young readers on Mink's journey through school and politics, showing the inequity that she faced along the way. Mink fought for women's rights, and Keller's simple yet engaging text gives various examples of some of the issues Mink fought, pursued from not being allowed to be a doctor to standing up and making sure her voice was heard in politics. The prose is gentle and well suited to a young audience while never overshadowing the hard work and obstacles that stood in Mink's way. Endnotes share actionable steps readers can take to make change right now. An inspiring and engaging entry.

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