She Persisted: Clara Lemlich

September 15, 2021
A young Russian immigrant becomes a renowned organizer and advocate for workers' rights. Heiligman's entry in the She Persisted series follows Clara Lemlich from Gorodok--where she became a secret voracious reader--to New York in 1904. Clara finds work as a seamstress in a shirtwaist factory where conditions are oppressive. Her innate outspoken nature and sensitivity to injustice lead her to union organizing and eventually to rally tens of thousands of garment workers in a general strike. Heiligman's six brief chapters emphasize Lemlich's passionate ideals and zeal for social justice, using descriptions of "fire" and "burning" to describe Clara's intensity. These words may remind some of the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire, which occurred two years after the strike (the Triangle Shirtwaist Company did not sign the contract that workers successfully negotiated). Heiligman describes Lemlich's work organizing fellow housewives in opposing hikes in rent and the price of food while she raised her children and supporting Cesar Chavez while a nursing-home resident. She considers what lessons in persistence can be found in Lemlich's long and committed life, offering perspectives from Lemlich's grandchildren and sharing Clara's charming personal affirmation ("I am beautiful. I am lover-ly") along with eight ways to honor Lemlich's voice. A noteworthy inclusion is the list of sources, including references to the author's telephone interviews, formatted readably for the target audience. Intentionally and successfully inspiring. (author's note) (Biography. 6-10)

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December 1, 2021

Gr 2-6-The stories of two more fearless women have been added to the "She Persisted" series. Clara Lemlich and Margaret Chase Smith both demonstrated fierce independence from an early age. Lemlich grew up in the late 1800s in Ukraine where, because she was Jewish and female, she was denied schooling. She bartered with neighborhood peers to teach her to read Russian and smuggle books to her. At age 12, Smith realized the importance of getting a job to earn income so that she could have her own purchasing power. Both women dedicated their lives to advocating for others. Smith became the first female U.S. Senator in 1949, elected into office because of her strong record of listening to and acting on the needs of her constituents. Lemlich, who immigrated to the United States in her teens, rallied women to stand up for basic, humane working conditions in the American factories where they worked. The books feature six easy-to-read chapters that chronicle each woman's life and accomplishments, followed by a chapter that makes suggestions for how readers can persist in a vein similar to the subject. The authors' absorbing accounts, along with Boiger and Flint's abundant illustrations in black and gray vividly bring the successes and struggles of each woman to life. VERDICT These titles are an important addition to the biography section of any library.-Maggie Chase, Boise State Univ., ID

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