The bicycle's effect on women's lives

Who's ever thought of the effect that the bicycle had on women's lives? I must admit, I never did until I read Wheels of Change: How Women Rode the Bicycle to Freedom (With a Few Flat Tires Along the Way).

We've all jumped on our bikes as children and can remember that feeling of the wind whipping through our hair and the freedom we felt as we were allowed to venture away from home, even if it was just around the corner to visit a friend. That's why it was eye-opening to see all of the ways the bicycle took America by storm in the 1880s and '90s. Readers will be fascinated to learn how the bicycle helped American women gain increased independence, better health, freedom from restrictive clothing and eventually, the right to vote.

Wheels of Change takes a new look at the women's movement that nobody has before. After all, a handful of women applied for U.S. patents for bicycle-related inventions, women published how-to books, bicycle design was transformed to accommodate women's clothing, and female cyclists frequently graced the labels of cigar boxes. There are so many fun-filled facts that are accompanied by black and white photos, color posters and magazines, and more. Sue Macy writes in the introduction, "I hope you enjoy the ride." You will.

Additional Information:
Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 96 pages
Publisher: National Geographic Children's Books (January 11, 2011)
ISBN-10: 1426307616
ISBN-13: 978-1426307614
Source of review copy: Publicist

This post is part of Nonfiction Monday! Nonfiction Monday takes place every Monday as various blogs throughout the kidlitosphere write about nonfiction books for kids and collect them all in one place. This week, check out the Nonfiction Monday roundup at Chapter Book of the Day. To see the entire schedule, please visit the blog of Anastasia Suen.

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