Fall Down Seven Times, Stand Up Eight by Jen Bryant

Fall Down Seven Times, Stand Up Eight : Patsy Takemoto Mink and the Fight for Title IX
Written by Jen Bryant; Illustrated by. Toshiki Nakamura
Quill Tree Books. An imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers. 2022

This inspiring story tells the story of Patsy Takemoto Mink, the woman responsible for Title IX(nine) that was signed into law by Richard Nixon on June 23, 1972. Title IX (nine) is a bill “that requires schools to treat men and women equally.” 

    No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participating in, be denied the benefits of, or be subject to discrimination under any educational program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance. 

Pasty Takemoto Mink was born December 6, 1927 in Paia, Maui, Hawaii Territory. Bryant follows Mink’s life from a young child discriminated for being Japanese American after the bombing of Pearl Harbor to her frustrations at being denied admittance into medical school because she was a woman. In 1965, Mink became the first Asian American elected to the US Congress. Based on her life experience, Mink believed that everyone, regardless of sex, should be able to achieve their goals. 

The colorful illustrations, by Toshiba Nakamura, make the story pop. 

Add this informational picture book biography to any display on those who fought for equal rights.

Other books about activists published in 2021:

Fearless: the Story of Daphne Caruana Galizia, Defender of Free Speech

Gattaldo

Candlewick Press. 2021

Stitch by Stitch: Cleve Jones and the AIDS Memorial Quilt

By Rob Sanders; Illustrated by Jamey Christoph

Magination Press. 2021

Art of Protest: Creating, Discovering, and Activating Art for you Revolution

De Nichols. Illustrated by Diana Dagadita, Molly Mendoza, Olivia Twist, Saddo, and Diego Becas

Big Picture Press. An imprint of Candlewick Press. 2021

Louise