Published: 2022
Author: Sara Latta
Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, Memoir, History, Feminism, Politics, Historical, Middle Grade, Teen
Audience (Grade Levels): Grades 7-12
Number of Stars: 4-Stars
Goodreads Link: I Could Not Do Otherwise: The Remarkable Life of Dr. Mary Walker
Triggers: Civil War combat trauma, surgical procedures, and imprisonment
Review By: Gina Iorio
Publisher’s Summary
As a teenager, Mary Edwards Walker determined she would no longer wear the confining corsets and long skirts society dictated women wear at the time and instead opted for pants with a short skirt, setting the stage for her lifelong controversial efforts to change expectations. One of the first women to earn a degree in medicine, Walker championed women’s rights, social justice, and access to health care. She became a Civil War surgeon and a spy, who was captured and arrested by the Confederacy, and she is still the only woman to have been awarded the Medal of Honor.
Written by young adult author Sara Latta, I Could Not Do Otherwise teaches readers about Walker’s determination and strength of conviction, as well as her complete disregard of what others thought of her unconventional style. The slogan, “women’s rights are human rights” is a direct descendent of Walker’s “The recognition of the individuality of woman, is simply an acknowledgement of human rights, which all human beings have guaranteed them, by the fact of their having an existence.” I Could Not Do Otherwise brings to light an amazing historical figure who broke gender norms and fought for issues that are still relevant today.
Review
Dr. Mary Walker’s name should be remembered in history books alongside other revolutionary women, but she has been largely forgotten. However, author Sara Latta does a wonderful job of bringing the doctor’s remarkable life to a modern audience. Dr. Walker faced professional and personal struggles against closed-minded individuals who believed women should remain in traditional roles. Despite the many setbacks she faced, Dr. Mary Walker was determined to make the world a better place for women. This book does an amazing job of exploring the twists, turns, and heartache Dr. Mary Walker faced. It also addresses the hostile environment within the suffrage movement. I was thrilled to see the author address the rift between leading suffragists and Dr. Mary Walker. Many believed Dr. Mary Walker was too radical and needed to be removed from the movement. This book is filled with images which help the reader to better understand the time period. However, the prose is simplistic even for a teenage audience. Despite its one shortcoming, this is a book that will give a younger generation a glimpse into a trailblazer’s life.
Classroom & Curricular Connections
- Social Studies / U.S. History: This biography is highly relevant to curriculum covering the American Civil War, the women’s suffrage movement, and nineteenth-century social reforms. It details the realities of a female surgeon and spy on the battlefront, while also exposing the political tensions within the early women’s rights movement.
- ELA / Literary Analysis: The book serves as an excellent case study in biographical writing and historical research. Students can analyze how historical photographs, quote citations, and source materials are structured alongside the narrative text to paint a picture of an individual’s life.
- Social-Emotional Learning (SEL): Dr. Mary Walker’s life provides an inspiring example of resilience, conviction, and self-advocacy. Her complete disregard for restrictive social conventions and determination to follow her path despite overwhelming professional exclusion offers rich material for discussion on identity and personal values.
Readalikes
- The Girl Who Fought Back: Vladka Meed and the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising by Joshua M. Greene
- Restless Genius: The Story of Albert Einstein by Charlotte Luongo
