Virgie Goes to School with Us Boys book review by Hanna

Title of the Book: Virgie Goes to School with us Boys 

Author Name Elizabeth Fitzgerald Howard 

Reviewer's Name: Hanna 

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing 

Date of Publication: 2000

Rating: 1-5 Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The book Virgie Goes to School with Us Boys is a heartwarming story with surprisingly feminist views. From just the title, the reader can deduce that Virgie, a girl, is not allowed to go to school with her brothers and male peers. From the first couple pages, the reader understands she finds this unfair. Feminist ideals shine through even more when Virgie fights for her right to go to school, of course in an appropriate manner for the adolescents reading the book. Virgie Goes to School has found the spot between being enjoyable for kids and teaching important life lessons. Relatable for the young girls who might not be able to do things with their male friends, it is fun and teaches girls to stand up for themselves. The books detailed illustrations add to the descriptive writing. Emotions conveyed by characters help the reader or listeners understand what Virgie is feeling throughout the story. 

My favorite part of the book is when the boys expect Virgie to be a girly girl. They expect her to not want to play in the river, for fear of getting dirty and not want to join in on activities, or when she does, that she cries instantly. Instead, Virgie proves them all wrong by enjoying the “boyish” activities. She is a strong female character, even though she is in a kid's book, and is still relatable to younger audiences. The author keeps the reader hooked by implementing more and more conflicts. Once Virgie wins her battle to go to school, she meets more challenges from her male peers. She strives to keep going and end up in school and doesn't give up. This book is great for younger audiences as it is fast-paced and keeps their attention. However, it also teaches important lessons about feminism to both boys and girls.