Kirkus
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A biography of a woman born “one hundred years before her time.” Born to freethinking White abolitionist farmers in New York’s Finger Lakes region in 1832, Mary Edwards Walker became an early advocate for women’s rights, especially clothing reform. She eschewed corsets as unhealthy and endured ridicule for wearing loose shortened skirts over long trousers. She became one of the country’s first female physicians when she graduated from Syracuse Medical College in 1855 and, after a brief, unhappy marriage, overcame considerable prejudice to become a surgeon for the Union Army during the Civil War, a part-time spy, Confederate prisoner, and the only female recipient of the Medal of Honor. But despite the award, which she cherished, the government for years refused her the pension male soldiers received. Walker became a popular paid lecturer, but her outspoken personality, insistence on dress reform, and open criticism of some influential suffragists’ lack of support for racial equality eventually caused her to be ostracized by the leaders of the suffrage movement and all but forgotten to history. Mary’s attire and appearance became more conventionally masculine as she aged, but she does not seem to have regarded herself as transgender. Latta’s carefully researched story, drawn primarily from contemporary accounts and featuring many photographs, places Walker in the context of her time and shows her as the complicated and principled person she was. An eye-opening and engaging tribute to a fascinating historical figure. (author’s note, source notes, selected bibliography, index, photo credits) (Nonfiction. 12-18) Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

School Library Journal
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Gr 9 Up—Latta presents a fascinating introduction to Dr. Mary Edwards Walker, the only female Medal of Honor winner, who was a doctor, feminist, suffragist, possible spy, and prisoner of war. Walker was the daughter of freethinking parents who encouraged her individuality and her need to challenge the status quo if something struck her as unfair, such as how women should not wear trousers even though it made gardening and other outside tasks much easier. While Walker was not the first American woman to attend medical school, her work during the Civil War led to her capture as an enemy combatant by the Confederacy and she spent months as a prisoner of war. Her activities during the Civil War led to her being awarded the Medal of Honor for Meritorious Service by President Andrew Johnson. Walker's involvement in the forefront of political issues continued after the Civil War, particularly regarding suffrage and the annexation of Hawai'i against the wishes of the ruling Queen. Even toward the end of her life, Walker supported humanitarian causes with her own dwindling money, opening her home to those in need and trying to join the efforts of the Red Cross in support of American forces during the Great War. Latta utilizes primary sources, from contemporary newspaper articles to photographs, to make Walker's remarkable life come alive for readers. The author's note, which includes additional sources, is particularly valuable for researchers wanting to know more. Included in the back matter are endnotes, selected bibliography, index, and photo acknowledgments. VERDICT Recommended for all readers.—Susan Catlett

Book list
From Booklist, Copyright © American Library Association. Used with permission.

Mary Edwards Walker (1832–1919) was a reform activist so outspoken she was nearly shunned and lost to history despite being one of the most famous (some might say infamous) women of her day. While Walker fought for abolition, Black education and temperance, and against the death penalty, she was particularly focused on women’s suffrage and the right to divorce. Born in Oswego, New York, Walker graduated from Syracuse Medical College and served as a Civil War doctor, becoming the only woman to win a Medal of Honor. She was best known for advocating clothing reform. She wore a knee-length dress over pants, resulting in constant derision and arrests for dressing like a man. Later, she got involved in Democratic Party politics and and in 1881 became the first woman to run for Senate. This clearly written chronological biography, full of lively quotes from Walker’s writings and her frequent mentions in the press, is ideal for research projects. Black-and-white illustrations and sidebars provide context. Readers will appreciate connections to modern issues of gender discrimination, equality, and expression.