This is a beautifully illustrated and very informative novel. It jumps between the past when some very inspirational women were fighting for the rights of suffrage and the modern day relating those past struggles to our modern democracy. This was a super fascinating read and shone a light on some of the lesser well known activists as well as household names.

‘Well behaved women seldom make history’ is Laurel Thatcher’s phrase used to inspire the title of ‘Good girls don’t make history’. I feel this sums up the nature of this graphic novel rather well, documenting the seemingly endless struggle for women’s rights.

It encompasses not only the struggle for the women’s right to vote, but even more so the struggle of black women, of indigenous women, with both their gender and race to combat against. The novel hones in on several specific individuals to do this, comparing their struggle to contemporary perceptions of young girls now (written in 2020).

Interestingly, there was only a minor section on the food strikes and nothing on Emily Wilding Davidson who had infamously died on the racehorse to promote the Suffragette movement. There was also less included on the incredible violence many turned to in efforts of getting those rights. While this isn’t a major drawback, I was just surprised mainly - perhaps it was an attempt to shine a light on the aspects of the Suffrage that is less popular or known.

As a whole, I really enjoyed this novel - it is a testament as to how graphic novels can and should be utilised. The art style was great and perfectly fitting for the subject at hand; I’d recommend this to anyone curious about the origins of women’s rights. Hey, I learnt something, so there’s something for everyone :)

Thanks to NetGalley & Quarto Publishing Group for the early copy in exchange for an honest review.

A fantastic look into women's rights throughout history while paralleling modern issues, especially in regard how difficult it can be to vote in many places across the country.

The artwork is absolutely STUNNING! It really helps with the old-timey angle but it's just so pretty to look at too.

Literally the only complaint I have is that it can be hard to remember who's who, I just wanted some more boxes here and there highlighting who x person is in the book. Still, an educational and fascinating read all around.

This book is cleverly written and immensely educational! As we travel through staples of time in history, Kiehner highlights the injustices in society that women from poc backgrounds had to suffer through. The story is so beautifully written and I just couldn't put it down! As a reader I felt empowered by how strong these women in history were and how they didn't let the misogynistic and patriarchal society bring them down but instead became stronger so that the future generations of women are able to vote and have a voice that will be heard.

Such an important message, especially today, when it feels that if you have little means everything is done to deter you from voting.
This graphic novel is very beautifully illustrated, it picks compelling characters from history that fought for today's equal right to vote for all, but the text was quite dry and I must admit to only reading it because I was interested in the subject.
I don't think as a teen I would have finished it. The dialogues are very on the nose and all very clearly written with the agenda to hammer in the point that voting is a right, but one we still have to fight for. While the historical characters picked were great, I think the stories could have been more emotionally involving.
So in the end I'm left very divided. While I love the idea, I like the message, I really enjoyed the aesthetics, I was bored, and I believe some fiction books like "The Conductors", "What we Devour" and "Children of Blood and Bone", manage to pass the message of equality being something worth fighting for, and who has power should always be questioned and supervised, much better.

This was a really interesting read, especially since this topic is often glossed over in history classes.

What was disappointing was that this book directly references how the Women of Color working towards the Women's Vote are rarely talked about now. While also being excluded from suffrage groups and events during that time.
But then gives us only a sliver of information about these women.

The art was good, I was delighted in the variety of men's faces depicted aghast. Perfectly depicting men clutching their pearls in shock and disgust.

A lovely graphic novel about the suffrage movement of the United States and how important it is to be able to cast one's vote. The art style was beautiful and it was very colorful. I liked how it switched from modern times to the past figures who fought for the vote, as it was a way to show how the effects of the suffragist movement was able to affect Americans today. I also liked how it also focused on black women's suffrage movement, as in previous books I've read about the movement tend to ignore or gloss over it.

Would love to be able to read but can’t as no send to kindle option (my kindle is too basic for netgalley app)

5 stars

Written as an educational tool for classrooms to give a greater scope to the fight for female suffrage, Good Girls Don't Make History does a wonderful job of portraying the complexities of the American suffrage movement and does not shy away from displaying both its virtues and flaws.

Kiehner and Coyle structure the story through a series of vignettes in the present day that connect to various points in the almost century long journey from the Seneca Falls Convention in 1848 to the passage of the 19th Amendment in 1920. I consider myself to be fairly familiar with the suffrage movement after studying it extensively, but even I learned a great deal about the key players and events that led to women obtaining the right to vote.

The best part of this graphic novel, however, was the balanced way in which Kiehner and Coyle discuss history. They do not shy away from discussing some of the more uncomfortable truths of the movement, such as the fact that not all white suffragists wanted black women to obtain the vote. Even in the present day sections, characters bring up the fact that female minorities had to continue fighting for their rights to be heard. It offers both the characters and readers an opportunity to think about how they plan to continue the fight!

Thank you to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group - Wide Eyed Editions for an ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review!

Thank you to netgalley and Quarto Publishing Group – Wide Eyed Editions for the arc.

Good girls don’t me history is a great graphic novel depicting and teaching the history of the Suffragette movement in the US.

Throughout the novel we go back and forward in time, both to see the Suffragette movement as well as the Morden-day movement. The focus is more on white feminism and white women’s right to vote, but we see the authors reminding us, that black women has to overcome not only sexism but also racism to be able to vote. Therefore teaching us that the movement wasn’t perfect. Even tough we’ve come so far the parts that include the women’s movement today, reminds me of how far we still have to go, and how grateful we should be for the women that came before us.
I absolutely loved the art style in this. So much attention to detail.

This graphic novel should be a stable in every single american school and in every single class. As a european I learned a lot from reading this novel, and really do believe that a lot of americans as well as others still need to learn about the history if the Suffragette movement. And this book is the perfect way to do that


I have posted my review on goodreads as well

This graphic novel toggles between today and historical events to ensure women's rights. It's an interesting perspective to understand what came before to allow the freedoms we have today. The format in a graphic novel makes it easy to absorb and understand. Overall, I thought it was a compelling narrative and important history to learn about the Women’s Suffrage Movement.

Thank you NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group - Wide Eyed Editions for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Arc provided by NetGalley.
Really moving graphic novel of women’s suffrage in the United States—also with a focus on Black and Indigenous women’s stories. The art is truly stunning, and I cried a few times actually. It’s wonderfully done, flashing between modern day discussions and the historic fight it took to get there. And I learned a fair few things too, which is what it’s all for really. Recommend!

Good Girls Don't Make History is a great graphic novel teaching the history of the Suffragette movement. The book connects the movement's beginnings to the modern-day women's movement and its expansion into different women's rights. While the historical sections of the book does go over the intersectionality of suffrage and abolition, it primarily focuses on White Feminism. However, the author continually reminds the reader that not all women received the right to vote with the passage of the 19th Amendment and has several sections on the Black Women's Suffrage Movement. The author also does not shy away from writing about how Women of Color were purposely excluded from Women's Suffrage. I would have enjoyed the novel even more if the author included more information on how Women of Color got the right to vote instead of stopping the historical section after the ratification of the 19th Amendment.

I also really like how the novel focused on why modern-day political activism is so important and how equal rights are still being fought for today. I do wish the author had included more on the Equal Rights Amendment and the expansion of Feminism.

I rate the book four stars. I had a great time reading it!

There is a line in a song from the musical Hamilton by Lin-Manuel Miranda, which states ”We hold these truths to be self-evident. That all men are created equal and when I meet Thomas Jefferson I’mma compel him to include women in the sequel” If this line resonates with you (as it definitely did with me) then Good Girls Don’t Make History is the book you need to dive straight into.

This vivid graphic novel slides a metaphorical magnifying glass on the women in history that helped lead the charge for suffrage in America, and also the divisions within that fight due to racial inequality. Using women in modern day voting queues to launch the historical elements is a clever way to approach the subject, especially as some of these women are either only highlighted as footnotes in school teaching or sadly ignored all together. I may not be American, but I’m a feminist who is interested in politics, and it was fascinating learning about pioneers that I knew nothing about.

The image used on the cover is very striking and will definitely grab readers attentions. It certainly drew me into requesting this review copy.

I adored this! I loved the mix of history and contemporary stories. It really showed both how important it is to remember our history and the ones who came before us as well as the importance of still fighting to make a difference in the world. The illustrations are beautiful and support the story wonderfully. 10/10 would recommend!

I received a free eARC from the author/publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Good Girls Don't Make History is a graphic novel tracing the movement for equality and women's rights in the US from 1840 to the present day. It's told in two timelines: one at a modern polling booth, and a chronological journey through key moments in the suffrage movement.

I loved the illustrations in this graphic novel. It's all colour, and the style is sort of like watercolours. They're absolutely stunning.

I thought the content was well researched and presented. I think that it's easy to read, and would make an excellent first foray into the history of women's suffrage in the United States. While it does include a few moments with Black leaders of the movement, such as Sojourner Truth and Ida B. Wells, and it does make it clear that white women didn't want to include them, I felt like it was mostly focused on the various groups led by white women. As an Australian, I don't know enough about the women's suffrage movement in America to say whether this reflects the historical realities.

Still, this was an informative and entertaining read. I'd recommend it to people who are interested in the history of women's suffrage, particularly in the US; to those interested in feminism and civil rights movements; and general lovers of history. I think readers who enjoy non-fiction graphic novels would also enjoy this. It has similar subject matter to Amazons, Abolitionists, and Activists: A Graphic History of Women's Fight For Their Rights by Mikki Kendall, illustrated by A. D'Amico, so fans of that might also enjoy this.

"I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."
The graphic novel was beautiful and really well put together. I loved how it included present day and moved to how history led to that moment. It was interesting and informative.

That was an informative comic, though I got an impression that it might be aimed for a younger audience? Which is great because it's an important topic that ones never too young to learn about.

It felt a little choppy and I was a bit disappointed to find out it focuses only on the US, but that's my fault for not reading the synopsis and being lured in by the title alone. It does its best to be inclusive, mentioning not only white suffragettes but also underlining different struggles faced my Black and Native women.

My only regret is that it doesn't mention trans women. I don't know the US suffrage history that well and it's possible that the elitist white, rich white women circle was purely that but I feel that there MUST have been some trans or queer women involved. It would have been a powerful statement and especially with the recent spike in TERF-ism I feel that it was a glaring omission.

All in all, not the best graphic novel I've ever read but a decent introduction to the fight of the US women for their voting rights.

This is a brilliant and concise graphic novel exploring the suffrage movement in America. The art I'd stunning and the way the story flashes between modern voters and the road it took to get there was very compelling.

I received an advance copy of, Good Girls Don't Make History, by Elizabeth Kiehner and Kara Coyle. This is an amazing story on the history of women. Women who fight for the right to vote, amongst other things, thrown in jail and sometimes beaten. We owe alot to these women.