EDU 524 YAL: YA Award Winner Review, Torri

Torri "TLC"

From growing up in mud to being call a “muckraker” by Theodore Roosevelt, Ms. Ida M. Tarbell was one of the first and admired investigative journalists of the 19^th century. Tarbell was born in 1857 and grew up during the time of the Industrial Revolution and witness Rockefeller monopolize the country with his Standard Oil Company. Being naturally curious and vowing never to marry, Ida excel in college and honed her talents in writing. Despite her shy demeanor and self-consciousness, became a part of one of the leading magazines in the country that brought the scandalous behaviors of big businesses to the common man. Tarbell praised for her contributions in journalism as well as her work ethic well after her death in 1944.

Author, Emily McCully, truly dove into the private and professional life of this shy yet head strong and courageous woman. McCully was able to peel back this layers of this unique and interesting woman. From exposing Rockefeller of his illegal corporate businesses to interviewing Mussolini, Ida was in a world that was dominated by men and she stood above them all. A woman who did not fancy herself with “woman’s work” of keeping house and showing much emotion, for some time opposed the Suffrage Movement. Tarbell believed that women did need to vote and should remain home and build up the family unit. McCully allowed readers to not only appreciate Tarbell for her accomplishments, sympathize with her during ridicule, but she also let you in vision the life and career of a woman who defeated the odds despite the threats and taunts of the men of “big businesses”. Investigative journalists, both men and women, who know of the efforts and determination of Ida M. Tarbell are thankful that she paved the way during a when woman had little to no voice.

http://www.teenreads.com/reviews/ida-m-tarbell-the-woman-who-challenged-big-business-and-won

http://www.biography.com/people/ida-tarbell-9502126
http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-woman-who-took-on-the-tycoon-651396/?no-ist