Finish the Fight, written by Veronica Chambers and the staff of the New York Times, published by Versify/Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, is an Honor Book in the Books for Older Children Category.

Finish the Fight opens with eight trading card images of widely known suffragists, all of whom are white. A page turn reveals a multitude of similar images featuring lesser-known suffragists, who are primarily Black and brown women. This visual hook leads into well-documented content, with eleven biographies of fierce women, all introduced with vivid portraits, followed by text woven with symbolic flowers, plants, and primary source photos. The authors note that “Women staged one of the longest social reform movements in the history of the United States. This is not a boring history of nagging spinsters; it is a badass history of revolution staged by political geniuses.” This crucial makeover to the narrative of the suffrage movement, which disrupts the historical record to equalize the work of powerful Black, Latinx, Native American, Chinese, and Queer women, invites readers to reflect on a new and broader perspective.

Author: Veronica Chambers and the staff of the New York Times
Award: 2021 Honor Book for Older Children

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