SPECTACULAR SISTERS

A collection of profiles of sisters who have influenced culture, inspired change, and made history.

Choosing subjects connected by the bond of sisterhood, Lewis offers an overview of the lives of some of the most influential and famous women in history whose lives span continents and centuries. From tennis champions Venus and Serena Williams and the Azmi sisters, Pakistani Canadian field hockey players, to politician Kamala Harris and her civil rights lawyer sister, Maya, readers are introduced to women who have established names for themselves in their respective fields. Alongside towering literary, artistic, and political figures, readers will find the Kardashians and Kate and Pippa Middleton. The author is keen to note the humanity in the women’s interpersonal relationships by sharing instances of sibling rivalry, jealousy, and discord as well as the moments that celebrate the firm bonds of sisterhood. The very brief nature of each profile—consisting of a title page, an attractive full-page portrait, and two scant pages of text offering cursory information—means that the book reads like a series of Wikipedia entries. Indeed, the author drew heavily upon secondary sources such as general news websites for material. Although the profiles are not in-depth enough to serve as material for school reports, the work may inspire appreciation and further interest.

A surface-level salute to sisterhood.