Editorial Review

Both Ross and Madison give basic information about their subjects, describing them as strong, brave, and good at their jobs-seamstress and hostess, respectively. As serviceable biographies, the titles have sufficient information for reports, and are lively enough for recreational reading. The illustrations are mainly colorful reproductions of artworks. These books give a good picture of the personal lives of these women-their hardships and frustrations, and how they faced serious problems, most of which were created by the tumultuous times in which they lived. Similar in scope and reading level, but a little more detailed, is Susan Martins Miller’s Betsy Ross: American Patriot (Chelsea, 2000). The same is true of Patricia Quiri’s Dolly Madison (Watts, 1993; o.p.), although it has the wrong date for one of the photos.