Wheels of Change

Wheels of Change: How Women Rode the Bicycle to Freedom (With a Few Flat Tires Along the Way)

by Sue Macy

Synopsis:


Who knew that a history of bicycles would be so entertaining?

When they first came out, bicycles changed:

A. The Medical Field

B. Transportation 

C. Fashion

D. The Advertising Industry
E. Entertainment
F. Women’s Rights
G. And tons of other aspects of society...

When the bicycle craze first began (in the 1980s!), doctors began attributing all sorts of new illnesses to “the riding of the bicycle:”

Quick Quiz--Define each of the following (answers on pg 41):

Bicycle Eye
Bicycle Face
Bicycle Fright
Bicycle Hands
Bicycle Heart
Bicycle Wrists

Think this is way off base?  The other day, I was listening to a radio show where the djs were talking about a new phenomenon called “Smartphone Face.”  

http://theweek.com/article/index/228103/smartphone-face-is-your-cell-phone-making-your-face-sag

So, what will people be thinking of us 100 years in the future??

This is a really entertaining and totally relatable read.  When I was younger, my family lived in the country, so other than riding our bikes, my brothers and I really had no way to get anywhere.  So, I could relate a lot to the idea of bicycles giving people freedom!  I learned a lot while reading this book (for example, one young biker rode 5 centuries--500 miles--in 58 hours) and really enjoyed all of the pictures and photographs that are on EVERY SINGLE PAGE of this book.


Genres & Keywords:
Nonfiction, Quick Reads, Women's Rights


Reviewed By:
Ms. Gietzel