Determined to be Extraordinary was published in 2024, primarily due to the hard work of editor Dawn Heimer, who collected and edited the stories of twenty-seven women working in STEM. I am proud to say that I am featured in one of the chapters.
Another update! In November 2024 the book was recognized as a Finalist in the International Authors Network (IAN) Book of the Year Awards in the category of Non-Fiction: Young Adult/Teen. Congratulations once again to Dawn, our editor. Why this matters: IAN is a respected organization dedicated to supporting authors and promoting literary excellence across genres. Its annual Book of the Year Awards are a globally recognized program that celebrates outstanding works of fiction and non-fiction. Judged by a panel of experienced writers, editors, and literary professionals, the awards highlight books that showcase originality, impact, and storytelling excellence. Earning recognition from IAN signifies that a book has made a meaningful contribution to the literary landscape and resonates with readers on a profound level.
Update: In October 2024 the book won the Silver Medal in the Non-Fiction Chapter Book category of the Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards!
in September 2024 the book won the 2024 NYC Big Book Award in the Juvenile Nonfiction category.
In August 2024, the book was a winner in the International Impact Awards in the Memoir Category.
In July 2024, The Tribune, published a great article about the book and about one of my 26 co-featured women, Eva Suarthana of McGill University.
Here is an August 2024 review of the book by Susan Bethany of the Midwest Book Review:
Susan Bethany’s Bookshelf
Determined to be Extraordinary
Dawn Heimer
Bradway Publishing
9798218275419, $34.99, HC, 128pp
Synopsis: Representation matters. Cultural stereotypes can discourage girls from considering STEM fields as viable career paths. Seeing successful women in STEM fields can inspire and motivate young girls to pursue STEM careers. When they see someone who looks like them achieving greatness, it reinforces the belief that they can do it too. ‘Determined to be Extraordinary’ isn’t just a book – it’s an invitation. An invitation to be inspired, to dream bigger, and to stand shoulder to shoulder with the phenomenal women shaping our future.
You will find that “Determined to be Extraordinary” quickly showcases the value, relevance, and importance of the book and how it can significantly benefit a child’s outlook on STEM. If you want to ignite the spark of scientific wonder in the next generation of female innovators, then “Determined to be Extraordinary” is essential for you to achieve your personal and professional goals.
Critique: Nicely illustrated with color photographs of the women presented, this large format (8.25 x 0.49 x 11 inches, 13.6 ounces) paperback edition of “Determined to be Extraordinary: Spectacular Stories of Modern Women in STEM” from Bradway Publishing and compiled/edited by Dawn Heimer is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, high school, and college/university library Women in Science biography collections. It should be noted that “Determined to be Extraordinary” is also readily available in a paperback edition (9798218275426, $24.99).
Editorial Note: Dawn Heimer (https://dawnheimer.com) pursued academic and industry sponsored research for over 30 years. She obtained her Ph.D. in Biobehavioral Sciences and Behavioral Genetics from the University of Connecticut, where she conducted family studies in dyslexia and befriended multiple generations of affected family members. She also conducted and published scientific research on gender differences in learning and memory in small animals and held clinical research posts at several top pharmaceutical and medical device companies. The concept for this book project developed over several years of introspection into her role models, exposure to multiple amazing women over her career, and noticing a gap in the young adult literature of stories on living (not dead), female, STEM role models. She is also a Leadership Coach and an accomplished abstract photographer.
Susan Bethany
Reviewer
Midwest Book Review
Reviewer’s Bookwatch
Volume 24, Number 8
August 2024