New York – Versify, an imprint of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Books & Media (HMH Books & Media), has acquired a middle grade nonfiction book by Veronica Chambers and the staff of The New York Times that presents biographies of the diverse women who fought for women’s suffrage, but whose roles in this historic movement have been less recognized and celebrated.
Finish the Fight! The Brave and Revolutionary Women Who Fought for the Right to Vote will be published on August 18, 2020, the hundredth anniversary of the ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment, in conjunction with extensive print and digital coverage of the centennial of the Nineteenth Amendment by The New York Times.
Spearheaded by Veronica Chambers, senior editor, Special Projects, and featuring contributions from numerous New York Times writers, including Overlooked editor Amisha Padnani and culture writer Jennifer Schuessler, Finish the Fight! will center on the often-overlooked women from marginalized backgrounds who worked to secure voting rights for women. Those chronicled include Yankton Sioux writer and advocate Zitkála-Šá; Mary Church Terrell, who cofounded the National Association of Colored Women (NACW); and Mabel Ping-Hua Lee, who, at sixteen years old, helped the New York City women’s movement lead one of the biggest suffrage parades in U.S. history.
Ten of the women featured will have a custom portrait created by an artist of a similar background.
“It took nearly three-quarters of a century from Seneca Falls to ratification for women to win the vote,” said Veronica Chambers. “So many movements and moments are interwoven into the suffrage story: from the abolitionist movement to temperance, from anti-lynching crusades to the labor movement and immigrant rights. It’s been exciting to work with a talented team of journalists, as well as an amazing group of illustrators, to tell this story to a younger audience and to kick off the larger scope of coverage The New York Times will devote to the hundredth anniversary of the Nineteenth Amendment.”
“This vibrant book will empower my daughters, our daughters, and ultimately each of us who cares about human rights,” said Kwame Alexander, founding editor of Versify. “Versify is proud to publish Finish the Fight! and celebrate the names and achievements of the little-known women who helped clinch ratification, and whose stories have yet to be told.”
Versify senior executive editor Margaret Raymo acquired North American rights from Kim Witherspoon of InkWell Management Literary Agency, who represented The New York Times.
About Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Books & Media For nearly two centuries, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt has published some of the world’s most renowned novels, nonfiction, children’s books, and reference works. As part of a leading global learning company, it is uniquely positioned to offer educational and entertaining content for all audiences. Its distinguished author list includes ten Nobel Prize winners, forty-eight Pulitzer Prize winners, fifteen National Book Award winners, and more than one hundred Caldecott, Newbery, Printz, and Sibert Medal and Honor recipients. Current and recent authors include Tim O’Brien, Natasha Trethewey, Paul Theroux, Alison Bechdel, Adam Hochschild, Tim Ferriss, and a celebrated roster of children’s authors and illustrators, including Kwame Alexander, Lois Lowry, and Chris Van Allsburg. HMH is also home to The Best American Series®, The Whole30®, Weber Grill, How to Cook Everything®, and other leading lifestyle properties; books by J.R.R. Tolkien; and many iconic children’s books and characters, including Curious George®, The Little Prince, and The Polar Express. HMH Productions develops and produces media and licensed products related to brands such as Carmen Sandiego and The Oregon Trail. HMH Audio publishes audiobooks of HMH frontlist and backlist titles.
The New York Times Company
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Tara Shanahan
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Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
(212) 598-5709