A trio of tenacious heroines to celebrate Women's History Month
When I hear inspiring stories about women who achieve extraordinary goals in harrowing circumstances, I wonder what mindset allows them to do this. How do these women dare to risk everything to achieve their goals? The answer lies in large part in what we call “determination.”
Successful women know that to get anything accomplished, one needs motivation. But motivation is not the same thing as determination, though the terms are sometimes used interchangeably. Personal motivation is simply the drive or desire to accomplish something, and it can come from either intrinsic sources like one’s personal values or interests, or from external factors like financial reward or recognition. Simply put, motivation is the necessary fuel for setting goals and igniting action. It provides us with the initial push to get started. However, determination is the critical key to finishing.
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Excitement at the beginning of a new endeavor or project can quickly wane as we encounter real problems or setbacks. Determination is what keeps us going. It is the stubbornness and resolve we draw from to overcome any adversity when we feel like we have nothing more to give. Current research suggests that determination is not a personality trait but rather a conscious decision one makes to keep going. It is an internal drive that empowers us to do not only those things we never thought possible but also to pick ourselves back up after we fail. Determination is a source of renewable energy, a kind of perseverance that is not influenced by the negative opinions of others, personal insecurities or rewards.
The three fabulous works of historical fiction below inspire us with tales of determined women in the hardest of times.
'The Gilded Years'
"The Gilded Years," by Karin Tanabe, is set during the Gilded Age and is based on the true story of Anita Hemmings, the first African American woman to attend Vassar College. The catch? Believing she was white because of her exceptionally light skin, Vassar accepted this talented, beautiful girl, descended from slaves. By her senior year in 1897, she had already managed to privately straddle two very separate worlds at a great emotional cost. But in her final year, she is invited to room with Louise Taylor, the scion of one of New York’s most prominent families. Although Anita has largely kept her distance from her classmates, she is now pulled into Louise’s elite world of great money and even greater prejudice . But with graduation just around the corner, will everything be lost as those closest to her threaten to expose her secret?
Why read it? This powerful and emotionally compelling story of dreams, sacrifice and betrayal blends history, race and class into a richly told story of a woman determined to risk everything for an education and a better life.
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'Code Name Sapphire'
"Code Name Sapphire," by Pam Jenoff, is based on the remarkable true story of a mission designed to liberate prisoners from a train headed to Auschwitz during World War II. In 1942, Hannah Martel, a political cartoonist, narrowly escapes Nazi Germany after her fiancé is killed in a pogrom. When her ship bound for America is turned away at port, she has no option but to seek shelter with her cousin Lily in Brussels. Lily, the wife of a doctor, does not yet appreciate the immediacy of the threat the Nazis pose, but Hannah fears for her life. Hannah joins the resistance in hopes that they will aid her escape in exchange for working with the Sapphire Line, an organization that guides downed Allied airmen out of Europe. But when a grave mistake causes Lily’s entire family to be jailed and slated for deportation to Auschwitz, Hannah must decide how far she will go and how much she will risk to save her beloved cousin.
Why read it? While there are many World War II novels to choose from, this heart-pounding, riveting and inspiring tale of determined women vividly reimagines a little-known mission specifically designed to liberate Jews from a train en route to certain death at Auschwitz.
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'The Last Lifeboat'
"The Last Life Boat," by Hazel Gaynor, due for release in June, is inspired by the incredible true story of a young teacher who evacuates young children from London across perilous waters during World War II. Alice King, who prefers adventure found in books, is determined nonetheless to do her part as bombing raids over London threaten the lives of the city's children. Lily Nichols, the widowed mother of two lively youngsters, can no longer protect her children from dangerous nightly bombings and agrees to a government evacuation program sending kids via sea to safe ports. When a Nazi U-boat torpedoes the S.S. Carlisle carrying a shipload of 90 children to Canada, only a single lifeboat is left adrift. Will Alice King be able to save Lily’s children in these harrowing times?
Why read it? This immersive, pulse-pounding and emotionally searing tale of wartime tragedy should not be missed. It vividly captures the danger, desperation and fight for survival during the 1940 sinking of the S.S. City of Benares.
Book Smart is a monthly column by Nancy Harris, of Scituate, a practicing psychologist and a former instructor of psychology at Harvard Medical School.
This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Clinical psychologist picks 3 new books to show female tenacity
