This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Review Exchange Program, which is open to all authors and is completely free. Simply put, you agree to provide an honest review an author's book in exchange for the author doing the same for you. What sites your reviews are posted on (B&N, Amazon, etc.) and whether you send digital (eBook, PDF, Word, etc.) or hard copies of your books to each other for review is up to you. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email, and be sure to describe your book or include a link to your Readers' Favorite review page or Amazon page.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.
Reviewed by Jamie Michele for Readers' Favorite
In Dream On!, Dr. Ezella McPherson speaks on the influence of early exposure to science and math and the involvement of African American girls in K–12 STEM fields. She evaluates the importance of hands-on projects and teacher training in shaping positive STEM identities, leading to success in middle school. Dr. McPherson honestly approaches the obstacles faced by African American women in college-level science, emphasizing the significance of making the hidden curriculum visible. Social capital, including support networks from family, peers, and teachers, plays a crucial role in persistence in STEM. The phenomenon of cooling out in STEM majors is explored, revealing the need for tailored teaching methods, inclusive environments, and early identity cultivation. Dr. McPherson's findings stress the importance of collective efforts to ensure equitable opportunities for African American women in STEM majors.
As a parent to young women of color, I was immediately drawn to Dream On! by Dr. Ezella McPherson. People are often shocked to hear that my husband is a mentor in the Algorithm Olympics—literally, a Mathlete—and I doubt if he were not a person of color, this would be the response. This is compounded for my girls, which Dr. McPherson addresses wonderfully by pointing out the intersectionality of race and gender and by providing a true understanding of the challenges Black women face, going beyond a singular focus on gender. The standout section for me was on "cooling out," a sociological concept referring to a process in higher education where students of color are subtly discouraged from pursuing their original educational aspirations. This book clearly articulates its contribution to the existing body of knowledge, emphasizing the unique application of the cooling-out framework to a four-year college setting and focusing specifically on African American women in STEM. This is a complex subject but Dr. McPherson makes it accessible with a writing style that is clear and concise, authoritative, and straight to the point. Overall, this is an important body of work and very, very highly recommended.
