by the Staff Collective of the Immigrant Women's Centre

This book is a very important resource for women. It includes a lot of essential information on reproduction, abortion, infections, cancer prevention and a section on how to take care of yourself, called Well Being. The writers, who were staff at the Immigrant Women's Centre, come across as being deeply caring and wanting to protect women from harmful situations. They know that passing on information is a way to do this so that women can be their own best advocates.

One thing I appreciated about the book is that it gives a range of treatments for every health concern. Treatments are "what doctors usually prescribe" and the writers take care to include possible side-effects of such treatments. Alternative treatments might involve the use of herbs or vitamins, or remembering remedies "mothers and grandmothers used." This book is never patronizing. It never suggests that the doctor is always right. It goes a long way in reminding women of their own abilities in ways of healing.

The problem with the book is that it is hard to read. There is a lot of information packed into 40 pages. The diagrams are helpful, but try to show too much at once. Long, medical words are explained in brackets, or in the glossary in the back, but they are still very difficult for a beginner reader. Many women would find it hard even finding the section that concerns them. But this book should still be in libraries in literacy programs, as a source book for future publications on women's health.

A review by Vivian Stollmeyer, Toronto, Ontario