Ida Scudder: Missionary Doctor – Book Review/Giveaway

Unless they live in India, most children today have not heard of Ida Scudder, the American missionary doctor to India. Perhaps this book review (and giveaway!) will entice you to introduce this amazing woman to your children.

The Author: Terri B. Kelly

Terri B. Kelly taught elementary school students for twenty-eight years. Now, she writes for them.

Kelly’s first book, published by JourneyForth, was also a biography, Mary Slessor: Missionary Mother. Mary Slessor was a missionary to Nigeria, in the late 1800s. It is for readers ages 9-13.

As a writer, Kelly has contributed to several books, including Divine Moments, Faith and Family and Spirit and Heart. Terri has published articles in Kids’ Ark Magazine, Clubhouse, WHOA Magazine, Asheville Lifestyles, and numerous online publications. She is a teacher at writing conferences and assistant director of Asheville Christian Writers Conference in Asheville, North Carolina.

Kelly and her husband live in North Carolina. They have two children.

In addition to her website, you can connect with Kelly via her Facebook page.

The Contents of Ida Scudder: Missionary Doctor

There are 30, short, easy-to-read chapters in this biography. Even though the target audience is for ages 9 – 12, older readers and adults will enjoy it as well.

Approximately, ten pencil-sketched illustrations grace the pages. The illustrator, Guy Porfirio, did an excellent job illustrating the styles and culture of the late 1800’s – early 1900’s.

After the epilogue, there’s a page containing definitions of a few terms with which children may not be familiar.

The book is written with a Christian worldview. The scriptures quoted in the book are from the King James Version of the Bible.

You can take a sneak peek inside the book at the website of JourneyForth Books.

The author grabs readers’ attention on the first page with the pranks of Ida Scudder as a boarding student. Kelly continues to hold the readers’ interest throughout the book by moving the story along quickly and using engaging dialogue.

Who Was Ida Scudder?

Born into an American family of medical missionaries, Ida had no intention of following their vocational footsteps. She spent her childhood in India and had seen the devastation there before she moved to the boarding school in America. She had no desire to return to India where her parents were still serving.

However, certain events transpire causing her to rush back to India to assist her missionary parents for a few years.

During that time, God burdened Ida’s heart for the people of India, especially the women.

There’s an amazing story about how three different times in one night, Ida was called upon to come help three women who were dying during childbirth. She explained to their husbands that she was not a doctor. Her father was the doctor and he could go. The custom was no man was to look upon another’s man’s wife—for any reason. The wives were hidden within their homes. And that’s where those three wives died because a male doctor was not allowed to come save them.   

This terrible experience was a pivoting point for Ida. She accepted God’s call to become a medical missionary. She went back to America for training. Ida Scudder was one of the first female graduates of Cornell Medical and one of the first females to be licensed in America.

The book takes readers through Ida’s adventures, her joys, and her sorrows. We see how God broke new ground working in Ida’s life. Ida went back to India and started a clinic, a hospital, and a medical school for training women.

My Thoughts

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Ida Scudder: Missionary Doctor. It was educational, entertaining, and encouraging.

Since it is a nonfiction biography, I wish there was a bibliography. It would be nice for students to have for further research and related activities.

Nonetheless, I highly recommend this book for ages nine and older. Also, it could be read to younger students. However, to note, there is mention of a child abduction and sacrifice. This true story sets the tone for Ida Scudder’s environment in India. There are no graphic details, but some younger children may be sensitive to the subject matter.

Overall, readers hear lessons of courage and faith. They learn how obedience to God may not be an easy path, but if He calls, He will enable.

This style of book reminds me of the well-written YWAM books by Janet and Geoff Benge. The difference in Terri Kelly’s book, Ida Scudder, is it has illustrations! Visual learners, of all ages, love illustrations.

Giveaway Details

Who would like to win a copy of this wonderful book? We’ll draw a name from this blog’s email subscriber list on November 22, 2021.

If you’d like your name placed in the drawing a second time, just leave a comment below. We’ll announce the winner here, and on my Facebook page.

This book will make a delightful gift for a child. If you win, I will pay all shipping costs. We should have plenty of time to get it to you before Christmas!

(The giveaway is for contiguous U.S. residents only.)

CONGRATULATIONS to “TeddyBearGirl” of Oregon! Your name was drawn from this blog’s email subscriber list as the winner of IDA SCUDDER: MISSIONARY DOCTOR. I’ll email you to find out where I should mail your book. Yay!!!

I received a FREE copy of this product in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC Regulations.

A freelance writer, Sally Matheny’s writing is published in worldwide, national, regional, online and print publications including Appleseeds, Clubhouse Jr., Homeschooling Today, and The Old Schoolhouse.

As a writer, blogger, and speaker, Sally encourages parents to live victorious and to courageously tell the next generation wondrous things. Connect with her on several social media sites, but her favorite hangouts are at SallyMatheny.com and Pinterest.