Women's History Book Earns Borough Girl Scout an Award

Christine Castorino wanted to do something "sustainable" to earn her Silver Award, the highest honor a Girl Scout Cadette can receive.

"I thought, 'What better way to make something sustainable than to publish a book?'" said Christine, 14 an eighth-grader at Haddonfield Middle School. "I wanted to do so much more than write a boring report on women. I wanted to make an impact on generations to come and for kids to actually learn something that would stick with them and that would be an easy to understand read."

Christine had perfect timing. Haddonfield is celebrating its 300th anniversary this year and her book notes prominent borough women from founder Elizabeth Haddon to Letitia "Tish" Colombi, the borough's first and only commissioner.

Christine said she has an appreciation for the women who came 300 years before her. Christine wrote about 14 women who contributed to Haddonfield, the country and the world.

Illustrations for the book were done by Jennifer Cossaboon, a 2008 graduate of Haddonfield Memorial High School. She created illustrations that capture the stories associated with each woman featured.

"I wrote it for seconnd- and third-graders," she said. "Heroines of Haddonfield can be the go to resource for everyone with an interest in contributions women made to our town."

The book has been available at the Book Swap, 134 Kings Highway East, Haddonfield.