Work Left Undone: Choices and Compromises of Talented Females.

Reis, Sally M. (1998). Work Left Undone: Choices and Compromises of Talented Females. PO Box 320, Mansfield Center, Conn.: Creative Learning Press (427pp., $19.95 paper, ISBN: 0-936386-76-2).

Drawing on 20 years as a teacher and researcher in the area of gifted and talented females, Sally Reis has provided a volume that admirably meets her intent to describe the current network of choices and options facing gifted and talented girls and women today, the influence these personal choices and decisions have on their development and use of their talents, and does so within a life span perspective.

Divided into three sections, the volume offers a comprehensive discussion of the issues and barriers both internal and external faced by this group, then through a section of illustrative case studies indicating the spectrum of realities regarding these issues and ranging from elementary school to old age, addresses concerns of specific populations such as culturally diverse or low socioeconomic groups, females in math and science, female artists, those in conventional female careers. This section concludes with a most enlightening chapter on older women who had achieved eminence. Reis emphasizes that relationships are most central to a female, but that creative productivity, defined in a multitude of ways, is necessary for fulfillment in this gifted and talented group and must be planned for early on.

The last section offers a compendium of recommendations to facilitate the development of this group, emphasizing the personal qualities that need reinforcing for the realization of their aspirations and potential. Specific strategies are outlined particularly to encourage gifted females' continuance in math and science in school years in order to keep career options open in today's changing society. The recommendations are addressed to each relevant population individually - the girls themselves, parents, teachers, counselors - and would also be fruitfully read by school, government and business administrators. The section concludes with an excellent up to date annotated resource list covering programs, projects and curricular materials organized by topics and target groups.

The book offers a current review of relevant literature, theory and research while referring back to the "classics" such as Callahan, Gilligan, and Noble. Reis points out the need to reassess research agendas indicating important further directions such as the relationship between personality development and accomplishment, highlights potential research problems, and calls for vigilant action based on research findings. Incorporating her personal and collaborative efforts, it makes the progressive refinement and specificity of '90s research as informed by the earlier work evident. Her recommendations are timely given societal/demographic facts such as increases in care giving needs with extended longevity and reinforce the trend to flexibility in the work place for valued gifted females without impeding career progress.

The fair amount of redundancy in the book may prove disconcerting to the more sophisticated in the field but might truly reinforce its practicality for others. Reis has liberally laced her easily readable book with well chosen quotes and illustrative anecdotes.

We can look forward with anticipation to her forthcoming volume on eminent older women.

Reviewed by Mickey Soudack Angela researcher in the Faculty of Education at Simon Fraser University and a former Canadian delegate to the World Council/or Gifted and Talented Children.