An important book that addresses the missing components of most sex-ed programs.
A teen sex-education guide that emphasizes consent.
An author for teens and middle graders as well as a sex-education lecturer on college campuses, Freitas shapes what she’s learned from the students she works with to guide teens on their own paths as sexual beings. A lengthy, philosophical opening may lose some readers, but it starts teens thinking critically about their “relational ethic” in regard to friendships. The author then expands this framework to a “sexual ethic.” Her candid, conversational style is inclusive, recognizing both that relationships aren’t a one-size-fits-all heterosexual construct and the intersections that race, religion, and other identities add to the discussions. To create a sexual ethic, Freitas encourages teens to consider such topics as their own sexual identity, societal norms and stereotypes, and their presence on social media. These contemplations, in turn, build upon one another, culminating in a look at the nuanced nature of consent (rather than a simple yes-or-no response), how it can end sexual violence, and its relation to desire and love. Each section concludes with several questions that prompt self-reflection and journaling. The author avoids shaming readers, instead both acknowledging how some religions constrict sexual freedom and encouraging respect for personal religious choices. At odds throughout, however, are middle-grade and YA authors’ advice to their 12-year-old selves and an authorial tone more suited to complex, mature issues like vulnerability and the hookup culture of college campuses.
An important book that addresses the missing components of most sex-ed programs. (further reading, bibliography) (Nonfiction. 12-18)Pub Date: Sept. 15, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-64614-018-3
Page Count: 320
Publisher: Levine Querido
Review Posted Online: May 16, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2020
Small but mighty necessary reading.
A miniature manifesto for radical queer acceptance that weaves together the personal and political.
Eli, a cis gay white Jewish man, uses his own identities and experiences to frame and acknowledge his perspective. In the prologue, Eli compares the global Jewish community to the global queer community, noting, “We don’t always get it right, but the importance of showing up for other Jews has been carved into the DNA of what it means to be Jewish. It is my dream that queer people develop the same ideology—what I like to call a Global Queer Conscience.” He details his own isolating experiences as a queer adolescent in an Orthodox Jewish community and reflects on how he and so many others would have benefitted from a robust and supportive queer community. The rest of the book outlines 10 principles based on the belief that an expectation of mutual care and concern across various other dimensions of identity can be integrated into queer community values. Eli’s prose is clear, straightforward, and powerful. While he makes some choices that may be divisive—for example, using the initialism LGBTQIAA+ which includes “ally”—he always makes clear those are his personal choices and that the language is ever evolving.
Small but mighty necessary reading. (resources) (Nonfiction. 14-18)Pub Date: June 2, 2020
ISBN: 978-0-593-09368-9
Page Count: 64
Publisher: Penguin Workshop
Review Posted Online: March 28, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2020
Brief yet inspirational, this story will galvanize youth to use their voices for change.
Testa’s connection to and respect for nature compelled her to begin championing animal causes at the age of 10, and this desire to have an impact later propelled her to dedicate her life to fighting plastic pollution. Starting with the history of plastic and how it’s produced, Testa acknowledges the benefits of plastics for humanity but also the many ways it harms our planet. Instead of relying on recycling—which is both insufficient and ineffective—she urges readers to follow two additional R’s: “refuse” and “raise awareness.” Readers are encouraged to do their part, starting with small things like refusing to use plastic straws and water bottles and eventually working up to using their voices to influence business and policy change. In the process, she highlights other youth advocates working toward the same cause. Short chapters include personal examples, such as observations of plastic pollution in Mauritius, her maternal grandparents’ birthplace. Testa makes her case not only against plastic pollution, but also for the work she’s done, resulting in something of a college-admissions–essay tone. Nevertheless, the first-person accounts paired with science will have an impact on readers. Unfortunately, no sources are cited and the lack of backmatter is a missed opportunity.
Brief yet inspirational, this story will galvanize youth to use their voices for change. (Nonfiction. 12-18)Pub Date: Oct. 13, 2020
ISBN: 978-0-593-22333-8
Page Count: 64
Publisher: Penguin Workshop
Review Posted Online: July 26, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2020
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