So often when big events occur, a flurry of articles appears in the newspapers, and when the reader feels the need for more background information—more context—it’s too late; it’s old news. This is an important volume for students and adult, because it provides that context. After several months of headlines, on-the-spot reports, news specials, and human-interest stories, many readers will crave a work such as this. Exactly what is al Qaeda? What is Islam? Why does the Middle East matter to us? Who are the Taliban? Why did we go after Afghanistan? Who is Osama bin Laden? These are some of the questions answered in this clearly written, straightforward report by Frank, a reporter for Time magazine. It supplies solid information, maps, photographs, and many sidebars with statistics, further information, and historical context. One detail, unfortunately, trivializes the account of the terrorism efforts: “When the Taliban had taken power, they had searched for all the television sets in the country and smashed them. Now Afghan men dug up TVs and VCRs they had buried in their backyards. One Afghan popped in a hidden copy of Titanic and sat down to watch.” Clearly a Western perspective: fighting terrorism to make the world safe for the American movie industry. Otherwise, this report provides thorough information for a study of 9/11 or for looking up information on specific aspects of the story. (glossary, bibliography, index) (Nonfiction. 12+)
Pub Date: Aug. 1, 2002
ISBN: 0-670-03582-3
Page Count: 144
Publisher: Viking
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2002
BOOK REVIEW
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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