A fair and comprehensive biography of a world religious leader.
An overview of the life and career of the man born Robert Francis Prevost in Chicago in 1955, who became Leo XIV, the first American to lead the Roman Catholic Church.
Unfolding across five chapters, the text first explores Prevost’s early life as a child who “wanted to play priest” and chose to attend junior seminary after eighth grade. This dedication to rigorous study marked the beginning of his path to priesthood. What followed was a meteoric rise within the global Catholic community and as a result of these successes, including many years serving the church in Peru, his nomination to the papacy in 2025. The text strikes a balance between attempting to humanize Prevost and presenting the Vatican’s pontiff; anecdotes injected with humor contrast, sometimes jarringly, with stories of his virtuous achievements and his great intelligence. Steffens addresses criticisms of Leo’s ideological approach; however, some complex scenarios surrounding Prevost’s handling of sexual assault accusations toward clergy are condensed, to the detriment of nuanced treatment of the subject, and the resolution of these sections feels lukewarm. Discussions of Leo’s stance on contemporary issues, such as AI and environmental concerns, ground the text. Quotes from Prevost’s classmates and peers appear throughout, adding fresh perspectives. Religious terminology is sometimes defined in the text, and frequent photographs complement or expand upon the information provided in the text.
A fair and comprehensive biography of a world religious leader. (timeline, source notes, for further research, index, picture credits) (Nonfiction. 12-18)Pub Date: Feb. 1, 2026
ISBN: 9781678212582
Page Count: 64
Publisher: ReferencePoint Press
Review Posted Online: Jan. 19, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2026
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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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