A thoughtful and worthy portrait of someone truly special.
A country music star’s life and success are recounted with satisfying depth.
Dolly Parton’s humble origins in a two-room Tennessee cabin in the Smoky Mountains with no electricity or running water were a surprising beginning for this global superstar. She was born in 1946 as the fourth of 12 children and her early years were characterized by minimal resources, but, as Parton says, they “were rich in things that money don’t buy…like love and kindness and understanding.” Bill Owens, her musician uncle who wrote songs for luminaries like Loretta Lynn, recognized an 8-year-old Parton’s vocal talents and nurtured her skills, which led to her appearance on a Knoxville radio and television show at age 10. Her career truly took off in 1967, when she appeared on The Porter Wagoner Show and was signed by RCA Records. Parton’s career as a performer and songwriter has been marked by dogged determination and relentless work. Mooney packs a lot of material into her concise biography, covering Parton’s film, television, business, and philanthropic accomplishments in addition to her myriad musical achievements, making this a robust account of a worthy subject. Details about Parton’s integrity, self-assertiveness, and ongoing creative risks will particularly appeal to teen readers, highlighting her bold, admirable departures from expectations. The accessibly written text, ample photographs, and black-and-gold page designs add to the work’s appeal.
A thoughtful and worthy portrait of someone truly special. (glossary, source notes, bibliography, further information, index) (Nonfiction. 12-18)Pub Date: Aug. 1, 2026
ISBN: 9798348043681
Page Count: 80
Publisher: Twenty-First Century/Lerner
Review Posted Online: July 6, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2026
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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