A useful introduction to a complex topic.
General principles of basic etiquette to use in a variety of settings.
Mooney occasionally furnishes specific scenarios or examples, but her main focus in this concise work is on offering broad principles for making good impressions and defusing potential conflicts in everyday exchanges. Her drift is therefore similar as she dispenses advice for readers to apply in daily social encounters, in digital settings, on the phone, while dining, at school and work, and while traveling. She advises readers that careful listening is key, and that any exchanges should make others feel comfortable, included, and heard. She wisely avoids too many specifics, acknowledging that cultural differences—as well as ones that pertain just to “one family, school, or group of friends”—dramatically influence what behavior is considered to be polite in any given scenario. Along with cautioning against common bad habits like talking with a mouthful of food or using a lit-up phone in a dark theater, for example, she cannily urges checking texts for tone before sending and never posting any personal content that would be inappropriate if delivered face to face or widely shared online. Text boxes cover related topics, including “The Art of the Apology,” “Peer Pressure,” “Business Attire vs. Business Casual,” and “Body Language.” The clear organization and accessible language make this a handy guide. A light selection of stock photos, mostly of smiling, racially diverse teens, support the upbeat approach.
A useful introduction to a complex topic. (glossary, source notes, bibliography, resources, index) (Nonfiction. 13-18)Pub Date: Jan. 5, 2027
ISBN: 9798348027445
Page Count: 64
Publisher: Twenty-First Century/Lerner
Review Posted Online: Oct. 12, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 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
Though not the most balanced, an enlightening look back for the queer future.
An adaptation for teens of the adult title A Queer History of the United States (2011).
Divided into thematic sections, the text filters LGBTQIA+ history through key figures in each era from the 1500s to the present. Alongside watershed moments like the 1969 Stonewall uprising and the HIV/AIDS crisis of the 1980s and 1990s, the text brings to light less well-known people, places, and events: the 1625 free love colony of Merrymount, transgender Civil War hero Albert D.J. Cashier, and the 1951 founding of the Mattachine Society, to name a few. Throughout, the author and adapter take care to use accurate pronouns and avoid imposing contemporary terminology onto historical figures. In some cases, they quote primary sources to speculate about same-sex relationships while also reminding readers of past cultural differences in expressing strong affection between friends. Black-and-white illustrations or photos augment each chapter. Though it lacks the teen appeal and personable, conversational style of Sarah Prager’s Queer, There, and Everywhere (2017), this textbook-level survey contains a surprising amount of depth. However, the mention of transgender movements and activism—in particular, contemporary issues—runs on the slim side. Whereas chapters are devoted to over 30 ethnically diverse gay, lesbian, bisexual, or queer figures, some trans pioneers such as Christine Jorgensen and Holly Woodlawn are reduced to short sidebars.
Though not the most balanced, an enlightening look back for the queer future. (glossary, photo credits, bibliography, index) (Nonfiction. 14-18)Pub Date: June 11, 2019
ISBN: 978-0-8070-5612-7
Page Count: 336
Publisher: Beacon Press
Review Posted Online: March 12, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2019
BOOK REVIEW
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