A well-written, science-based overview of wildfires.
In this concise narrative, Mooney uses statistics, news excerpts, and commentary from scientists and survivors to explore destructive wildfires, their consequences, and community responses.
Wildfires are on the increase worldwide. The author opens with coverage of recent record-setting destructive fires in California, Canada, and Greece, followed by four chapters: “What Are Wildfires?”, “Why Are Wildfires Increasing?”, “What Are the Consequences of More Frequent, Destructive Wildfires?”, and “How Are Communities Adapting?”. The punchy prose delivers intriguing information (“some pine cones only open and release their seeds when exposed to heat from a fire”) interspersed with attention-grabbing quotations, such as one from a survivor of the 2023 Lahaina fire on Maui: “It’s like a nuclear bomb went off here. There’s nothing left.” Mooney notes the interconnected factors contributing to the uptick in wildfires: Climate change is a major culprit, human activity often plays a role (for example, through accidents, arson, or encroaching on wilderness areas), and environmental factors, like invasive grasses and insects, also have an impact. Some strategies for adapting to this new reality include thoughtful planning and policies for preventing and slowing the spread of fires, effective forest management, and public education. Red borders, subheadings, and callout boxes along with ample photos complement this work on an exciting topic that will be helpful for reports.
A well-written, science-based overview of wildfires. (source notes, for further research, index, picture credits) (Nonfiction. 12-18)Pub Date: Feb. 1, 2026
ISBN: 9781678212568
Page Count: 64
Publisher: ReferencePoint Press
Review Posted Online: Dec. 23, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 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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