Young readers may be touched, inspired, or helped—or all three.
Twenty-six creative works by young people inspired by mental health struggles exacerbated by the pandemic.
In three sections, “World on Fire,” “…That Happened,” and “The Journey Continues,” 20 young people ages 10 to 21 who are Black, Indigenous, people of color, and/or disabled creatively convey their experiences of distress, loneliness, stamina, healing, and more. The works reflect on the isolation and widespread fears brought about by the simultaneous stresses of Covid-19, social unrest and racist attacks, and the stresses of reintegration into in-person schooling. They also record peers’ cruelty and adults’ obliviousness. Diaristic and poetic outpourings of emotion are followed by writers’ reflections on their lives and writing and punctuated by colorful text boxes with helpline information. Online experiences, good or bad, loom large, as do internal or external pressures and confusion about identity and the future. One writer justifies refusing Covid vaccination. A suicidal teen’s description of her experience is wrenching. A couple of writers identify as autistic. One contributor lives in Kolkata, India; reading her powerful account, one wishes for more global voices. Some writers’ activism is inspirational; others inspire simply by holding on, showing optimism and resilience. Some understand that even bad experiences can be sources of learning. There is vivid poetry and both black-and-white line and full-color art. A stronger editorial hand could have added clarity to some of the pieces.
Young readers may be touched, inspired, or helped—or all three. (contributor bios) (Anthology. 14-18)Pub Date: March 15, 2023
ISBN: 9781633040380
Page Count: 150
Publisher: MediaRites
Review Posted Online: Jan. 11, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2023
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
A powerful reminder of a history that is all too timely today.
A beautifully heart-wrenching graphic-novel adaptation of actor and activist Takei’s (Lions and Tigers and Bears, 2013, etc.) childhood experience of incarceration in a World War II camp for Japanese Americans.
Takei had not yet started school when he, his parents, and his younger siblings were forced to leave their home and report to the Santa Anita Racetrack for “processing and removal” due to President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Executive Order 9066. The creators smoothly and cleverly embed the historical context within which Takei’s family’s story takes place, allowing readers to simultaneously experience the daily humiliations that they suffered in the camps while providing readers with a broader understanding of the federal legislation, lawsuits, and actions which led to and maintained this injustice. The heroes who fought against this and provided support to and within the Japanese American community, such as Fred Korematsu, the 442nd Regiment, Herbert Nicholson, and the ACLU’s Wayne Collins, are also highlighted, but the focus always remains on the many sacrifices that Takei’s parents made to ensure the safety and survival of their family while shielding their children from knowing the depths of the hatred they faced and danger they were in. The creators also highlight the dangerous parallels between the hate speech, stereotyping, and legislation used against Japanese Americans and the trajectory of current events. Delicate grayscale illustrations effectively convey the intense emotions and the stark living conditions.
A powerful reminder of a history that is all too timely today. (Graphic memoir. 14-adult)Pub Date: July 16, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-60309-450-4
Page Count: 208
Publisher: Top Shelf Books
Review Posted Online: Aug. 4, 2019
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