It’s not perfect, but it holds appeal for casual perusal.
A browsable book exploring common English-language proverbs and idioms and some of their counterparts in a variety of countries.
Originally a Kickstarter project, this book collects hundreds of idioms and phrases from the English language and contrasts them with their counterparts in many other countries and cultures, from Armenia and Argentina to Sierra Leone and South Korea. An introduction provides brief definitions of proverbs and idioms, as well as why it is important to explore cultural differences among languages, before diving in. Most phrases are allocated a single page with a large illustrative cartoon; the English-language translation appears in an all-caps header, with the phrase in the original language and the nationality attribution just below it, along with an interpretation. Double-page spreads exploring interpretations of one specific phrase (for example, “when the cat’s away, the mice will play”) feature multiple quoted phrases translated to English with their nation of origin in parentheses, with the quote in its originating language included in the backmatter. There are no source notes or information on how these phrases were gathered and translated. Friendly, silly cartoon illustrations stylistically akin to Mike Lowery’s include racially diverse humans, but most wear nondescript Western attire, and their character designs do not relay the diversity of ethnicities represented in the idiom choices. Perplexingly, some illustrations actively misinterpret the phrase’s meaning.
It’s not perfect, but it holds appeal for casual perusal. (Nonfiction. 9-14)Pub Date: Sept. 28, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-5248-6146-9
Page Count: 208
Publisher: Andrews McMeel Publishing
Review Posted Online: Aug. 17, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2021
BOOK REVIEW
Deftly written and informative; a call for vigilance and equality.
An examination of the history of Chinese American experiences.
Blackburn opens with a note to readers about growing up feeling invisible as a multicultural, biracial Chinese American. She notes the tremendous diversity of Chinese American history and writes that this book is a starting point for learning more. The evenly paced narrative starts with the earliest recorded arrival of the Chinese in America in 1834. A teenage girl, whose real name is unknown, arrived in New York Harbor with the Carnes brothers, merchants who imported Chinese goods and put her on display “like an animal in a circus.” The author then examines shifting laws, U.S. and global political and economic climates, and changing societal attitudes. The book introduces the highlighted people—including Yee Ah Tye, Wong Kim Ark, Mabel Ping-Hua Lee, and Vincent Chen—in relation to lawsuits or other transformative events; they also stand as examples for explaining concepts such as racial hierarchy and the model minority myth. Maps, photos, and documents are interspersed throughout. Chapters close with questions that encourage readers to think critically about systems of oppression, actively engage with the material, and draw connections to their own lives. Although the book covers a wide span of history, from the Gold Rush to the rise in anti-Asian hate during the Covid-19 pandemic, it thoroughly explains the various events. Blackburn doesn’t shy away from describing terrible setbacks, but she balances them with examples of solidarity and progress.
Deftly written and informative; a call for vigilance and equality. (resources, bibliography, image credits) (Nonfiction. 10-14)Pub Date: March 26, 2024
ISBN: 9780593567630
Page Count: 288
Publisher: Crown
Review Posted Online: Jan. 5, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2024
A retro yet timeless story of family and identity.
Martín brings his successful Mexikid Stories online comic series to print.
Living in California’s Central Coast as a first-generation Mexican American, Pedro (or the “American-style” Peter) struggles to find his place. As an American kid growing up in the 1970s, he loves Star Wars and Happy Days but dislikes the way his five oldest siblings, who were born in Mexico, make him feel less Mexican just because he and the three other younger siblings were born after his parents immigrated to the U.S. to work picking strawberries. A family trip to Jalisco to bring their abuelito back to California to live with them presents Pedro with an opportunity to get in touch with his roots and learn more about the places his family calls home. Told from Pedro’s perspective, the panels read as a stream-of-consciousness travelogue as he regales readers with his adventures from the road. Along the way, Pedro has fresh encounters with Mexican culture and experiences some unexpected side quests. Full of humor, heart, and a decent amount of gross-out moments, Martín’s coming-of-age memoir hits all the right notes. Though the family’s travels took place decades ago, the struggles with establishing identity, especially as a child of immigrants whose identity straddles two cultures, feel as current as ever. The vibrant, action-packed panels offer plentiful details for readers to pore over, from scenes of crowded family chaos to the sights of Mexico.
A retro yet timeless story of family and identity. (family photos, author’s note) (Graphic memoir. 9-14)Pub Date: Aug. 1, 2023
ISBN: 9780593462287
Page Count: 320
Publisher: Dial Books
Review Posted Online: June 8, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2023
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