Equally entertaining and empowering; will appeal to readers seeking strong women role models.
A collection of myths and legends about goddesses around the world that impart empowering life lessons.
This collection contains 21 depictions, each about 10 pages long, of goddesses from different world cultures and religions. Some, like Demeter and Isis, will be widely recognized, while others may be less familiar. Each tale is preceded by a description of the goddess’s origins and concludes with a discussion of easy ways to apply lessons from her myth in everyday life. With morals as varied as the goddesses represented, the chapters offer readers advice on themes such as advocating for themselves, as in the story of Diné creation deity Asdzą́ą́ Nádleehé, or inspiration to stretch their boundaries, as in the tale of Hawaiian fire goddess Pele. While each tale is distinct, Menzies presents most in ways that highlight overarching themes of confidence, independence, strength, and empathy. The writing style is accessible and engaging, and the entries are complemented by Dolan’s bold, eye-catching, black-and-white artwork that resembles linocut prints. The self-help and mythology sections of each goddess’s profile are well balanced, although the breadth of legends covered occasionally results in oversimplified retellings. However, the framing of the goddesses’ stories will inspire many readers to learn more about them and incorporate lessons from their myths into their own lives.
Equally entertaining and empowering; will appeal to readers seeking strong women role models. (resources, bibliography) (Mythology. 12-18)Pub Date: Nov. 26, 2024
ISBN: 9781623716578
Page Count: 192
Publisher: Crocodile/Interlink
Review Posted Online: Dec. 14, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2025
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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