Inspiring and informative, showing impressive scope.
From the stage and the laboratory to company boardrooms and political platforms, Jewish women have excelled in every sphere of life.
Writing with an assured knowledge of her subjects (who are all European or American) and the belief that “social justice is coded into our DNA,” Merberg profiles 36 historical and contemporary women of Judaic descent who fought for a better world and defied the odds. Each entry is 12 to 15 paragraphs long and framed around the biographee’s “very Jewish” personal characteristics—particularly intrepidity and a strong social conscience—and societal impact. The women’s family ties, genetic connections, and degrees of religious observance are also described, as are their struggles with assimilation and antisemitism. The first section looks at social activists such as women’s rights pioneer Betty Friedan and Alicia Garza, founder of the Black Lives Matter movement. Next come glimpses into the lives of entertainers, including actress Hedy Lamarr and comedian Tiffany Haddish, who celebrated her bat mitzvah on her 40th birthday. A third section covers writers such as Emma Lazarus, Judy Blume, and more. Anna Freud and Janet Yellen are among the four scientists profiled. Entrepreneurs range from cosmetics mogul Estée Lauder to the Wojcickis of Google and YouTube fame. Another section turns the spotlight on leaders the likes of former Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir and civil rights activist Bella Abzug. The closing section is devoted to two Supreme Court justices: Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Elena Kagan. Rucker’s stylized digital illustrations leave some areas uncolored or use color mapping for an interesting non finito effect.
Inspiring and informative, showing impressive scope. (concept map, resources) (Collective biography. 10-14)Pub Date: Jan. 25, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-950587-09-4
Page Count: 160
Publisher: Downtown Bookworks
Review Posted Online: Dec. 15, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2022
A breezy, bustling bucketful of courageous acts and eye-popping feats.
Why should grown-ups get all the historical, scientific, athletic, cinematic, and artistic glory?
Choosing exemplars from both past and present, Mitchell includes but goes well beyond Alexander the Great, Anne Frank, and like usual suspects to introduce a host of lesser-known luminaries. These include Shapur II, who was formally crowned king of Persia before he was born, Indian dancer/professional architect Sheila Sri Prakash, transgender spokesperson Jazz Jennings, inventor Param Jaggi, and an international host of other teen or preteen activists and prodigies. The individual portraits range from one paragraph to several pages in length, and they are interspersed with group tributes to, for instance, the Nazi-resisting “Swingkinder,” the striking New York City newsboys, and the marchers of the Birmingham Children’s Crusade. Mitchell even offers would-be villains a role model in Elagabalus, “boy emperor of Rome,” though she notes that he, at least, came to an awful end: “Then, then! They dumped his remains in the Tiber River, to be nommed by fish for all eternity.” The entries are arranged in no evident order, and though the backmatter includes multiple booklists, a personality quiz, a glossary, and even a quick Braille primer (with Braille jokes to decode), there is no index. Still, for readers whose fires need lighting, there’s motivational kindling on nearly every page.
A breezy, bustling bucketful of courageous acts and eye-popping feats. (finished illustrations not seen) (Collective biography. 10-13)Pub Date: May 10, 2016
ISBN: 978-0-14-751813-2
Page Count: 320
Publisher: Puffin
Review Posted Online: Nov. 10, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2015
Full of laughter and sentiment, this is a nudge for readers to dare to try new things.
A 1989 summer trip to Europe changes Caldecott Medal winner Santat’s life in this graphic memoir.
Young Dan hasn’t experienced much beyond the small Southern California town he grew up in. He stays out of trouble, helps his parents, and tries to go unnoticed in middle school. That plan gets thwarted when he is made to recite poetry at a school assembly and is humiliated by his peers. When eighth grade is over and his parents send him on a three-week study abroad program, Dan isn’t excited at first. He’s traveling with girls from school whom he has awkward relationships with, his camera breaks, and he feels completely out of place. But with the help of some new friends, a crush, and an encouraging teacher, Dan begins to appreciate and enjoy the journey. Through experiences like his first taste of Fanta, first time hearing French rap, and first time getting lost on his own in a foreign country in the middle of the night, he finally begins to feel comfortable just being himself and embracing the unexpected. This entertaining graphic memoir is a relatable story of self-discovery. Flashbacks to awkward memories are presented in tones of blue that contrast with the full-color artwork through which Santat creates the perfect balance of humor and poignancy. The author’s note and photos offer readers more fun glimpses into his pivotal adventure.
Full of laughter and sentiment, this is a nudge for readers to dare to try new things. (Graphic memoir. 10-14)Pub Date: Feb. 28, 2023
ISBN: 978-1-250-85104-8
Page Count: 320
Publisher: First Second
Review Posted Online: Nov. 28, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2022
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