An uplifting and engaging look at growing up mixed-race in Ireland.
A memoir by the founder of Black & Irish, an author, podcaster, and former Obama Foundation European Leader.
Growing up in Ireland, Diop often struggled with his identity; as the eldest child of a white Irish mother and a Senegalese father, he was frequently the only mixed-race person in social situations, and he encountered racism throughout his childhood and young adulthood. His father’s erratic and sometimes violent behavior caused family tumult and ultimately led Diop to distance himself from his Senegalese heritage. He faced difficulties in school and struggled to manage his emotions. But despite these challenges, he found comfort and resilience in his relationships with his family and friends. Diop later discovered a passion for creating positive change that would lead him to create Black & Irish, which began as an Instagram account in June 2020 before growing into a full-fledged advocacy organization. Through this work, he found a sense of purpose and confidence in his identity that eventually pushed him to reconnect with his Senegalese roots. Diop’s straightforward, conversational tone makes the memoir both accessible and engaging. It will appeal to teens who have grappled with multiple identities as well as those familiar with his other books or the work of his nonprofit. Black-and-white photos from Diop’s life are interspersed throughout the text, offering intimate glimpses into his background.
An uplifting and engaging look at growing up mixed-race in Ireland. (Memoir. 13-18)Pub Date: May 12, 2026
ISBN: 9781915071880
Page Count: 160
Publisher: Little Island
Review Posted Online: April 6, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2026
BOOK REVIEW
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
Though not the most balanced, an enlightening look back for the queer future.
An adaptation for teens of the adult title A Queer History of the United States (2011).
Divided into thematic sections, the text filters LGBTQIA+ history through key figures in each era from the 1500s to the present. Alongside watershed moments like the 1969 Stonewall uprising and the HIV/AIDS crisis of the 1980s and 1990s, the text brings to light less well-known people, places, and events: the 1625 free love colony of Merrymount, transgender Civil War hero Albert D.J. Cashier, and the 1951 founding of the Mattachine Society, to name a few. Throughout, the author and adapter take care to use accurate pronouns and avoid imposing contemporary terminology onto historical figures. In some cases, they quote primary sources to speculate about same-sex relationships while also reminding readers of past cultural differences in expressing strong affection between friends. Black-and-white illustrations or photos augment each chapter. Though it lacks the teen appeal and personable, conversational style of Sarah Prager’s Queer, There, and Everywhere (2017), this textbook-level survey contains a surprising amount of depth. However, the mention of transgender movements and activism—in particular, contemporary issues—runs on the slim side. Whereas chapters are devoted to over 30 ethnically diverse gay, lesbian, bisexual, or queer figures, some trans pioneers such as Christine Jorgensen and Holly Woodlawn are reduced to short sidebars.
Though not the most balanced, an enlightening look back for the queer future. (glossary, photo credits, bibliography, index) (Nonfiction. 14-18)Pub Date: June 11, 2019
ISBN: 978-0-8070-5612-7
Page Count: 336
Publisher: Beacon Press
Review Posted Online: March 12, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2019
BOOK REVIEW
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