A history of a global luminary figure that serves as a reminder of the courageous freedom-fighting work in front of us.
The definitive biography of 20th-century Renaissance man Robeson, whose signature legacy of merging arts and activism serves as a timely message for a new generation of change-makers, is here adapted for younger audiences.
In the foreword of this work that is deserving of deep engagement, Jason Reynolds invites readers into the story of this world-famous Black entertainer whom he sees as “perhaps the greatest reminder of the possibilities of a single person.” The son of an escaped slave, Robeson became a superstar college athlete, valedictorian, lawyer, actor, singer, globe-trotter, polyglot, and committed humanitarian. Yet, as his involvement in freedom struggles for Black Americans and working people’s struggles around the world clashed with Cold War–era conservatism, his unparalleled legacy has been erased from public memory. Readers will connect with Robeson’s miraculous and hard-fought rise, from his unprecedented success in Hollywood to his yearslong struggle with the U.S. government to reinstate his passport, confiscated due to McCarthyist opposition to his political activities. The work balances his achievements despite overwhelming odds with his human vulnerabilities and missteps. Archival images and text boxes offer historical context, presenting details of Robeson’s bold stands that will resonate with new generations familiar with Black public figures like Colin Kaepernick and Maya Moore.
A history of a global luminary figure that serves as a reminder of the courageous freedom-fighting work in front of us. (further information, Robeson’s music and movies, sources, image credits, index) (Biography. 12-18)Pub Date: March 9, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-62097-649-4
Page Count: 288
Publisher: The New Press
Review Posted Online: Jan. 25, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2021
PERSPECTIVES
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
Brief yet inspirational, this story will galvanize youth to use their voices for change.
Testa’s connection to and respect for nature compelled her to begin championing animal causes at the age of 10, and this desire to have an impact later propelled her to dedicate her life to fighting plastic pollution. Starting with the history of plastic and how it’s produced, Testa acknowledges the benefits of plastics for humanity but also the many ways it harms our planet. Instead of relying on recycling—which is both insufficient and ineffective—she urges readers to follow two additional R’s: “refuse” and “raise awareness.” Readers are encouraged to do their part, starting with small things like refusing to use plastic straws and water bottles and eventually working up to using their voices to influence business and policy change. In the process, she highlights other youth advocates working toward the same cause. Short chapters include personal examples, such as observations of plastic pollution in Mauritius, her maternal grandparents’ birthplace. Testa makes her case not only against plastic pollution, but also for the work she’s done, resulting in something of a college-admissions–essay tone. Nevertheless, the first-person accounts paired with science will have an impact on readers. Unfortunately, no sources are cited and the lack of backmatter is a missed opportunity.
Brief yet inspirational, this story will galvanize youth to use their voices for change. (Nonfiction. 12-18)Pub Date: Oct. 13, 2020
ISBN: 978-0-593-22333-8
Page Count: 64
Publisher: Penguin Workshop
Review Posted Online: July 26, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2020
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