A brief, critical view of a traumatic time that’s well suited to student use.
An accessible overview of the short- and long-term consequences of the destruction of the World Trade Center towers in the attacks of September 11, 2011.
Doeden leaves a few things out—most notably, any mention of the Guantanamo Bay detention center—but otherwise offers a broad look at the events of 9/11 and the ensuing War on Terror. Though an ill-considered observation that the World Trade Center site “was like a scene out of a war movie” is likely to distance readers from the tragedy, he quotes eyewitnesses and early responders and effectively connects the shock and anxiety of those now-historical times to current issues by tracing the intensification in this country’s anti-immigrant attitudes up to the re-election of President Donald Trump in 2024. He strives for a judicious tone, but in his estimation the “long and costly” War on Terror achieved little—aside from perpetrating many human rights violations, including spikes in Islamophobic policies, prejudice, and hate crimes. The author backs up his observations with source notes and a lengthy bibliography. Ample stock photos depict views of the fallen towers, a number of memorials, and a racially diverse array of troops and anti–Iraq War protesters. The red, white, and blue page design and occasional text boxes (on topics such as a dog who helped a veteran with PTSD and the experience of an Afghan refugee) add appeal.
A brief, critical view of a traumatic time that’s well suited to student use. (glossary, further information, index) (Nonfiction. 12-18)Pub Date: Aug. 4, 2026
ISBN: 9798765690475
Page Count: 96
Publisher: Twenty-First Century/Lerner
Review Posted Online: April 20, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2026
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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