A comprehensive and beautiful book on climate change that shows how, together, many drops make an ocean.
In New York City in 2019, four young American climate activists from diverse backgrounds—Xiye Bastida, Jamie Margolin, Rebeca Sabnam, and Shiv Soin—helped to organize what became the world’s largest climate protest.
As they share their histories and motivations in this work of graphic nonfiction, their stories converge with those of Subramanian (an Asian American environmental journalist) and Novgorodoff (an author and illustrator who’s white-presenting). The teens’ and authors’ personal narratives and family and geographical histories intersect with science and politics to highlight the climate crisis and ways of meaningful changemaking. Infographics break down the science and explain the complexities and far-reaching impact of climate change. Vivid and detailed illustrations immerse readers in stories that connect the dots, showing how the climate crisis is “showing up in different ways in different places”—and that its effects are “unequally distributed.” Moments filled with awe and demonstrations of youth power appear beside information about habitats and biodiversity, extreme weather events, politics, industry, religion, and justice. The authors succinctly and lucidly unpack the science, and the solutions range from the easy to the ambitious in ways that are inspiring and not overwhelming.
A comprehensive and beautiful book on climate change that shows how, together, many drops make an ocean. (authors’ note, resources) (Graphic nonfiction. 12-18)Pub Date: March 3, 2026
ISBN: 9781250262974
Page Count: 208
Publisher: First Second
Review Posted Online: Dec. 12, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 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
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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