A diverse compendium that will entertain, inform, and inspire.
Like its predecessor, Girls Who Rocked the World (2012), this appealing compendium features brief profiles of women from around the world who achieved greatness at a young age.
The 45 short biographies of such well- and lesser-known women as Queen Esther of Persia, Jazz Jennings, Chloe Kim, and Mary Lou Williams are a disparate group, save that all their subjects made their marks on the world before the age of 20. Written in an engaging, conversational style, many profiles are followed with comments from girls and young women who explain their own plans for rocking the world. There are minor quibbles with some of McCann’s wording, as when she identifies Ada Byron Lovelace as a “computer programmer,” a bit of an oversimplification. Emma Watson is identified as an actress and activist, but only one paragraph explains her work as a United Nations goodwill ambassador. One perplexing inclusion is Naya Nuki, identified as a “survivor.” A Shoshone girl, Nuki was captured along with Sacagawea when both were 11 in a Hidatsa raid and forced to march over 1,000 miles from their home. Other than Lewis’ diary entry describing her reunion with Sacagawea during the Lewis and Clark expedition, there is no other record, so the profile is mostly speculative. These minor speed bumps don’t diminish the pleasure and inspiration to be had in the whole. There are suggestions for further reading on all the subjects.
A diverse compendium that will entertain, inform, and inspire. (bibliography, websites, endnotes) (Nonfiction. 10-14)Pub Date: Oct. 3, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-58270-640-5
Page Count: 320
Publisher: Beyond Words/Aladdin
Review Posted Online: Aug. 6, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2017
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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
PERSPECTIVES
PERSPECTIVES
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