An accessible tribute to the work of inspiring young women and a guide for those who wish to follow in their footsteps.
Stories from those who worked amid the daily chaos, hope, and ambition of the Obama White House, where “Young women [could] get. Stuff. Done.”
The 10 women profiled include Molly Dillon, who worked on policy for kids in the foster-care system, and Taylor Lustig, who helped to organize Pope Francis’ first visit to the United States. Vivian P. Graubard was in her 20s when she helped craft policy to fight human trafficking through digital technology. The native Spanish speaker traveled to Mexico, where she met with survivors of human trafficking and their families. Regularly working long hours and motivated by a strong sense of purpose and accomplishment, the women give readers windows into the everyday activities of the Obama administration—frequent staff meetings in D.C. coffee shops, mistakes they inevitably made, and the million little things it takes to pull off a public event at the White House. The ethnic and religious diversity of those profiled enriches the work, so the omission of Arab and Muslim voices is unfortunate, particularly given the administration’s focus on Muslim affairs. The book ends with concrete advice for girls interested in getting involved in the government. A foreword by Yara Shahidi (not seen) and photos enhance the appeal of this engaging and readable work.
An accessible tribute to the work of inspiring young women and a guide for those who wish to follow in their footsteps. (Nonfiction. 12-18)Pub Date: March 5, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-9848-4845-1
Page Count: 288
Publisher: Schwartz & Wade/Random
Review Posted Online: Jan. 27, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2019
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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