A clearly written account of an ongoing crisis that has a broad impact on society.
Drug use and drug wars are a reality; this highly illustrated work outlines the problem and its possible solutions.
Hunter devotes most of this book to explaining the nature and origins of drug wars and the consequences of such wars on individuals and society. The final two chapters outline potential solutions. Beginning with then-President Richard Nixon’s 1971 declaration of war, the author discusses the physical, mental, and socioeconomic, costs of drugs and of drug wars. Descriptions of the international and industrial scale of the problem and the involvement of quasi-military gangs and militias appear before a two-page spread asking readers to ponder opposing viewpoints about whether the drug supply can realistically be stopped. Hunter examines anti-drug laws before providing another debate page on treatment vs. punishment as approaches to addiction. Other debate pages pose questions like “Is drug violence more damaging than drugs?” and “Do drug wars increase racial inequality?” The text boxes labeled “What Do You Think?” that follow each debate invite readers to engage with the topics, but Hunter largely avoids citing statistics or studies that would bolster the arguments. This absence risks simply allowing readers to confirm their existing beliefs without weighing complicated evidence. Still, the simple, straightforward prose and scrupulously neutral presentation of opposing viewpoints make this a useful introductory resource.
A clearly written account of an ongoing crisis that has a broad impact on society. (picture credits, resources, glossary, index) (Nonfiction. 12-18)Pub Date: Jan. 1, 2026
ISBN: 9781917187657
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Cheriton Children's Books
Review Posted Online: Nov. 22, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2026
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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
A powerful reminder of a history that is all too timely today.
A beautifully heart-wrenching graphic-novel adaptation of actor and activist Takei’s (Lions and Tigers and Bears, 2013, etc.) childhood experience of incarceration in a World War II camp for Japanese Americans.
Takei had not yet started school when he, his parents, and his younger siblings were forced to leave their home and report to the Santa Anita Racetrack for “processing and removal” due to President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Executive Order 9066. The creators smoothly and cleverly embed the historical context within which Takei’s family’s story takes place, allowing readers to simultaneously experience the daily humiliations that they suffered in the camps while providing readers with a broader understanding of the federal legislation, lawsuits, and actions which led to and maintained this injustice. The heroes who fought against this and provided support to and within the Japanese American community, such as Fred Korematsu, the 442nd Regiment, Herbert Nicholson, and the ACLU’s Wayne Collins, are also highlighted, but the focus always remains on the many sacrifices that Takei’s parents made to ensure the safety and survival of their family while shielding their children from knowing the depths of the hatred they faced and danger they were in. The creators also highlight the dangerous parallels between the hate speech, stereotyping, and legislation used against Japanese Americans and the trajectory of current events. Delicate grayscale illustrations effectively convey the intense emotions and the stark living conditions.
A powerful reminder of a history that is all too timely today. (Graphic memoir. 14-adult)Pub Date: July 16, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-60309-450-4
Page Count: 208
Publisher: Top Shelf Books
Review Posted Online: Aug. 4, 2019
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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