An original and creative approach to appreciating opening lines.
It’s never too late to (re)consider a first impression.
Part trivia, part history, and part fun, Volponi’s conversational look at first lines takes a fresh form. While the firsts vary from Taylor Swift’s songs to a poem by Amiri Baraka, the entries are thoughtfully arranged so that each one flows smoothly into the next. This helps combat the disjointed flow of many trivia-style books, encouraging readers to keep going as they absorb fact after fact. Teens may be surprised that they’ve moved from reading about Dr. Seuss to Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery,” but (more importantly) they’ll be drawn in to both. The robust bibliography (arranged alphabetically, not by chapter) provides the curious with more places to explore and learn. The sections cover a wide variety of topics, from “Time and Space” (George Lucas, Douglas Adams, H.G. Wells) to “Society and Its Influences” (Frederick Douglass, Eminem, Ray Bradbury), but the majority of the creators mentioned are white and/or male. In the section “Harry Is Still Harry,” Volponi briefly touches on the irony that the Harry Potter series emphasizes acceptance of differences while J.K. Rowling has expressed transphobic sentiments. However, the segment on Sherman Alexie talks about experiencing consequences for one’s actions without mentioning the fallout from the sexual harassment allegations he faced. The frequent open-ended questions appearing throughout are useful, and educators may find this book useful for stimulating reflection and discussion.
An original and creative approach to appreciating opening lines. (author’s note, endnotes, resources, index) (Nonfiction. 12-18)Pub Date: Sept. 4, 2025
ISBN: 9798881803612
Page Count: 240
Publisher: Bloomsbury Academic
Review Posted Online: July 19, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2025
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
© Copyright 2025 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
