Extensively documented and deeply personal; an essential read.
This young readers’ adaptation of The Hundred Years’ War on Palestine (2019) offers a blend of personal history and political analysis, examining how a century of policy and conflict shaped the region.
Khalidi shows that the establishment of Israel on lands that had been Palestinian resulted from a series of calculated political and imperial interventions. He surveys Palestine’s history from the late Ottoman period to the present, structuring the narrative around six “declarations of war” beginning in 1917. Khalidi focuses on the forces behind the occupation, tracing how external powers have enabled the ongoing dispossession of Palestinians. Pulling from archival sources and personal testimonies, he uses his family’s deep-rooted presence in the region, dating back to the seventh century, to illustrate how political policy and “an influx of foreign settlers” reshaped daily life. The account follows developments from the collapse of Ottoman rule, through the Balfour Declaration, to Israeli statehood, showing how each phase intensified displacement of and violence toward Palestinians. Khalidi presents this history in clear language, unpacking complex terminology and historical concepts and organizing the material into short, clearly titled sections, making the detailed content accessible. The sequential structure helps readers follow shifting political trends while staying focused on the main topic. Spot art portraits, photos, maps, and text boxes add depth, and the visual design is inviting. Khalidi offers a compelling introduction for those seeking to understand Palestine’s political history and the enduring legacy of occupation.
Extensively documented and deeply personal; an essential read. (bibliography, index) (Nonfiction. 14-18)Pub Date: Aug. 18, 2026
ISBN: 9781250376060
Page Count: 224
Publisher: Godwin Books
Review Posted Online: May 18, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 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
Though not the most balanced, an enlightening look back for the queer future.
An adaptation for teens of the adult title A Queer History of the United States (2011).
Divided into thematic sections, the text filters LGBTQIA+ history through key figures in each era from the 1500s to the present. Alongside watershed moments like the 1969 Stonewall uprising and the HIV/AIDS crisis of the 1980s and 1990s, the text brings to light less well-known people, places, and events: the 1625 free love colony of Merrymount, transgender Civil War hero Albert D.J. Cashier, and the 1951 founding of the Mattachine Society, to name a few. Throughout, the author and adapter take care to use accurate pronouns and avoid imposing contemporary terminology onto historical figures. In some cases, they quote primary sources to speculate about same-sex relationships while also reminding readers of past cultural differences in expressing strong affection between friends. Black-and-white illustrations or photos augment each chapter. Though it lacks the teen appeal and personable, conversational style of Sarah Prager’s Queer, There, and Everywhere (2017), this textbook-level survey contains a surprising amount of depth. However, the mention of transgender movements and activism—in particular, contemporary issues—runs on the slim side. Whereas chapters are devoted to over 30 ethnically diverse gay, lesbian, bisexual, or queer figures, some trans pioneers such as Christine Jorgensen and Holly Woodlawn are reduced to short sidebars.
Though not the most balanced, an enlightening look back for the queer future. (glossary, photo credits, bibliography, index) (Nonfiction. 14-18)Pub Date: June 11, 2019
ISBN: 978-0-8070-5612-7
Page Count: 336
Publisher: Beacon Press
Review Posted Online: March 12, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2019
BOOK REVIEW
© Copyright 2026 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.
