An inviting, photo-rich overview that will satisfy curious fans and those interested in how modern pop identities are made.
A richly illustrated biography of Lana Del Rey, tracing the construction of her persona, which was shaped by reinvention, contradiction, and the storytelling that surrounds contemporary celebrity.
Fragassi offers readers an overview of the life and career of the American singer-songwriter born Elizabeth Grant in 1985, following her path from her early years in sleepy, rural Lake Placid, New York, where she struggled with traditional schooling. Financial aid enabled her to attend a college prep boarding school in Connecticut, where she felt alienated by her classmates’ wealth; they called her “WT from LP (White Trash from Lake Placid).” The narrative describes Lizzy’s early artistic interests and experimentation and foregrounds the formative forces of isolation and literary inspiration. Organized chronologically, the book blends music commentary with discussions of fashion and the imagery and nostalgia of Americana. The author argues that the tension between sincerity and performance is central to the artist’s appeal: “Part of the mystery around Lana is that she is such a study in contradictions.” The prose is brisk and accessible, and numerous color photos contextualize the subject’s shifting aesthetics and eras. The author acknowledges controversies involving privilege, race, feminism, and authenticity, although the analysis is light. Overall, the book succeeds in introducing ways that pop stardom can be shaped through narrative control, visual symbolism, and persistence.
An inviting, photo-rich overview that will satisfy curious fans and those interested in how modern pop identities are made. (discography, awards & nominations, sources, photo credits) (Biography. 12-18)Pub Date: April 14, 2026
ISBN: 9781577156802
Page Count: 208
Publisher: Epic Ink/Quarto
Review Posted Online: Feb. 2, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2026
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
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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