An adequate starting point for further learning.
A cursory glimpse at a pressing international problem.
A short introduction and five short chapters support the idea of invasive species being “among the most significant” of humanity’s 21st-century challenges. The opening grabs readers’ attention with the example of the spotted lanternfly, a Southeast Asian insect that appeared in North America in 2014. Currie explains that all invasive species were introduced by people, whether accidentally or intentionally. The bland, accessible text offers details about how invasive species have destabilized ecosystems, caused extinctions of native species, and damaged human health, recreation, and economic well-being. It notes that the spread of species like the potato and the dingo to new environments was mostly benign until the European exploration from the 1400s onward and the acceleration of human travel by the mid-1800s. Despite reiterating the global nature of the problem, the author unfortunately accentuates the impact of scary, invasive species from the Global South. A lone sidebar states that raccoons are “troublesome” in parts of Asia and Europe, and the book similarly describes North American ragweed as being “troublesome” worldwide. These mentions contrast with the alarming presentation of the impact of Burmese pythons in Florida and the framing of Asian kudzu as “the vine that ate the South.” The final chapter, “Dealing With Invasive Species,” covers prevention and eradication strategies (like incorporating Asian carp and nutria into the American diet), ending on a hopeful note.
An adequate starting point for further learning. (source notes, for further research, index, picture credits) (Nonfiction. 12-18)Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2026
ISBN: 9781678213343
Page Count: 64
Publisher: ReferencePoint Press
Review Posted Online: July 20, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2026
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
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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