by Ted Bunch & Anna Marie Johnson Teague with A Call to Men ‧ RELEASE DATE: Jan. 5, 2021
Important content but merely passable in execution.
A call for boys to think outside the “Man Box.”
“Man up!” Every boy knows how it feels to live inside the “Man Box,” a set of socialized norms policing male behavior. Within the “Man Box,” men are always in control. They don’t show weakness or ask for help. They don’t emote or empathize. They are physically and psychologically invulnerable. As such, they are emotionally stunted, experience extreme anxiety and depression, and do untold violence to themselves and others. This interesting twist on challenge books proposes 100 dares, each rendered in single-page chunks, intended to cultivate social-emotional literacy. Some are intensely personal: keeping a journal, experimenting with appearance and attitude, exercising creativity. Some are strictly social: seeking out friends of various backgrounds, supporting LGBTQ+ folx, calling out boorish “Man Box” behavior. Some will feel lamentably rudimentary to some readers: allowing girls to speak in class, learning from others, asking for and respecting consent. Though readers are given permission not to read it cover to cover, inevitable redundancies and the lackluster design may discourage return trips. A glossary covers terms the authors name as critical, but its entries scarcely appear in the text. Moreover, terms like toxic masculinity, patriarchy, misogyny, racism, transphobia, and homophobia are bafflingly omitted.
Important content but merely passable in execution. (glossary, letter to family and friends) (Nonfiction. 10-15)Pub Date: Jan. 5, 2021
ISBN: 978-0-593-30298-9
Page Count: 224
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: Oct. 26, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2020
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by Emmanuel Acho ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 4, 2021
Ultimately adds little to conversations about race.
A popular YouTube series on race, “Uncomfortable Conversations With a Black Man,” turns how-to manual and history lesson for young readers.
Acho is a former NFL player and second-generation Nigerian American who cites his upbringing in predominantly White spaces as well as his tenure on largely Black football teams as qualifications for facilitating the titular conversations about anti-Black racism. The broad range of subjects covered here includes implicit bias, cultural appropriation, and systemic racism. Each chapter features brief overviews of American history, personal anecdotes of Acho’s struggles with his own anti-Black biases, and sections titled “Let’s Get Uncomfortable.” The book’s centering of Whiteness and White readers seems to show up, to the detriment of its subject matter, both in Acho’s accounts of his upbringing and his thought processes regarding race. The overall tone unfortunately conveys a sense of expecting little from a younger generation who may have a greater awareness than he did at the same age and who, therefore, may already be uncomfortable with racial injustice itself. The attempt at an avuncular tone disappointingly reads as condescending, revealing that, despite his online success with adults, the author is ill-equipped to be writing for middle-grade readers. Chapters dedicated to explaining to White readers why they shouldn’t use the N-word and how valuable White allyship is may make readers of color (and many White readers) bristle with indignation and discomfort despite Acho’s positive intentions.
Ultimately adds little to conversations about race. (glossary, FAQ, recommended reading, references) (Nonfiction. 10-14)Pub Date: May 4, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-250-80106-7
Page Count: 320
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
Review Posted Online: May 10, 2021
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by Dan Santat ; illustrated by Dan Santat ‧ RELEASE DATE: Feb. 28, 2023
Full of laughter and sentiment, this is a nudge for readers to dare to try new things.
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A 1989 summer trip to Europe changes Caldecott Medal winner Santat’s life in this graphic memoir.
Young Dan hasn’t experienced much beyond the small Southern California town he grew up in. He stays out of trouble, helps his parents, and tries to go unnoticed in middle school. That plan gets thwarted when he is made to recite poetry at a school assembly and is humiliated by his peers. When eighth grade is over and his parents send him on a three-week study abroad program, Dan isn’t excited at first. He’s traveling with girls from school whom he has awkward relationships with, his camera breaks, and he feels completely out of place. But with the help of some new friends, a crush, and an encouraging teacher, Dan begins to appreciate and enjoy the journey. Through experiences like his first taste of Fanta, first time hearing French rap, and first time getting lost on his own in a foreign country in the middle of the night, he finally begins to feel comfortable just being himself and embracing the unexpected. This entertaining graphic memoir is a relatable story of self-discovery. Flashbacks to awkward memories are presented in tones of blue that contrast with the full-color artwork through which Santat creates the perfect balance of humor and poignancy. The author’s note and photos offer readers more fun glimpses into his pivotal adventure.
Full of laughter and sentiment, this is a nudge for readers to dare to try new things. (Graphic memoir. 10-14)Pub Date: Feb. 28, 2023
ISBN: 978-1-250-85104-8
Page Count: 320
Publisher: First Second
Review Posted Online: Nov. 28, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2022
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