An inspiring collective biography that is also an empowering call to action.
Fifteen women, each in her own way an environmental advocate, set examples for those interested in climate science and justice.
Climate change is a crisis that the individuals profiled in this book tackle head-on with urgency and hope. As Sarah assures readers in her introduction, there is still time for us to make necessary changes. The book is organized into three sections: “Challenge the System,” “Hold Fast to Science,” and “Take a Stand for Justice,” with miniprofiles of additional trailblazers as well as helpful contextual information (e.g., “What Does a Conservation Biologist Do?”) appearing in text boxes. Taken together, the chapters demonstrate the breadth of ways to get involved, no matter one’s age or professional background. Many of the subjects—including Wanjiku Gatheru, a young Rhodes Scholar and the daughter of Kenyan immigrants to the U.S.; Trimita Chakma, an Indigenous woman from Bangladesh who is a feminist advocate for grassroots organizations; and Tori Tsui, a documentary filmmaker from New Zealand and Hong Kong who is an activist for diverse representation—point out that those in the Global South who are most affected by climate change also have the least to do with creating these problems. Each subject’s social media handles are included, and terms such as eco anxiety, environmental justice, climate resilience, and intersectional environmentalism are explained in context. This compact and useful resource effectively highlights critical voices.
An inspiring collective biography that is also an empowering call to action. (resources, podcasts, recommended reading, notes) (Nonfiction. 12-18)Pub Date: March 14, 2023
ISBN: 978-1-64160-700-1
Page Count: 224
Publisher: Chicago Review Press
Review Posted Online: Dec. 13, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2023
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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