A story that will encourage youth to fight for their dreams.
A biracial former professional hockey player recounts his endless battle against systemic racism.
Aliu’s powerful graphic memoir opens with his joyful memory of falling in love with hockey as a child—juxtaposed with a scene of him being brutalized by a racist teammate. Readers are introduced to his parents—his father was Nigerian; his mother was Ukrainian—who faced discrimination for their interracial relationship. An older version of Aliu recounts his early life living in both Ukraine and Nigeria (including the difficulties his family encountered in each country) before eventually moving to Canada. There, young Aliu often felt like an outsider. When he discovered hockey, he put his all into becoming the best despite frequently being the only Black boy on his teams and relying on thrifted equipment. The strife he constantly confronted is clearly detailed—physical assaults, lack of recognition (despite stellar performances, he was often ranked relatively low), and racial slurs from NHL coach Bill Peters. Aliu makes clear that the racism he endured was institutional and that no individual player can dismantle it, but he believes that together we can work to effect change. His honest account of persevering in the face of oppression will inspire young readers, even reluctant ones, to pursue their passions no matter how seemingly insurmountable. Blunt, simple language, a brisk pace, and realistic illustrations work harmoniously to keep readers engaged.
A story that will encourage youth to fight for their dreams. (Graphic nonfiction. 9-14)Pub Date: Feb. 7, 2023
ISBN: 9781338787603
Page Count: 128
Publisher: Graphix/Kaepernick Publishing
Review Posted Online: Feb. 24, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2023
Deftly written and informative; a call for vigilance and equality.
An examination of the history of Chinese American experiences.
Blackburn opens with a note to readers about growing up feeling invisible as a multicultural, biracial Chinese American. She notes the tremendous diversity of Chinese American history and writes that this book is a starting point for learning more. The evenly paced narrative starts with the earliest recorded arrival of the Chinese in America in 1834. A teenage girl, whose real name is unknown, arrived in New York Harbor with the Carnes brothers, merchants who imported Chinese goods and put her on display “like an animal in a circus.” The author then examines shifting laws, U.S. and global political and economic climates, and changing societal attitudes. The book introduces the highlighted people—including Yee Ah Tye, Wong Kim Ark, Mabel Ping-Hua Lee, and Vincent Chen—in relation to lawsuits or other transformative events; they also stand as examples for explaining concepts such as racial hierarchy and the model minority myth. Maps, photos, and documents are interspersed throughout. Chapters close with questions that encourage readers to think critically about systems of oppression, actively engage with the material, and draw connections to their own lives. Although the book covers a wide span of history, from the Gold Rush to the rise in anti-Asian hate during the Covid-19 pandemic, it thoroughly explains the various events. Blackburn doesn’t shy away from describing terrible setbacks, but she balances them with examples of solidarity and progress.
Deftly written and informative; a call for vigilance and equality. (resources, bibliography, image credits) (Nonfiction. 10-14)Pub Date: March 26, 2024
ISBN: 9780593567630
Page Count: 288
Publisher: Crown
Review Posted Online: Jan. 5, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2024
A retro yet timeless story of family and identity.
Martín brings his successful Mexikid Stories online comic series to print.
Living in California’s Central Coast as a first-generation Mexican American, Pedro (or the “American-style” Peter) struggles to find his place. As an American kid growing up in the 1970s, he loves Star Wars and Happy Days but dislikes the way his five oldest siblings, who were born in Mexico, make him feel less Mexican just because he and the three other younger siblings were born after his parents immigrated to the U.S. to work picking strawberries. A family trip to Jalisco to bring their abuelito back to California to live with them presents Pedro with an opportunity to get in touch with his roots and learn more about the places his family calls home. Told from Pedro’s perspective, the panels read as a stream-of-consciousness travelogue as he regales readers with his adventures from the road. Along the way, Pedro has fresh encounters with Mexican culture and experiences some unexpected side quests. Full of humor, heart, and a decent amount of gross-out moments, Martín’s coming-of-age memoir hits all the right notes. Though the family’s travels took place decades ago, the struggles with establishing identity, especially as a child of immigrants whose identity straddles two cultures, feel as current as ever. The vibrant, action-packed panels offer plentiful details for readers to pore over, from scenes of crowded family chaos to the sights of Mexico.
A retro yet timeless story of family and identity. (family photos, author’s note) (Graphic memoir. 9-14)Pub Date: Aug. 1, 2023
ISBN: 9780593462287
Page Count: 320
Publisher: Dial Books
Review Posted Online: June 8, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2023
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