For kids who are passionate about effecting change and for those who aren’t aware of their potential impact, this book is a...
The author of The Gutsy Girl (2016, illustrated by Wendy MacNaughton) addresses young would-be activists in this how-to manual for effecting change in the world.
Paul opens her book with a letter addressed to young readers in which she connects children’s determination to stand up for their personal likes and dislikes to their power to change the world. She then lists 18 actions people of all ages can take to stand up for causes they believe in, from the small (“Change Your Habits,” “Make a Protest Sign,” “Petition,” “Volunteer,” “Raise Money,” “Write a Letter”) to the large (“Perform Guerilla Theater,” “Invent Something,” “Take Them to Court,” “March,” “Walk Out,” “Just Sit Down”). Each section features true stories of people as young as 6 who took these actions on issues they cared about and had their voices heard. Each section also includes a “workbook” section, with a list of steps to take in order to complete the action. Interspersed throughout are “Activist Tips” that explain terms such as “escalate,” “privilege,” “intersectionality” and “direct action.” Paul makes a point of encouraging people with privilege to take the stance of an ally rather than speaking for disadvantaged groups. She also cautions readers to understand the potential repercussions of direct action, “especially if you are a kid of color.” As clear and responsible as the author is, young readers may still need adult guidance to understand how these sections apply to their lives. Tamaki’s loose black-and-white illustrations include children of many races and at least one woman wearing a hijab.
For kids who are passionate about effecting change and for those who aren’t aware of their potential impact, this book is a useful guide for brainstorming and inspiration. (further reading) (Nonfiction. 9-13)Pub Date: May 15, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-68119-822-4
Page Count: 128
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Review Posted Online: March 3, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2018
A breezy, bustling bucketful of courageous acts and eye-popping feats.
Why should grown-ups get all the historical, scientific, athletic, cinematic, and artistic glory?
Choosing exemplars from both past and present, Mitchell includes but goes well beyond Alexander the Great, Anne Frank, and like usual suspects to introduce a host of lesser-known luminaries. These include Shapur II, who was formally crowned king of Persia before he was born, Indian dancer/professional architect Sheila Sri Prakash, transgender spokesperson Jazz Jennings, inventor Param Jaggi, and an international host of other teen or preteen activists and prodigies. The individual portraits range from one paragraph to several pages in length, and they are interspersed with group tributes to, for instance, the Nazi-resisting “Swingkinder,” the striking New York City newsboys, and the marchers of the Birmingham Children’s Crusade. Mitchell even offers would-be villains a role model in Elagabalus, “boy emperor of Rome,” though she notes that he, at least, came to an awful end: “Then, then! They dumped his remains in the Tiber River, to be nommed by fish for all eternity.” The entries are arranged in no evident order, and though the backmatter includes multiple booklists, a personality quiz, a glossary, and even a quick Braille primer (with Braille jokes to decode), there is no index. Still, for readers whose fires need lighting, there’s motivational kindling on nearly every page.
A breezy, bustling bucketful of courageous acts and eye-popping feats. (finished illustrations not seen) (Collective biography. 10-13)Pub Date: May 10, 2016
ISBN: 978-0-14-751813-2
Page Count: 320
Publisher: Puffin
Review Posted Online: Nov. 10, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2015
Contentwise, an arbitrary assortment…but sure to draw fans of comics, of science, or of both.
Flash, Batman, and other characters from the DC Comics universe tackle supervillains and STEM-related topics and sometimes, both.
Credited to 20 writers and illustrators in various combinations, the 10 episodes invite readers to tag along as Mera and Aquaman visit oceanic zones from epipelagic to hadalpelagic; Supergirl helps a young scholar pick a science-project topic by taking her on a tour of the solar system; and Swamp Thing lends Poison Ivy a hand to describe how DNA works (later joining Swamp Kid to scuttle a climate-altering scheme by Arcane). In other episodes, various costumed creations explain the ins and outs of diverse large- and small-scale phenomena, including electricity, atomic structure, forensic techniques, 3-D printing, and the lactate threshold. Presumably on the supposition that the characters will be more familiar to readers than the science, the minilectures tend to start from simple basics, but the figures are mostly both redrawn to look more childlike than in the comics and identified only in passing. Drawing styles and page designs differ from chapter to chapter but not enough to interrupt overall visual unity and flow—and the cast is sufficiently diverse to include roles for superheroes (and villains) of color like Cyborg, Kid Flash, and the Latina Green Lantern, Jessica Cruz. Appended lists of websites and science-based YouTube channels, plus instructions for homespun activities related to each episode, point inspired STEM-winders toward further discoveries.
Contentwise, an arbitrary assortment…but sure to draw fans of comics, of science, or of both. (Graphic nonfiction. 9-12)Pub Date: Feb. 2, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-77950-382-4
Page Count: 160
Publisher: DC
Review Posted Online: Jan. 12, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2021
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