Enthusiastic but perplexing.
An introduction to the life and times of John Lennon and Yoko Ono.
This large-format book bursting with color harkens back to the psychedelic 1960s using an understated yet vibrant palette and a style resembling linoleum printing. Each spread features a collage of images that reflect information presented in small blocks of exclamation mark–laden text under simple headings. The book is organized into spreads, with introductory topics including “England” and “Themes,” then overviews of Ono’s and Lennon’s lives and creative work, followed by the story of their relationship. With few blocks of text on each spread, the ideas presented are highly curated and vaguely broad, creating questions in readers’ minds about what was left out. For example, “John was tormented by fears about his romantic fusion with Yoko, and he began to make all sorts of mistakes, putting his marriage at risk.” There are also holes in the historical presentation, and what is included feels too complimentary to be completely objective (regarding the lyric, “all you need is love,” the author writes, “It sounded great, and what’s more, it was true!”) The main narrative is followed by famous quotes from both subjects, descriptions of one creative work apiece, thumbnail portraits of artistic contemporaries and friends (all male save Cynthia Powell, John’s first wife), a glossary, and a timeline. There is no bibliography or source notes.
Enthusiastic but perplexing. (Nonfiction. 12-18)Pub Date: Aug. 22, 2023
ISBN: 9781914519741
Page Count: 44
Publisher: Orange Mosquito
Review Posted Online: Feb. 24, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2023
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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