A rousing appeal for those concerned about the state of the world.
A climate activist calls for action.
Loach, author of the adult bestseller It’s Not That Radical (2023), restates her argument in this title for younger readers. Acknowledging that many kids and teens are rightfully disturbed by global warming and other injustices, she uses understandable metaphors, a conversational tone, and relatable stories to encourage them to listen to their feelings, imagine a better world, and work to make a difference. A Jamaican immigrant who now lives in England, Loach discusses how her own identity as a Black woman informs her work and beliefs; notably, she teases out systems of oppression such as white supremacy, colonialism, and capitalism as she stresses that the impacts of climate change disproportionately affect those living in the Global South. As bleak as things may seem, her passion is evident as she urges readers to “fight against fossil fuels, against exploitation, against capitalism, and for a world where we all live in dignity.” She decries consumerism, explores how the burning of fossil fuels has resulted in disappearing beaches, and pushes readers to organize for change. Her vision may seem radical to some, but, as she points out, “Lots of things that most people now would find ridiculous used to be accepted.” Infographics break up the text, and the book concludes with an appendix of resources and glossary (unseen). Final art not seen.
A rousing appeal for those concerned about the state of the world. (Nonfiction. 10-14)Pub Date: March 18, 2025
ISBN: 9780593897324
Page Count: 208
Publisher: Bright Matter Books
Review Posted Online: March 8, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2025
Hot on the heels of the well-received Leonardo da Vinci (2005) comes another agreeably chatty entry in the Giants of Science series. Here the pioneering physicist is revealed as undeniably brilliant, but also cantankerous, mean-spirited, paranoid and possibly depressive. Newton’s youth and annus mirabilis receive respectful treatment, the solitude enforced by family estrangement and then the plague seen as critical to the development of his thoughtful, methodical approach. His subsequent squabbles with the rest of the scientific community—he refrained from publishing one treatise until his rival was dead—further support the image of Newton as a scientific lone wolf. Krull’s colloquial treatment sketches Newton’s advances in clearly understandable terms without bogging the text down with detailed explanations. A final chapter on “His Impact” places him squarely in the pantheon of great thinkers, arguing that both his insistence on the scientific method and his theories of physics have informed all subsequent scientific thought. A bibliography, web site and index round out the volume; the lack of detail on the use of sources is regrettable in an otherwise solid offering for middle-grade students. (Biography. 10-14)
Pub Date: April 1, 2006
ISBN: 0-670-05921-8
Page Count: 128
Publisher: Viking
Review Posted Online: June 24, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2006
This glossy, colorful title in the “I Want To Be” series has visual appeal but poor organization and a fuzzy focus, which limits its usefulness. Each double-paged layout introduces a new topic with six to eight full-color photographs and a single column of text. Topics include types of environmentalists, eco-issues, waste renewal, education, High School of Environmental Studies, environmental vocabulary, history of environmentalism, famous environmentalists, and the return of the eagle. Often the photographs have little to do with the text or are marginal to the topic. For example, a typical layout called “Some Alternative Solutions” has five snapshots superimposed on a double-page photograph of a California wind farm. The text discusses ways to develop alternative forms of energy and “encourage environmentally friendly lifestyles.” Photos include “a healer who treats a patient with alternative therapy using sound and massage,” and “the Castle,” a house built of “used tires and aluminum cans.” Elsewhere, “Did You Know . . . ” shows a dramatic photo of Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, but the text provides odd facts such as “ . . . that in Saudi Arabia there are solar-powered pay phones in the desert?” Some sections seem stuck in, a two-page piece on the effects of “El Niño” or 50 postage-stamp–sized photos of endangered species. The author concludes with places to write for more information and a list of photo credits. Pretty, but little here to warrant purchase. (Nonfiction. 9-11)
Pub Date: Aug. 1, 2000
ISBN: 0-15-201862-X
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Harcourt
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2000
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