Relatable history and personal storytelling that will reach digital natives.
The young woman behind the popular TikTok series “Fast Black History” offers readers a collection of short biographies of prominent Black Americans.
Each of the 12 profiles includes a segment entitled “TAYSTORY!” (for “History + Taylor”) that shows how the historical figure has personally influenced the author’s life. The eclectic selection, which includes both well-known names and ones that may be new to readers, demonstrates how wide-ranging Black history is and how many life lessons can be found in it. The story of Claudette Colvin focuses on the possibility of making change at a young age. Eighteenth-century scientist Benjamin Banneker offers a reminder “to never shrink yourself.” Some entries, such as the one on journalist Ida B. Wells, open with a content warning. Zora Neale Hurston’s entry includes a playlist of modern music that highlights her complex personality. The chapter on photographer Gordon Parks celebrates his “reverberant, honest voice.” Ledger Smith roller-skated from Chicago to the 1963 March on Washington; track star Tommie Smith famously took a stand against racism at the 1968 Olympics; and actor Cicely Tyson shows “why good representation changes lives.” The remaining subjects—fashion designer Patrick Kelly, Stonewall Uprising leader Marsha P. Johnson, and astronaut Mae Jemison—offer other valuable examples. The lively, colloquial language makes this work accessible and appealing to those who might shy away from traditional history texts. Bellet’s whimsical illustrations add to the sense of joy. The book has no source list.
Relatable history and personal storytelling that will reach digital natives. (Nonfiction. 12-18)Pub Date: Oct. 14, 2025
ISBN: 9781665957700
Page Count: 200
Publisher: Atheneum
Review Posted Online: Aug. 2, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2025
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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