Clear explanations and practical advice for today’s tense teens.
Normally a stressful time, adolescence has been made even more difficult by the Covid-19 pandemic, but this title offers ways to avoid becoming overwhelmed by feelings of fear, irritation, and sadness.
Sheen claims no particular mental health qualifications, but she’s a prolific writer of series books who presents her sensible suggestions in a way that may engage teen readers despite the book’s staid appearance. Chapter by chapter, she explains what stress is, how to fight it, and how to take control of your life. In clear exposition, the author acknowledges that the teen years are not easy, and this past year has made things worse than usual. She describes the human body’s physical reactions to stress; internal and external stressors; the need to recognize personal triggers; and the possibility of finding distractions that work. The book suggests fighting stress with a healthy lifestyle, including healthy eating, physical and breathing exercises, mindfulness practice, progressive muscle relaxation, and even aromatherapy. It offers ways to take control; for example, manage time, become more assertive, fight perfectionism, and get support. Examples from interviews with real teens and statements from public figures offer additional guidance. Callout boxes present quotations and help break up the text. Stock photographs show an ethnically diverse range of teens in action or reflection.
Clear explanations and practical advice for today’s tense teens. (source notes, resources, further research, index, picture credits) (Nonfiction. 12-18)Pub Date: Aug. 1, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-6782-0094-7
Page Count: 64
Publisher: ReferencePoint Press
Review Posted Online: May 31, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2021
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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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