Strong stuff clearly expressed.
Explains what fake news really is and why it matters.
Opening with descriptions of the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol invasion and misinformation about the outcome of the 2020 election that has continued to fuel distrust in the election process, Sheen explains that these are part of a wider problem of proliferation of fake news that affects us all. She devotes her first chapter to defining fake news, touches on its long history and the ways it is spread, and explores the reasons some people believe it. A second chapter focuses on science denial, with special emphasis on responses to Covid-19. A third section looks at political and social movements, including responses to the Black Lives Matter movement, Russian influence in the 2016 election and beyond, domestic extremists, and unethical political leaders. Although most of the politicians called out are Republicans, particularly former President Donald Trump, the author offers examples of Democrats as well. A final chapter describes efforts to combat fake news, including action by social media platforms and media literacy education. Sheen provides pros and cons for governmental oversight. The backmatter includes a handy list of ways to spot fake news and another of useful organizations and websites. Some topics are given special boxed treatment, quotes are pulled out for emphasis, and there are photographs throughout to break up the text. The author’s concern is evident, and she includes ample documentation as well as explanation.
Strong stuff clearly expressed. (picture credits, source notes, further research, index) (Nonfiction. 12-18)Pub Date: March 1, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-67820-240-8
Page Count: 64
Publisher: ReferencePoint Press
Review Posted Online: Jan. 10, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2022
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
A powerful reminder of a history that is all too timely today.
A beautifully heart-wrenching graphic-novel adaptation of actor and activist Takei’s (Lions and Tigers and Bears, 2013, etc.) childhood experience of incarceration in a World War II camp for Japanese Americans.
Takei had not yet started school when he, his parents, and his younger siblings were forced to leave their home and report to the Santa Anita Racetrack for “processing and removal” due to President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Executive Order 9066. The creators smoothly and cleverly embed the historical context within which Takei’s family’s story takes place, allowing readers to simultaneously experience the daily humiliations that they suffered in the camps while providing readers with a broader understanding of the federal legislation, lawsuits, and actions which led to and maintained this injustice. The heroes who fought against this and provided support to and within the Japanese American community, such as Fred Korematsu, the 442nd Regiment, Herbert Nicholson, and the ACLU’s Wayne Collins, are also highlighted, but the focus always remains on the many sacrifices that Takei’s parents made to ensure the safety and survival of their family while shielding their children from knowing the depths of the hatred they faced and danger they were in. The creators also highlight the dangerous parallels between the hate speech, stereotyping, and legislation used against Japanese Americans and the trajectory of current events. Delicate grayscale illustrations effectively convey the intense emotions and the stark living conditions.
A powerful reminder of a history that is all too timely today. (Graphic memoir. 14-adult)Pub Date: July 16, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-60309-450-4
Page Count: 208
Publisher: Top Shelf Books
Review Posted Online: Aug. 4, 2019
BOOK REVIEW
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