A slim volume of serviceable suggestions to shape a teen’s next steps.
A practical survey of post–high school options including, but not limited to, higher education.
Sheen offers a straightforward and readable discussion of life after high school, warmly encouraging personal exploration in the introduction: “It is normal to be uncertain about the future….No decision is irrevocable....Even those individuals who seem to know exactly what they want frequently wind up veering onto a different path.” Five chapters outline a range of possible next steps, their pros and cons, multiple anecdotes, and suggestions for further research. “Preparing and Exploring” offers advice for decision-making, with tips for understanding personal strengths and weaknesses and concrete ideas on resources and timelines. “Going to College” discusses continuing education in both four-year and two-year settings, with practical tips for finding a good fit and introductory information on the application process and financial aid. “Opting for Technical and Vocational Training” discusses program basics in technical and creative fields. “Joining the Workforce” surveys the pros and cons of going straight to work and the opportunities teens can expect, including entrepreneurship and joining the military. “Taking a Gap Year” defines this option for an American audience and lists possibilities such as traveling, learning new skills, and volunteering. Stock photography depicting racially diverse individuals matches the text throughout. Pull quotes highlight important points in each section and enhance readability.
A slim volume of serviceable suggestions to shape a teen’s next steps. (source notes, organizations and websites, further research, index, picture credits) (Nonfiction. 14-18)Pub Date: Aug. 1, 2023
ISBN: 9781678206000
Page Count: 64
Publisher: ReferencePoint Press
Review Posted Online: June 21, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 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
Though not the most balanced, an enlightening look back for the queer future.
An adaptation for teens of the adult title A Queer History of the United States (2011).
Divided into thematic sections, the text filters LGBTQIA+ history through key figures in each era from the 1500s to the present. Alongside watershed moments like the 1969 Stonewall uprising and the HIV/AIDS crisis of the 1980s and 1990s, the text brings to light less well-known people, places, and events: the 1625 free love colony of Merrymount, transgender Civil War hero Albert D.J. Cashier, and the 1951 founding of the Mattachine Society, to name a few. Throughout, the author and adapter take care to use accurate pronouns and avoid imposing contemporary terminology onto historical figures. In some cases, they quote primary sources to speculate about same-sex relationships while also reminding readers of past cultural differences in expressing strong affection between friends. Black-and-white illustrations or photos augment each chapter. Though it lacks the teen appeal and personable, conversational style of Sarah Prager’s Queer, There, and Everywhere (2017), this textbook-level survey contains a surprising amount of depth. However, the mention of transgender movements and activism—in particular, contemporary issues—runs on the slim side. Whereas chapters are devoted to over 30 ethnically diverse gay, lesbian, bisexual, or queer figures, some trans pioneers such as Christine Jorgensen and Holly Woodlawn are reduced to short sidebars.
Though not the most balanced, an enlightening look back for the queer future. (glossary, photo credits, bibliography, index) (Nonfiction. 14-18)Pub Date: June 11, 2019
ISBN: 978-0-8070-5612-7
Page Count: 336
Publisher: Beacon Press
Review Posted Online: March 12, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2019
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