Informative and entertaining.
A quick overview of manga and anime history and their impact.
Divided into five chapters, this appealing read is ideal for anyone who identifies as an otaku, or fan of Japanese culture, especially anime and manga, as well as those interested in Japanese art and culture more generally. The book covers manga’s earliest origins in traditional scrolls created by Buddhist monks; the hallmarks of its distinctive style, which is influenced by Noh theater; the postwar rise of anime and manga in Japan; their growth in popularity in the U.S.; and the explosion of fandom communities. Along the way, readers learn about the ways these art forms depict Japanese values, how they are intrinsically connected with history (even being used as anti-Western propaganda during World War II), how anime differs from Western animation, and more. The exploration of the intense, tightknit communities that engage in cosplay and write fan fiction shows how anime and manga are more than fads and are based on “something enduring” and possess “deep roots in Japanese culture, universal characters and themes, and…stories of human love, strength, and survival.” This fun read features concise chapters that contribute to a quick pace as it moves seamlessly from one major topic or event to the next. Stock photos and movie stills break up and enhance the text; sidebars include quotes from film critics, artists, and others.
Informative and entertaining. (source notes, further research, index, picture credits) (Nonfiction. 12-18)Pub Date: Aug. 1, 2023
ISBN: 9781678205867
Page Count: 64
Publisher: ReferencePoint Press
Review Posted Online: June 8, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2023
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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