Historically accurate but only just begins to disrupt the dominant narrative.
What was it like to be a child traveling on the Oregon and California trails in the years between 1841 and 1884?
Focusing mostly on the stories of emigrants, also called overlanders, this introductory title highlights the stories of 15 young people ages 6 to 14 gleaned from both primary and secondary sources, such as contemporary newspaper articles. Most are White; two Native American and two Black voices are the exceptions. Starting with the decision to move West, the book proceeds in well-laid-out double-page spreads to cover what to pack, when to leave, children’s responsibilities on the journey, the perils of rough weather, the tragedies of sickness, and more. Information about or quotes from the 15 children are included on every page. The bright, bold illustrations are defined by thick lines and subtle textures. Unfortunately, the illustrated portraits of the children aren’t quite distinct enough to provide visual differentiation among their stories. The text specifically addresses the devastating impacts of westward expansion on the Native Americans already living on land viewed as empty and free by White people. Free African Americans, as well as enslaved Black people, are mentioned occasionally. Despite these efforts, Whiteness is still centered. White emigrant children are referred to simply as “emigrants” while non-White perspectives are labeled specifically. Backmatter includes sources, an author’s note, and biographical information about each of the 15 young people featured.
Historically accurate but only just begins to disrupt the dominant narrative. (Nonfiction. 7-12)Pub Date: June 29, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-5132-6730-2
Page Count: 48
Publisher: West Margin Press
Review Posted Online: April 13, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2021
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
With young readers diagnosed with anxiety in ever increasing numbers, this book offers a necessary mirror to many.
Young Raina is 9 when she throws up for the first time that she remembers, due to a stomach bug. Even a year later, when she is in fifth grade, she fears getting sick.
Raina begins having regular stomachaches that keep her home from school. She worries about sharing food with her friends and eating certain kinds of foods, afraid of getting sick or food poisoning. Raina’s mother enrolls her in therapy. At first Raina isn’t sure about seeing a therapist, but over time she develops healthy coping mechanisms to deal with her stress and anxiety. Her therapist helps her learn to ground herself and relax, and in turn she teaches her classmates for a school project. Amping up the green, wavy lines to evoke Raina’s nausea, Telgemeier brilliantly produces extremely accurate visual representations of stress and anxiety. Thought bubbles surround Raina in some panels, crowding her with anxious “what if”s, while in others her negative self-talk appears to be literally crushing her. Even as she copes with anxiety disorder and what is eventually diagnosed as mild irritable bowel syndrome, she experiences the typical stresses of school life, going from cheer to panic in the blink of an eye. Raina is white, and her classmates are diverse; one best friend is Korean American.
With young readers diagnosed with anxiety in ever increasing numbers, this book offers a necessary mirror to many. (Graphic memoir. 8-12)Pub Date: Sept. 17, 2019
ISBN: 978-0-545-85251-7
Page Count: 224
Publisher: Graphix/Scholastic
Review Posted Online: May 11, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2019
A variety show brimming with esoteric and practical information.
Two youngsters embark on a journey peppered with history, trivia, and skits while teaching money lessons.
Meet Mellody and John, the young stars of this currency showcase. Their very first dialogue offers a taste of the intriguing information to come, from the ancient Mayans’ use of cacao beans as payment to the origins of the piggy bank. The book offers a chronologically and geographically broad timeline of the history of money, encompassing the past 3.9 billion years (starting with meteorite crashes that scattered metals—“the very first bank deposit”) and referencing practices across five continents. Readers will find themselves eagerly sharing the facts gleaned here, including the centuries-old origins of terms and expressions still used today. Mellody and John’s fun banter crucially reflects their experiences with money, such as their families’ differing attitudes toward allowances. Both are savers as well as givers, sharing stories about giving to charity. In one especially entertaining section, a cat and a bunny converse in money-related catchphrases that are separately defined at the bottom of each page. Stevens’ watercolors are appropriately realistic and appealing, whether depicting Mellody’s pretend bank or Elizabeth II’s butler ironing a 10-pound note. Messages about money’s use as a means to an end, rather than an end in itself, ensure that readers will think about their own purposes for their savings. Mellody and John are Black.
A variety show brimming with esoteric and practical information. (index) (Nonfiction. 8-12)Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2024
ISBN: 9781536224719
Page Count: 80
Publisher: Candlewick
Review Posted Online: Sept. 14, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2024
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