A solid and engaging overview of a host of scientific concepts.
“Questions are the lifeblood of learning,” the authors proclaim, and questions—and answers—abound in this reader-friendly tome.
In an effort to “promote improved understanding and combat misinformation” in an age where the latter is far too prevalent, marine scientist Prager and meteorologist Jones have compiled “some of the most frequently asked and zaniest questions” they and their colleagues have encountered. Each chapter explores a variety of topics related to an overarching subject that’s adjacent to the authors’ respective fields, including marine life and ocean health, extreme weather, astronomy, and the dangers of scientific illiteracy. The chapter entitled “Supernatural, Suspicious, or Science” covers such far-ranging matters as rumors about the Bermuda Triangle, lenticular clouds (which are often mistaken for UFOs), and the science behind so-called chemtrails. The authors present information in a detailed, frank, and conversational manner and clearly explain technical terms. The book includes sobering information about current risks to the environment and the impact human activity has had on it. The text doesn’t sugarcoat the dire nature of climate change, but it is lightened and enlivened by a fair amount of humor, especially in Birnbach's scattered cartoon spot art. The work lends itself to being read cover to cover or dipped into by those who wish to learn more about a specific area, enhancing its usefulness.
A solid and engaging overview of a host of scientific concepts. (authors’ note, sources and additional information, index) (Nonfiction. 13-18)Pub Date: Oct. 22, 2024
ISBN: 9780231212496
Page Count: 240
Publisher: Columbia Univ.
Review Posted Online: Aug. 17, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2024
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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