A timely overview of a pressing issue.
Violence and intimidation have been parts of American political life for generations, but today these incidents are increasing.
Citing research showing that this rise has been perpetrated mostly by right-wing extremists, Marcovitz describes the threat, the increase in groups of varying ideologies, the ways they attract followers, and countermeasures. An opening timeline begins at the end of the Civil War with the Ku Klux Klan, mentions the 20th-century bombings of an African American church in Alabama and a federal building in Oklahoma, and homes in on events of the first two decades of the 21st century. The author begins his survey with a description of the Wolverine Watchmen who hoped to overturn Michigan’s Covid-19 guidelines by kidnapping Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. He then documents a variety of incidents and mentions extreme views among the police and members of the armed forces as well as eco-terrorists. To explain the rise of extremist groups, he offers further examples, calling out former President Donald Trump’s role in encouraging right-wing groups. Marcovitz also points to the role played by social media, again with examples from around the country. He presents research into why people are attracted to these beliefs and actions. A final chapter discusses government anti-extremist efforts and First Amendment rights. Quotations and photographs are found throughout this useful survey for high school students.
A timely overview of a pressing issue. (source notes, organizations and websites, further research, index, picture credits) (Nonfiction. 12-16)Pub Date: March 1, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-67820-236-1
Page Count: 64
Publisher: ReferencePoint Press
Review Posted Online: Dec. 23, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2022
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Congolese-American Sophie makes a harrowing trek through a war-torn jungle to protect a young bonobo.
On her way to spend the summer at the bonobo sanctuary her mother runs, 14-year-old Sophie rescues a sickly baby bonobo from a trafficker. Though her Congolese mother is not pleased Sophie paid for the ape, she is proud that Sophie works to bond with Otto, the baby. A week before Sophie's to return home to her father in Miami, her mother must take advantage
of a charter flight to relocate some apes, and she leaves Sophie with Otto and the sanctuary workers. War breaks out, and after missing a U.N. flight out, Sophie must hide herself and Otto from violent militants and starving villagers. Unable to take Otto out of the country, she decides finding her mother hundreds of miles to the north is her only choice. Schrefer jumps from his usual teen suspense to craft this well-researched tale of jungle survival set during a fictional conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Realistic characters (ape and human) deal with disturbing situations described in graphic, but never gratuitous detail. The lessons Sophie learns about her childhood home, love and what it means to be endangered will resonate with readers.
Even if some hairbreadth escapes test credulity, this is a great next read for fans of our nearest ape cousins or survival adventure. (map, author's note, author Q&A) (Adventure. 12-16)
Pub Date: Nov. 1, 2012
ISBN: 978-0-545-16576-1
Page Count: 272
Publisher: Scholastic
Review Posted Online: Oct. 2, 2012
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 2012
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Unhappy teens in need of a lecture on thinking positively and being more in touch with one’s emotions need look no further.
Mangan presents in as many chapters a 20-point strategy that ranges from “Have a Positive Attitude” and “Cut Your Problems Into Pieces” to “Practice Being Patient” and “Appreciate the Value of Your Hard Work.” She blends private exercises like visualizing forgiveness with comments on selective attention, “problematic procrastination” and other bad habits, reframing situations to put them in different lights, “changing shoes” to understand others better and subjecting feelings to rational analysis. Though the author has a graduate degree and years of practice in clinical psychology, she offers generalities and generic situations rather than specific cases from her experience, and the book is devoid of references to further resources or even an index. Superficial advice (“If you are unsafe or are around kids that you know are bullies, just walk away”) combines with techniques that are unlikely to interest readers (“Make a song verse out of your list of helpful thoughts”). The author also makes questionable claims about the mind-body connection (“When you smile, your body sends a signal to your brain that you are happy”) and fails to make a case for regarding side forays into food habits and environmental concerns as relevant to her topic. Obvious issues and common-sense advice, unpersuasively presented. (Self-help. 12-15)
Pub Date: Sept. 15, 2011
ISBN: 978-1-4338-1040-4
Page Count: 128
Publisher: Magination/American Psychological Association
Review Posted Online: Aug. 9, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2011
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