A concise depiction of the journey that broke many barriers for a driven woman of color.
A daughter of immigrants follows a path of social and political activism to become the first female, Black, and Asian American vice president of the United States.
Kamala Harris’ story is outlined here, from her childhood years to her rise in California politics and election as vice president. Her mother, who came from India, and her father, who is from Jamaica, met as graduate students in Berkeley. They were both interested in social justice, and some of Harris’ earliest memories are of attending protests. Her parents divorced when she was young, and her mother raised her daughters to identify with both sides of her family while recognizing that they would be perceived as Black. Harris attended the historically Black Howard University in Washington, D.C., before returning to California for law school. Despite distrust of prosecutors in marginalized communities, Harris chose that career path, believing in her ability to make change. Political success followed despite some criticism, such as when she refused to seek the death penalty following the killing of a police officer. Her qualifications led to her selection as running mate for 2020 presidential candidate Joe Biden. This brief, easy-to-read biography, enhanced with quotes and photographs, offers a solid introduction. Sidebars provide important background context, and the work as a whole provides a useful snapshot of the life of an important woman.
A concise depiction of the journey that broke many barriers for a driven woman of color. (source notes, timeline, further research, index) (Nonfiction. 12-16)Pub Date: June 1, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-67820-086-2
Page Count: 64
Publisher: ReferencePoint Press
Review Posted Online: April 13, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2021
Attractively designed and handsomely illustrated, this informative text introduces teens to many intriguing angles on a...
Will the world end in a bang or a whimper? Unless pre-empted by human-induced disaster or one of many scientifically possible catastrophic scenarios, life on Earth will end a billion years from now in a sizzle.
Predicting the end of the world is an old story, argues the author, presenting evidence in brief surveys of eschatologies from the world's major religions and mythologies of ancient civilizations. Miller also notes how end-of-world scenarios have captured humanity's imagination in their frequent appearances in science-fiction novels and motion pictures. (Disappointingly, the reasons for this ongoing fascination are not explored.) A chapter about imminent predictions for 2012 explains the Mayan prophecy and a theory about a phantom planet called Nibiru crashing into Earth. Another chapter examines pseudoscientific end-of-world theories such as planetary alignment and pole shifts. The primary focus is on scientifically plausible scenarios: self-destruction through nuclear war or continued environmental exploitation; humanity wiped out by a pandemic; an asteroid or comet strike destroying Earth.
Attractively designed and handsomely illustrated, this informative text introduces teens to many intriguing angles on a high-interest topic that should inspire many to further explore the subject. (chronology, glossary, bibliography, further reading, index) (Nonfiction. 12-16)Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2011
ISBN: 978-0-7613-7396-4
Page Count: 120
Publisher: Twenty-First Century/Lerner
Review Posted Online: Aug. 16, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2011
Catnip for scandal junkies, with a bit of historical perspective stirred in.
A gleefully explicit catalogue of the past century’s headline-grabbing bad behavior.
Aimed at readers who don’t need to be told who Brangelina is but may be hazy on “twisted besties” Leopold and Loeb or even Monica Lewinsky, this edutaining survey presents a wide-angle array of murders, sexual follies, controversial trials, race violence, political corruption and general envelope-pushing from the 1906 killing of Stanford White on. Each of the chronologically arranged entries opens with a capsule “Scoop” followed by a slightly fuller account under a “What Went Down” header. Along with a small black-and-white photo and one or two sidebar quotes, the author tacks on subsequent developments, sometimes-perceptive suggestions about “Why We Still Care” and a short roster of similar incidents in recent history. Though she misspells “Symbionese” and repeatedly awards FDR only three Presidential wins, in general Fryd presents reasonably accurate summaries of events and issues while giving all sides of the more muddled conflicts at least a nod. Additional cred is provided by a teen panel of editorial advisors.
Catnip for scandal junkies, with a bit of historical perspective stirred in. (index) (Nonfiction. 12-16)Pub Date: Feb. 1, 2012
ISBN: 978-0-9827322-0-5
Page Count: 224
Publisher: Zest/Orange Avenue
Review Posted Online: Jan. 8, 2012
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2012
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