GENOCIDE

This thoroughly researched and all-too-relevant history, an updated version of the 2006 original, examines questions of why genocide happens, who is involved, and how it can be prevented.

Springer defines genocide as “actions carried out with the intent to destroy a national, ethnic, racial, or religious group,” though she notes that the ongoing global debate on what constitutes genocide has been fraught, even after the signing of the 1948 United Nations’ Genocide Convention. The book covers a wide variety of genocides in up-to-date detail, including the conflict in Darfur that was reignited in 2023, the ongoing persecution of the Rohingya people of Myanmar, the continued fallout of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, and many more, including historical events. Each featured instance is separated into manageable, bite-size case studies; Springer also draws out similarities and connections among them. She discusses climate change, armed conflict, and gender and socio-economic inequities as contributing factors, highlighting the intersectional nuances woven into each issue. The expansive yet concise text manages to tackle a broad, tough topic while remaining digestible to teen audiences—and without shying away from tough questions about the trans-Atlantic slave trade or the brutal treatment of Indigenous children in residential schools. Solís’ starkly dramatic red, black, and white full-page illustrations punctuate the text.

A compact, critical exploration of the devastating history, context, and consequences of global genocides.