An engaging entry point to the lives of significant women.
A visually lively survey of some wonderful, changemaking women of the world.
Based on a feature that ran in Wonder Woman comic books in the mid-20th century, this anthology collects short biographical comics of women who have had a positive impact on the world. These sketches are organized into five sections: Strength, Compassion, Justice, Truth, and Equality. Among the 24 subjects are those whose influence has shaped science, politics, social reforms, entertainment, sports, and more. Figures likely familiar to readers, such as Beyoncé, Malala Yousafzai, and Ruth Bader Ginsburg, share the pages with remarkable lesser-known women like Teara Fraser (Métis), the CEO of Indigenous- and woman-owned Iskwew Airlines, and Nigerian scientist and climate change activist Francisca Nneka Okeke. The authors and illustrators likewise include a broad array of voices, including popular and beloved voices such as Danielle Paige, Traci Sorell, Kami Garcia, and Marieke Nijkamp. Narratively and artistically, the stories vary in style but are united by the overarching theme. While the biographies are short—each section opens with a single-page introduction to a woman who exemplifies the thematic trait, followed by more in-depth profiles of six to eight pages each—the book serves as a compelling introduction to many real Wonder Women around the globe, and the celebratory, galvanizing tone will inspire further research and action. Subjects and creators alike range widely in race, ethnicity, nationality, sexuality, and gender identity.
An engaging entry point to the lives of significant women. (contributor biographies) (Graphic nonfiction. 12-18)Pub Date: Sept. 28, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-77950-378-7
Page Count: 200
Publisher: DC
Review Posted Online: Oct. 20, 2021
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
Brief yet inspirational, this story will galvanize youth to use their voices for change.
Testa’s connection to and respect for nature compelled her to begin championing animal causes at the age of 10, and this desire to have an impact later propelled her to dedicate her life to fighting plastic pollution. Starting with the history of plastic and how it’s produced, Testa acknowledges the benefits of plastics for humanity but also the many ways it harms our planet. Instead of relying on recycling—which is both insufficient and ineffective—she urges readers to follow two additional R’s: “refuse” and “raise awareness.” Readers are encouraged to do their part, starting with small things like refusing to use plastic straws and water bottles and eventually working up to using their voices to influence business and policy change. In the process, she highlights other youth advocates working toward the same cause. Short chapters include personal examples, such as observations of plastic pollution in Mauritius, her maternal grandparents’ birthplace. Testa makes her case not only against plastic pollution, but also for the work she’s done, resulting in something of a college-admissions–essay tone. Nevertheless, the first-person accounts paired with science will have an impact on readers. Unfortunately, no sources are cited and the lack of backmatter is a missed opportunity.
Brief yet inspirational, this story will galvanize youth to use their voices for change. (Nonfiction. 12-18)Pub Date: Oct. 13, 2020
ISBN: 978-0-593-22333-8
Page Count: 64
Publisher: Penguin Workshop
Review Posted Online: July 26, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2020
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