A beautifully rendered, determinedly optimistic, zoomed-out meditation on the human condition.
Illustrations and text unite to sketch out human history and to make suggestions for a more human future in this work for older readers by acclaimed picture-book author and artist Jeffers.
What is the story of humanity? Jeffers ponders this question through spare, poetic prose and his signature artistic style. The book posits human evolution as a study in perseverance and optimism, the warmth of fire and the succor of community being central to each leap forward. Inspired by the stories of astronauts whose perspectives on identity and belonging shifted as a result of seeing the Earth from space, the book beseeches readers to view humankind as a “we,” rather than dividing ourselves into “us” versus “them.” Storytelling—“creating better stories”— is lifted up as one of our most powerful tools for shaping a better future. The message is nothing new, but it comes well stated and in a whimsical, gorgeously illustrated package. In an author’s note, Jeffers contextualizes his views on nationalism and violence within his personal history of growing up in Belfast, Northern Ireland. To older readers, the book may feel overly simplistic in its vision of a better world: The question of how to reform systems based on centuries of violence, greed, and bias is not addressed. But the book ultimately does not claim to be a road map; rather, it’s a highway sign, pointing hopefully at a hard-to-discern exit road.
A beautifully rendered, determinedly optimistic, zoomed-out meditation on the human condition. (author’s note) (Illustrated fiction. 12-adult)Pub Date: Oct. 3, 2023
ISBN: 9780593621554
Page Count: 112
Publisher: Philomel
Review Posted Online: July 26, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2023
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
An ode to the children of migrants who have been taken away.
A Mexican American boy takes on heavy responsibilities when his family is torn apart.
Mateo’s life is turned upside down the day U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents show up unsuccessfully seeking his Pa at his New York City bodega. The Garcias live in fear until the day both parents are picked up; his Pa is taken to jail and his Ma to a detention center. The adults around Mateo offer support to him and his 7-year-old sister, Sophie, however, he knows he is now responsible for caring for her and the bodega as well as trying to survive junior year—that is, if he wants to fulfill his dream to enter the drama program at the Tisch School of the Arts and become an actor. Mateo’s relationships with his friends Kimmie and Adam (a potential love interest) also suffer repercussions as he keeps his situation a secret. Kimmie is half Korean (her other half is unspecified) and Adam is Italian American; Mateo feels disconnected from them, less American, and with worries they can’t understand. He talks himself out of choosing a safer course of action, a decision that deepens the story. Mateo’s self-awareness and inner monologue at times make him seem older than 16, and, with significant turmoil in the main plot, some side elements feel underdeveloped. Aleman’s narrative joins the ranks of heart-wrenching stories of migrant families who have been separated.
An ode to the children of migrants who have been taken away. (Fiction. 14-18)Pub Date: May 4, 2021
ISBN: 978-0-7595-5605-8
Page Count: 400
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: Feb. 22, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2021
BOOK REVIEW
A clever and timely conversation on reclaiming identity and acknowledging one’s full worth.
Superman confronts racism and learns to accept himself with the help of new friends.
In this graphic-novel adaptation of the 1940s storyline entitled “The Clan of the Fiery Cross” from The Adventures of Superman radio show, readers are reintroduced to the hero who regularly saves the day but is unsure of himself and his origins. The story also focuses on Roberta Lee, a young Chinese girl. She and her family have just moved from Chinatown to Metropolis proper, and mixed feelings abound. Jimmy Olsen, Lois Lane’s colleague from the Daily Planet, takes a larger role here, befriending his new neighbors, the Lees. An altercation following racial slurs directed at Roberta’s brother after he joins the local baseball team escalates into an act of terrorism by the Klan of the Fiery Kross. What starts off as a run-of-the-mill superhero story then becomes a nuanced and personal exploration of the immigrant experience and blatant and internalized racism. Other main characters are White, but Black police inspector William Henderson fights his own battles against prejudice. Clean lines, less-saturated coloring, and character designs reminiscent of vintage comics help set the tone of this period piece while the varied panel cuts and action scenes give it a more modern sensibility. Cantonese dialogue is indicated through red speech bubbles; alien speech is in green.
A clever and timely conversation on reclaiming identity and acknowledging one’s full worth. (author’s note, bibliography) (Graphic fiction. 13-adult)Pub Date: May 12, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-77950-421-0
Page Count: 240
Publisher: DC
Review Posted Online: Feb. 29, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2020
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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