A (sadly) necessary, practical tool for young women who've survived sexual abuse and assault.
A licensed professional counselor and a clinical psychologist designed this self-help guide for young women who've survived sexual trauma.
Opening with a letter to prospective readers from the authors, a tone of respectful, positive acceptance is set early on in this workbook, which begins generally—providing information on proper nutrition, exercise, and sleep habits—and becomes specific, eventually addressing such topics as depression, anxiety, and PTSD. Each section includes short testimonials from other survivors (referred to by their first names), fill-in-the-blank exercises, inspirational quotes, and “more to do” activities, in which readers are encouraged to put into practice some of the techniques introduced that may help them cope with such experiences as nightmares, shame, negative self-talk, and flashbacks, among others. Clear, concise descriptions of strategies such as grounding, progressive relaxation, changing life scripts, and mindfulness practices are easy to follow, though the authors also make clear that this guide is not meant to replace working with a professional therapist but rather might make a good supplement. Its earnest, directly therapeutic approach also seems likely to be most effective for those who are already in counseling and who may have worked through any sarcastic or self-conscious resistance to the techniques offered.
A (sadly) necessary, practical tool for young women who've survived sexual abuse and assault. (Nonfiction. 12 & up)Pub Date: June 1, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-62625-399-5
Page Count: 200
Publisher: New Harbinger
Review Posted Online: May 3, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2016
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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