A brief, balanced overview of a fraught and complex issue.
An overview that presents a contentious topic in a clear and dispassionate light.
The introduction describes the state of abortion rights in the U.S. in the wake of the 2022 Supreme Court decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, which rescinded Roe v. Wade, the historic 1973 case that legalized abortion. The first chapter recounts the historical context, starting from the early 19th century. Two subsequent chapters focus on risks to women and medical professionals as a result of abortion restrictions. The two final chapters present current efforts to completely ban abortion and the opposing drive to restore abortion rights. Short narratives depict and quote people who have been affected by the Dobbs ruling, showing the emotional impact and medical hazards of pregnancy complications and limited health care access. Relatedly, the book describes the “sizable segment of women” who are avoiding pregnancy “because they are fearful that Dobbs robs them of the health care…they require.” Textboxes present relevant background information, such as the story of the actual Jane Roe. Graphs, charts, and photographs break up the text. Lerose describes anti-abortion groups’ embrace of “the personhood of every fetus,” highlighting the spread of student groups. Disappointingly, the book doesn’t connect positions on abortion with various religious teachings, and some complex information, such as the possible mental health impact of abortion, is presented without sufficient context. Nevertheless, this is an accessible and timely resource.
A brief, balanced overview of a fraught and complex issue. (source notes, organizations, for further research, index, picture credits) (Nonfiction. 13-18)Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2024
ISBN: 9781678207724
Page Count: 64
Publisher: ReferencePoint Press
Review Posted Online: Aug. 3, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2024
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
Though not the most balanced, an enlightening look back for the queer future.
An adaptation for teens of the adult title A Queer History of the United States (2011).
Divided into thematic sections, the text filters LGBTQIA+ history through key figures in each era from the 1500s to the present. Alongside watershed moments like the 1969 Stonewall uprising and the HIV/AIDS crisis of the 1980s and 1990s, the text brings to light less well-known people, places, and events: the 1625 free love colony of Merrymount, transgender Civil War hero Albert D.J. Cashier, and the 1951 founding of the Mattachine Society, to name a few. Throughout, the author and adapter take care to use accurate pronouns and avoid imposing contemporary terminology onto historical figures. In some cases, they quote primary sources to speculate about same-sex relationships while also reminding readers of past cultural differences in expressing strong affection between friends. Black-and-white illustrations or photos augment each chapter. Though it lacks the teen appeal and personable, conversational style of Sarah Prager’s Queer, There, and Everywhere (2017), this textbook-level survey contains a surprising amount of depth. However, the mention of transgender movements and activism—in particular, contemporary issues—runs on the slim side. Whereas chapters are devoted to over 30 ethnically diverse gay, lesbian, bisexual, or queer figures, some trans pioneers such as Christine Jorgensen and Holly Woodlawn are reduced to short sidebars.
Though not the most balanced, an enlightening look back for the queer future. (glossary, photo credits, bibliography, index) (Nonfiction. 14-18)Pub Date: June 11, 2019
ISBN: 978-0-8070-5612-7
Page Count: 336
Publisher: Beacon Press
Review Posted Online: March 12, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2019
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