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in the U.S. in the wake of the 2022 Supreme Court decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, which rescinded Roe v. Wade, the historic 1973 case that legalized abortion.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
A powerful reminder of a history that is all too timely today.
A beautifully heart-wrenching graphic-novel adaptation of actor and activist Takei’s (Lions and Tigers and Bears, 2013, etc.) childhood experience of incarceration in a World War II camp for Japanese Americans.
Takei had not yet started school when he, his parents, and his younger siblings were forced to leave their home and report to the Santa Anita Racetrack for “processing and removal” due to President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Executive Order 9066. The creators smoothly and cleverly embed the historical context within which Takei’s family’s story takes place, allowing readers to simultaneously experience the daily humiliations that they suffered in the camps while providing readers with a broader understanding of the federal legislation, lawsuits, and actions which led to and maintained this injustice. The heroes who fought against this and provided support to and within the Japanese American community, such as Fred Korematsu, the 442nd Regiment, Herbert Nicholson, and the ACLU’s Wayne Collins, are also highlighted, but the focus always remains on the many sacrifices that Takei’s parents made to ensure the safety and survival of their family while shielding their children from knowing the depths of the hatred they faced and danger they were in. The creators also highlight the dangerous parallels between the hate speech, stereotyping, and legislation used against Japanese Americans and the trajectory of current events. Delicate grayscale illustrations effectively convey the intense emotions and the stark living conditions.
A powerful reminder of a history that is all too timely today. (Graphic memoir. 14-adult)Pub Date: July 16, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-60309-450-4
Page Count: 208
Publisher: Top Shelf Books
Review Posted Online: Aug. 4, 2019
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