A potentially fun vehicle for self-awareness and wellness but one with a glaring flaw.
An interactive guide to the “magical landscape of YOU!”
Young people are invited to explore their “mountains of strength,” “wetlands of weakness,” and “forest of fears” in this fill-in-the-blank imaginative journal. The journey begins with an invitation to draw self-portraits and outline the parameters of “your world,” including its name, laws, and motto. On a double-page spread featuring a picture of a large green knapsack, it is suggested that readers pack an “emotional survival kit” for difficult times by writing down and drawing their supplies. Quizzes, creative prompts, flowcharts, and inspirational quotes encourage journalers to reflect on their hopes and fears, goals and experiences, mental health, and interpersonal relationships. Earnest nature-based metaphors are woven throughout the text, with all-caps subheadings such as “Lake of Likes,” “Kindness Cove,” and “Memory Marsh.” Most of the suggestions succeed in their intention of sparking creative reflection about one’s social-emotional well-being, although they range in practicality from exposure therapy tips to a prompt to “draw yourself as a shining star in the night sky.” Unfortunately, a section titled “Spirit Animals” perpetuates the widespread appropriation of an important facet of some Indigenous cultures; this misstep is made even more egregious by the inclusion of a “certificate of adoption” for readers to fill out in order to make their spirit animal choice “official!” The cheerful, doodlelike illustrations—some in full color, others selectively colored, and many of them busy—are filled with nature imagery and complement the text well.
A potentially fun vehicle for self-awareness and wellness but one with a glaring flaw. (Novelty. 8-adult)Pub Date: May 3, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-80066-015-1
Page Count: 72
Publisher: Cicada Books
Review Posted Online: Jan. 11, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2022
BOOK REVIEW
Essential.
A guidebook for taking action against racism.
The clear title and bold, colorful illustrations will immediately draw attention to this book, designed to guide each reader on a personal journey to work to dismantle racism. In the author’s note, Jewell begins with explanations about word choice, including the use of the terms “folx,” because it is gender neutral, and “global majority,” noting that marginalized communities of color are actually the majority in the world. She also chooses to capitalize Black, Brown, and Indigenous as a way of centering these communities’ voices; "white" is not capitalized. Organized in four sections—identity, history, taking action, and working in solidarity—each chapter builds on the lessons of the previous section. Underlined words are defined in the glossary, but Jewell unpacks concepts around race in an accessible way, bringing attention to common misunderstandings. Activities are included at the end of each chapter; they are effective, prompting both self-reflection and action steps from readers. The activities are designed to not be written inside the actual book; instead Jewell invites readers to find a special notebook and favorite pen and use that throughout. Combining the disruption of common fallacies, spotlights on change makers, the author’s personal reflections, and a call to action, this powerful book has something for all young people no matter what stage they are at in terms of awareness or activism.
Essential. (author’s note, further reading, glossary, select bibliography) (Nonfiction. 10-18)Pub Date: Jan. 7, 2020
ISBN: 978-0-7112-4521-1
Page Count: 160
Publisher: Frances Lincoln
Review Posted Online: Sept. 14, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2019
BOOK REVIEW
PROFILES
An authentic and moving time capsule of middle school angst, trauma, and joy.
Through the author’s own childhood diary entries, a seventh grader details her inner life before and after 9/11.
Alyssa’s diary entries start in September 2000, in the first week of her seventh grade year. She’s 11 and dealing with typical preteen concerns—popularity and anxiety about grades—along with other things more particular to her own life. She’s shuffling between Queens and Manhattan to share time between her divorced parents and struggling with thick facial hair and classmates who make her feel like she’s “not a whole person” due to her mixed White and Puerto Rican heritage. Alyssa is endlessly earnest and awkward as she works up the courage to talk to her crush, Alejandro; gushes about her dreams of becoming a shoe designer; and tries to solve her burgeoning unibrow problem. The diaries also have a darker side, as a sense of impending doom builds as the entries approach 9/11, especially because Alyssa’s father works in finance in the World Trade Center. As a number of the diary entries are taken directly from the author’s originals, they effortlessly capture the loud, confusing feelings middle school brings out. The artwork, in its muted but effective periwinkle tones, lends a satisfying layer to the diary’s accessible and delightful format.
An authentic and moving time capsule of middle school angst, trauma, and joy. (author's note) (Graphic memoir. 8-13)Pub Date: Aug. 17, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-250-77427-9
Page Count: 288
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
Review Posted Online: June 15, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2021
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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