Powerful stories from the battlefield illuminate courage and struggles for recognition.
The heroism of the U.S. Army’s first segregated Latino regiment is explored in rich detail.
After Puerto Rico became a territory of the United States in 1899, the Puerto Rican Battalion of Volunteer Infantry was formed. Two name changes later, they became the 65th Infantry Regiment. Despite participating in both world wars, they were regarded as inferior to White soldiers and relegated to noncombat duties until the Korean War. Also known as the Borinqueneers, they included both Black and White soldiers and became the pride of Puerto Rico, impressing their commanding officers with their teamwork, efficiency, and bravery. A dangerous assault on Hill 391, an exposed outpost in Korea, resulted in numerous casualties. Many soldiers from both the 65th Infantry Regiment and the 15th Infantry Division, who relieved them, refused to return to this blood bath; only Puerto Rican soldiers, however, were later court-martialed, reflecting the double standards with which they were treated. Survivors fought for decades to clear their names, and the regiment was finally awarded a Congressional Gold Medal by President Barack Obama in 2014. Their long-overlooked story is told in a riveting narrative style enhanced by maps, historical photographs, and eyewitness quotes. Detailed descriptions of Korean War battles set the backdrop for their heroism and triumph over adversity. The author also explores the broader context of Puerto Rico’s multiracial society and military racism.
Powerful stories from the battlefield illuminate courage and struggles for recognition. (timeline, glossary, source notes, bibliography, further information, index) (Nonfiction. 12-18)Pub Date: May 2, 2023
ISBN: 9781728449623
Page Count: 136
Publisher: Zest Books
Review Posted Online: Feb. 24, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2023
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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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