Final verdict: insightful, thought-provoking, and timely.
A compelling exploration of the Bill of Rights that weaves together landmark cases, historical narratives, and reflections on the paradoxes of liberty.
Kanefield argues that since its inception as a compromise between Federalists and anti-Federalists, the Bill of Rights has served as a battleground for competing interpretations of rights, freedoms, and equality. She proceeds to bring each amendment to life through real-world examples, such as Tinker v. Des Moines, in which a public school’s disciplining of students who wore black armbands to protest the Vietnam War led to a ruling that emphasized the lasting importance of the First Amendment. References to well-known figures, like Bonnie and Clyde and Al Capone in the chapter about the Second Amendment, add relatable historical context. Kanefield doesn’t shy away from highlighting paradoxes, pointing out that while the Bill of Rights offers “a soaring and far-reaching vision of fundamental” human rights, it was written by men who enslaved others, and its protections were only expanded through the struggles of marginalized people. At times the legal explanations can lean heavily on technicalities that may challenge some readers, but the skillful inclusion of anecdotes enhances the book’s accessibility. The clear prose guides readers through complex constitutional principles, making this work a useful educational resource. Text boxes offer definitions of key terms. Malka’s somewhat stiff illustrations add little to the work.
Final verdict: insightful, thought-provoking, and timely. (author’s note, endnotes, bibliography, illustration credits, index) (Nonfiction. 10-14)Pub Date: May 20, 2025
ISBN: 9781419768262
Page Count: 224
Publisher: Abrams
Review Posted Online: March 8, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2025
Full of laughter and sentiment, this is a nudge for readers to dare to try new things.
A 1989 summer trip to Europe changes Caldecott Medal winner Santat’s life in this graphic memoir.
Young Dan hasn’t experienced much beyond the small Southern California town he grew up in. He stays out of trouble, helps his parents, and tries to go unnoticed in middle school. That plan gets thwarted when he is made to recite poetry at a school assembly and is humiliated by his peers. When eighth grade is over and his parents send him on a three-week study abroad program, Dan isn’t excited at first. He’s traveling with girls from school whom he has awkward relationships with, his camera breaks, and he feels completely out of place. But with the help of some new friends, a crush, and an encouraging teacher, Dan begins to appreciate and enjoy the journey. Through experiences like his first taste of Fanta, first time hearing French rap, and first time getting lost on his own in a foreign country in the middle of the night, he finally begins to feel comfortable just being himself and embracing the unexpected. This entertaining graphic memoir is a relatable story of self-discovery. Flashbacks to awkward memories are presented in tones of blue that contrast with the full-color artwork through which Santat creates the perfect balance of humor and poignancy. The author’s note and photos offer readers more fun glimpses into his pivotal adventure.
Full of laughter and sentiment, this is a nudge for readers to dare to try new things. (Graphic memoir. 10-14)Pub Date: Feb. 28, 2023
ISBN: 978-1-250-85104-8
Page Count: 320
Publisher: First Second
Review Posted Online: Nov. 28, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2022
PERSPECTIVES
PERSPECTIVES
Deftly written and informative; a call for vigilance and equality.
An examination of the history of Chinese American experiences.
Blackburn opens with a note to readers about growing up feeling invisible as a multicultural, biracial Chinese American. She notes the tremendous diversity of Chinese American history and writes that this book is a starting point for learning more. The evenly paced narrative starts with the earliest recorded arrival of the Chinese in America in 1834. A teenage girl, whose real name is unknown, arrived in New York Harbor with the Carnes brothers, merchants who imported Chinese goods and put her on display “like an animal in a circus.” The author then examines shifting laws, U.S. and global political and economic climates, and changing societal attitudes. The book introduces the highlighted people—including Yee Ah Tye, Wong Kim Ark, Mabel Ping-Hua Lee, and Vincent Chen—in relation to lawsuits or other transformative events; they also stand as examples for explaining concepts such as racial hierarchy and the model minority myth. Maps, photos, and documents are interspersed throughout. Chapters close with questions that encourage readers to think critically about systems of oppression, actively engage with the material, and draw connections to their own lives. Although the book covers a wide span of history, from the Gold Rush to the rise in anti-Asian hate during the Covid-19 pandemic, it thoroughly explains the various events. Blackburn doesn’t shy away from describing terrible setbacks, but she balances them with examples of solidarity and progress.
Deftly written and informative; a call for vigilance and equality. (resources, bibliography, image credits) (Nonfiction. 10-14)Pub Date: March 26, 2024
ISBN: 9780593567630
Page Count: 288
Publisher: Crown
Review Posted Online: Jan. 5, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2024
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