An exceptionally compelling and well-paced read about Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a quiet pastor who played a huge role in a conspiracy to kill Hitler. This An exceptionally compelling and well-paced read about Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a quiet pastor who played a huge role in a conspiracy to kill Hitler. This book kept me engaged by bypassing unnecessary details about the war and atrocities within it and instead, kept focus on the man who, by all accounts, would be the least likely person to partake in such a plot. I knew nothing about this going in, and I'm really glad I walked out knowing about a guy who stood his ground by his own ethical code, rather than giving into the standards others/organizations may have held. Unbelievably and horribly relevant in our current political era. ...more
So timely and relevant and important. This book explores immigration to America from the beginning of European "settlement" through the issues with toSo timely and relevant and important. This book explores immigration to America from the beginning of European "settlement" through the issues with today's immigration reform and how it impacts immigrants arriving from all corners of the world. Engaging, well paced, and not without being critical, Osborne makes this book relevant to every reader in the USA and doesn't skimp on highlighting the terribly cruel ways that Americans have been racist throughout history.
Loved the chapter on refugees especially, as it really highlights the difference between what immigrants are and what refugees are. It's even-handed, even though it's critical, talking about the desire to help vs how much help can be given (with some key points about how even where refugees are "welcome," they face discrimination).
Great images, great layout, excellent backmatter. An all around must-read for both middle grade and young adult readers, as well as adults who could use a nice refresher and overview of a complicated human rights issue. ...more
This should be required reading about American history and slavery. Set well before the Civil War, this is an account of five black people who were enThis should be required reading about American history and slavery. Set well before the Civil War, this is an account of five black people who were enslaved to some of American history's "greatest men." Compelling and horrifying and frustrating lacking in complete stories, Davis offers up the lives of those who history has otherwise selected not to mention.
Davis's commentary, especially in the afterword, is particularly important. He pulls no punches in noting that while many of the enslaved people in this collection spoke of their work in pleasant enough language, the truth is that it's likely they told only the stories that the white people recording them wanted to hear. Likewise, I really appreciated how Davis took the time to not call these people "slaves," but "enslaved people" and expresses precisely why that choice in terminology matters. ...more
I didn't think this would be a book I'd finish, let alone speed through, but Tougias tells a compelling tale about three men who attempted to sail theI didn't think this would be a book I'd finish, let alone speed through, but Tougias tells a compelling tale about three men who attempted to sail the Gulf Stream and the tragedy of hitting one of the worst storms imaginable (despite all of their preparations). Fast-paced, engaging, and with just enough personal history about the men and their experience to keep me going. Like a well-written adventure/survival story, except real. ...more
A solid enough collective biography that is wonderfully inclusive. The information on each of the women is short enough to spark interest and encouragA solid enough collective biography that is wonderfully inclusive. The information on each of the women is short enough to spark interest and encourage further reading. The illustrations are also pretty great throughout, with black and white sparseness still being able to capture the spirit of the individuals highlighted. I missed the initial note in the book about how it was organized (it's on the inside cover of the book with a map) and it made me as a reader really confused why the women were in such a strange order. That could have been made more obvious.
Likewise, some of the information wasn't...exactly as true as it's presented. And admittedly, this comes from having read far more about some of these women than I imagined in the last few months, but notes about how Marie and Iréne Curie were close aren't true, according to Conkling's book Radioactive!: How Irène Curie and Lise Meitner Revolutionized Science and Changed the World. The problem in cutting information down so tightly and then incorporating a bit about their closeness does a bit of disservice for the nuances of their relationship; again, I know this because of having read far more than most, but it makes me wonder about some of the other bits presented that maybe were not necessary/as nuanced as they could have been (or not been included at all).
That all said, of the 500000 profiles of Josephine Baker I've read in these collective bios, this was the best one, by far, that really highlighted all of her life and career.
A great book you could hand any middle grade or high school reader, especially those eager to learn about great women from around the world and throughout history. ...more
An interesting collection of individuals highlighted but not engaging enough for me to read more than three of the profiles. Also the humor/middle schAn interesting collection of individuals highlighted but not engaging enough for me to read more than three of the profiles. Also the humor/middle school speak is....grating. ...more
I hate the description of this being "charming" because that's so diminutive, but this book is damn charming. The illustrations are excellent and the I hate the description of this being "charming" because that's so diminutive, but this book is damn charming. The illustrations are excellent and the scientists that Ignotofsky highlights feature those whose names we know (like Marie Curie) and those who we don't. It's inclusive, and it's just the right amount of information written out to intrigue readers to want to know more. The design, which features short facts about the women featured, does a huge service so that it's not information overload.
Yet another piece of World War II history that I never knew about: the Exodus situation. The ship was a mission to move Jewish refugees from Britain tYet another piece of World War II history that I never knew about: the Exodus situation. The ship was a mission to move Jewish refugees from Britain to Palestine in a way that would allow them their freedom in a new state; in this situation, though, the ship wasn't allowed to pass through (it was a secret mission, after all) and thus, weeks of being transported throughout parts of Europe where Jewish refugees were not welcome. This particular story focuses on one girl, Rachel, and her experiences aboard the Exodus.
A super fascinating story, though it's lacking in good writing. I found the fake conversations to be more irritating than inviting and didn't add much to the overall story. I find this such a tricky choice in narrative nonfiction, since it's not real dialog unless it's been pulled from a recording (which, just from reading it here, isn't). Likewise, it's a really neat bow at the end of the package here that felt too neat and tidy. It was the author's note that added some really great context for the "after," and I wish more of that had been in-text.
The pictures here are solid, which added a whole additional level of horror to the book. Related: I want a story about Ruth Gruber, the American journalist busting ass to share these stories with US readers and being the kind of reporter doing her job being on top of the bs policies actively harming the lives of other people. ...more
A really nice, inclusive, and global look at the celebration of Pride. The photos are really nice and in full color, and Stevenson does a great job adA really nice, inclusive, and global look at the celebration of Pride. The photos are really nice and in full color, and Stevenson does a great job adding additional quotes, insights, and context. Good backmatter, too.
My biggest complaint though is that Stevenson inserted her own experiences a little too much. It could have been better as a chapter wrap-up or sidebar in one place, rather than spread throughout. ...more
I'm very much Not A Soccer Person but this book was really well written and compelling. Wambach is great at talking about her victories as much as sheI'm very much Not A Soccer Person but this book was really well written and compelling. Wambach is great at talking about her victories as much as she is about being honest with herself and with readers about her bad side and weaknesses. I love that we see her personal life as much as her professional life, and this never felt like it condescended to readers (it's a YRE, so the possibility for that to happen is there). More, her openness about her sexuality and her talk about dating, about the challenges and fears she had about telling her parents, and about the ways her relationships haven't always been picture perfect were so refreshing to read about. Nothing is picture-perfect, even if it's a picture of kissing your wife that makes you a viral sensation.
Great for sports fans as well as readers who want a great story of a woman who made a name for herself and did so without sacrificing her true nature, as prickly as it could sometimes be. ...more
It read like it was written during the time of Mock's incredible journey around the world, with no shame in declaring Mock's favorite game as a child It read like it was written during the time of Mock's incredible journey around the world, with no shame in declaring Mock's favorite game as a child "Cowboys and Indians" and *marveling* at how women in certain parts of the world had to wear veils with tiny slits for their eyes all the time. It was really jarring and painful at times, given what an incredible story was at hand here. The writing is pretty unforgivable. ...more
It's a really great, inclusive selection of women, especially of women history seems to have "forgotten," and it's wrapped in a nice package that inclIt's a really great, inclusive selection of women, especially of women history seems to have "forgotten," and it's wrapped in a nice package that includes interviews as a way to wrap up each section. Unfortunately, the authorial inserts were grating and really not as amusing as I think they were intended to be. Maggs calls this where a book meets Tumblr and I think the Tumblr part is where it falls apart. It's not great writing and the voice gets exhausting. I can see teen readers rolling their eyes at some of the lines.
A very elementary and very white and very gender-based look at feminism which makes a number of gaffes -- the creator of Intersectionality is never onA very elementary and very white and very gender-based look at feminism which makes a number of gaffes -- the creator of Intersectionality is never once named (BASIC stuff) and after talking about the power of Sojourner Truth, Higgins then fails to mention any of the racial limitations placed on the passage of women's suffrage.
Too much time is spent on unimportant aspects of feminism, such as beauty and appearance, and not enough spent on issues like race, class, and other INTERSECTIONS of feminism. It's important to address rape culture, absolutely, but an entire chapter on that and nary a mention of the problems of white feminism is a huge disservice. ...more
Good for those who like war stories, have an interest in World War I, and/or want to see a variety of individuals who were involved or impacted by it Good for those who like war stories, have an interest in World War I, and/or want to see a variety of individuals who were involved or impacted by it in some capacity.
That said, it wasn't particularly compelling and as someone who doesn't have interest in those things, there's zero appeal here for me as a reader. The writing does what it needs to, the package does what it needs to, though I'd have loved it to be designed with some more interest, I think.
Can't say that reading RADIOACTIVE before this one, about Irené Curie didn't impact my finding her chapter here to be pretty uninteresting and not as alive.
The more I read these collective biographies, and there is no shortage of them this year in youth nonfiction, the less compelling I find them. I get what Hollihan is doing here with her selection of individuals, but there's just not enough meat to make me want to learn more. ...more
I see the appeal for serious comics fans or those who are interested in the backend of comics or how to get into the business. Otherwise, the intervieI see the appeal for serious comics fans or those who are interested in the backend of comics or how to get into the business. Otherwise, the interview format isn't super appealing to casual readers, and there's no real narrative thread running through to keep a reader going forward. The introduction doesn't do it, and neither does the forward by Small (who, wow, was irritating about the fact critics discussed the classification of his book when it was nominated for the National Book Awards -- stay out of that shit since it's not for you, dude).
Not much in the way of comics in here, and the time spent talking about the comics included is minimal. ...more
A total, utter gut punch of a story about a girl who survived the Nagasaki bomb. Stelson does an excellent job letting Sachiko dictate the narrative wA total, utter gut punch of a story about a girl who survived the Nagasaki bomb. Stelson does an excellent job letting Sachiko dictate the narrative while offering great context and depth with her sidebars. The editorial voice doesn't impede at all, but rather, serves to give just a bit more so we see the whole picture of why Sachiko's survival tale matters so much.
Great, powerful, hard images, along with a must-read author's note. I'd looked at the family tree before reading the last page of the author's note and had a question...which was answered really nicely in the note and made me appreciate this book even more.
Difficult and painful but utterly necessary reading. ...more
Reading about the tea parties outside of Boston isn't surprising (& makes perfect sense to have happened), but what IS surprising is how this is sometReading about the tea parties outside of Boston isn't surprising (& makes perfect sense to have happened), but what IS surprising is how this is something I never learned in any history class. A well-designed book with a solid narrative arc, this should appeal to fans of colonial history, of rebellions, and, of course, the Boston Tea Party. Moss does a good job noting that those who had the privilege to take part in these acts of dissent were white, privileged men, but the one thing she brushes over a bit too easily is the WHY of why it is they chose to don Mohawk-inspired face painting and clothing.
Good historical documents included, no weird font things going on, and some solid backmatter, including a nice timeline. ...more
The format of this book isn't particularly amenable to pleasure reading, but it also makes sense as this is a narrative nonfiction that serves as an eThe format of this book isn't particularly amenable to pleasure reading, but it also makes sense as this is a narrative nonfiction that serves as an educational tool with activities to correspond to the text. I found the activities to be sort of distracting with the text, though, particularly when it would take up a two page spread between paragraphs.
That said, Mahoney writes a really compelling history of Gandhi and makes it really accessible for middle grade readers. Excellent back matter includes definitions and pronunciations, source notes, and further resources for reading. I do wish there had been better maps included in the book, especially since much of Gandhi's life revolved around place and being active in his own communities.
Smart sidebars and good definitions when words emerged throughout kept this easy-to-read. ...more
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