A compelling take on tackling censorship that elevates the authentic voices of youths and their allies.
Young people and teachers issue a powerful clapback to book bans in this inspiring guide.
In 2020, amid a national racial reckoning, Pennsylvania’s Central York School District board voted to ban over 300 resources about diversity and multiculturalism. In response, members of the student group the Panther Anti-Racist Union mobilized to challenge the bans—and won. Established by two veteran educators, PARU created a “safe and courageous space” for students to engage in conversations about race. As pro-banning rhetoric escalated in the community, PARU blossomed. Supported by adult allies, students pushed back with compelling personal stories and thoughtful counterpoints that helped sway the tide. Each chapter of this book (all written by former students and teachers who were active in PARU’s efforts) focuses on one of these points. The authors’ personal connections to the topics—including “Will Diverse Books Encourage Racism?” and “Is It Wrong To Show Nontraditional Families and Lifestyles?”—give the writing a sense of depth and urgency. Eye-catching colors, fonts, and photos break up the text and provide visual engagement. Text boxes offer helpful definitions of terms like microaggressions and dog whistle. Each chapter ends with a section labeled “What To Say,” which includes brief suggested responses to common objections to inclusivity. This critically timely and engaging work effectively demonstrates the toll of book bans on communities.
A compelling take on tackling censorship that elevates the authentic voices of youths and their allies. (timeline, appendix, source notes, further resources, index, photo credits) (Nonfiction. 12-18)Pub Date: Sept. 16, 2025
ISBN: 9798765629970
Page Count: 168
Publisher: Zest Books
Review Posted Online: Aug. 16, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2025
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
© Copyright 2025 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
