Offers soccer fans glimpses of greatness.
Tributes to six soccer superstars, from Pelé (1940-2022) to Kylian Mbappé (who was born in 1998).
Even newer fans of the sport will probably recognize the iconic names on Streissguth’s short roster: Pelé, Johan Cruyff, Diego Maradona, Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, and Mbappé. Along with pointing to experiences or traits common to his choices—“amazing natural talent, obsessive work habits, and the gift of supportive families and coaches”—he fills in enough details while describing their careers to provide a sense of individuality for each. The author notes the racist, anti-immigrant taunts that the French Mbappé, whose parents are from Cameroon and Algeria, has endured and the abuse of cocaine and alcohol that probably shortened Maradona’s life. Still, in general his tone is positive, and in reeling off one stellar achievement after another, he offers appreciative comments about, for example, Maradona’s stunning footwork (“voodoo football,” as one newspaper report put it) and the aggressive “total football” popularized by Cruyff. The book describes the players’ impact on the sport: In joining the New York Cosmos after retiring from Santos in Brazil, Pelé “changed the attitude of many Americans toward the game,” while Ronaldo’s move from European teams to Saudi Arabia’s Al-Nassr resulted in the team’s “Instagram account exploding from 860,000 to 10 million followers.” Although each player’s chapter features just three stock photos, substantial source notes and resources at the end lead readers to more information and images.
Offers soccer fans glimpses of greatness. (index, picture credits) (Nonfiction. 12-18)Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2025
ISBN: 9781678212001
Page Count: 64
Publisher: ReferencePoint Press
Review Posted Online: Aug. 2, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2025
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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