Profiles of 12 young climate activists and three grassroots groups, matched to painted portraits and original poems.
Similar in concept to No Voice Too Small: Fourteen Young Americans Making History (2020), by the same creators, but taking a worldwide perspective, these entries highlight successful initiatives undertaken by school-age children in locales from the Marshall Islands to Ukraine and the Americas. Though Greta Thunberg—flashing her magnificent scowl in Bradley’s digital pastel—is the subject of one of the early entries, the other chosen activists will be mostly unfamiliar to readers. The poems are largely identified as free verse, such as one by Traci Sorell that acrostically spells out the name of Indigenous Brazilian tree planter Artemisa Xakriabá, but include examples of less common forms, too, such as a dokugin (or single-author) renga by David Bowles praising Mexica activist Xiuhtezcatl Martinez, and a Vietnamese-style lục bát by Teresa Robeson commemorating the work of biodiesel-promoting “Grease Police” on Bali. The editors spread prompts for both individual and collective action throughout and add capsule biographies of the poets and descriptions of each kind of poem at the close.
Inspiring examples for fledgling defenders of the environment.
—Kirkus Reviews
Introducing climate change–combating young people and related actions readers can take, thisunusual, quietly forceful book will be a great addition to classroom and public library shelves. Itstarts with a macro view, with the editors briefly explaining to readers what “nearly all of theworld’s countries” agreed to in the Paris Agreement: “to reach climate neutrality—no increase inthe greenhouse effect—by 2050.” The book then zooms in on individuals and groups of youngpeople who aren’t waiting for that change. Short prose explanations of their actions areaccompanied by poems in various forms that memorably address the same topics. GretaThunberg is here, but the book also introduces lesser-known activists such as teens from theMarshall Islands who teach their peers to advocate for island-saving progress and LeahNamugerwa, a Ugandan who planted 200 trees on her fifteenth birthday and whose BirthdayTrees project helps others follow suit. Digital images portray each person in an artful but realisticstyle, giving the serious topic a welcome, hopeful air. Closing the work is a helpful guide to thepoetry forms used.
—Booklist
A timely and relevant book highlighting youth activists and youth-led organizations fighting climate change around the world.
Using poetry and art, the authors write about some of the most prominent, but also the lesser known, young people opening the door wider on global activism. The book highlights a variety of activists with a wide range of inventive solutions to climate change issues. Each activist is introduced via poem, and then a short summary about the activist and a practical suggestion for reader involvement follows. The poetry includes many popular forms such as found poetry and free verse, but also lesser-known forms such as sea chantey and dokugin renga, a Japanese form of linked verse. The many poetry types reinforce the belief that different peoples and ideas can work together to effect change. The seeming pencil-and-ink illustrations are digitally produced, but well designed; the activists depicted are easily recognizable. Color elements, such as the constant brown paper–style background, supplement the environmental message. There is a glossary of terms and poetry forms, as well as biographical information for each poet. The publisher pledges to offset the climate footprint of the book’s publication by purchasing United Nations certified emission reduction credits for each copy purchased.
VERDICT A great title to introduce curious readers and budding environmentalists to what youth are doing around the world right now to fight global climate change.
—School Library Journal
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