Queer and Fearless

February 1, 2024
Grades 4-6 "Walking through the closet door. / Won't be silent anymore." Using a different verse form for each entry, Sanders celebrates 17 "heroes" who were either LGBTQ+ groundbreakers or exemplars, from Harvey Milk and Bayard Rustin ("First a boy who liked to sing. / Then a man who moved a King.") to the less high-profile likes of drag king Storm� DeLarverie and drag queen Marsha P., both of whom, according to the author, played significant roles in the Stonewall uprising. A large reading list and several comments, including one on pronouns, follow a final rousing cheer for Pete Buttigieg's presidential campaign. At least six of the subjects are people of color, and intersectionality develops into a strong secondary theme as racial as well as identity prejudice gets frequent mention in the poems and in the biographical notes that accompany each. Smiles shine in the small painted portraits and also the larger views of each figure placed amid iconic signs or in significant settings that Woodgate contributes; the tone overall is positive and, appropriately enough, proud.

COPYRIGHT(2024) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

March 1, 2024
A poetry collection that pays tribute to prominent queer figures. Sanders offers a glimpse into the lives of 17 people who have played a role in the fight for equality, among them Civil Rights leader Bayard Rustin, activist Marsha P. Johnson, and Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg. An introduction encourages readers to think of themselves as heroes, too: "Speak your mind. Let your truth be known." Woodgate's bold and realistic full-color illustrations skillfully convey people, places, and times while reflecting the racial, ethnic, and gender diversity of the LGBTQ+ community. Varied poetry styles--free verse, limerick, shape poem, and more--provide the impression of a tapestry, weaving together different moments of a movement in evolution, including the Stonewall Uprising, the creation of the Pride flag, and the 2015 Supreme Court ruling that made same-sex marriage legal. Although some poems are stronger than others, each brings to life a moment in time and a person who contributed to the movement. The entries offer effective, meaningful sketches, giving young people a strong sense of contributions to queer history and drawing out the many ways individual people can influence movements. An appended glossary and further resources will encourage readers to explore more deeply; also included is information on the various poetic forms used in the book. An acutely distilled and vibrant compilation of LGBTQ+ heroes. (Informational picture book/poetry. 6-10)

COPYRIGHT(2024) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

April 1, 2024
“Everyone loves a hero,” states Sanders’s introduction to this informative collection of poems about 17 activists and politicians who “made/ a difference for members of the LGBTQ+/ community.” Varying by form and subject, the assorted poem types (cento, diamante, limerick, shape poem, and more) highlight individuals including Stormé DeLarverie, Marsha P. Johnson, Cleve Jones, Harvey Milk, and José Sarria. On each spread, a heartfelt poem is accompanied by a brief contextualizing biography—at times needed to understand the poems and Woodgate’s illustrations, which portray each activist in abundant detail. Alongside a vibrant image of Gilbert Baker with the Pride flag he designed, lines foreground how “sewing let him be who he always was/ A man as good as any other.” It’s an upbeat collection that’s, like Baker’s rainbow flag, “lovingly crafted.” Back matter includes a glossary, list of poem types, and author’s note. Ages 6–9.

April 1, 2024

Gr 3 Up-An anthology of poems celebrating 17 LGBTQIA+ heroes, past and present. Insightful biographies of each hero, paired with an accompanying poem and colorful illustrations, will appeal to young readers. In "Gilbert Designed a Flag," colors of the Rainbow Flag float across the pages, as the poem describes how gay rights activist Gilbert Baker was inspired to sew a flag that represented the gay community and all its members. "As a community they came together/ They marched, they cheered/ A waving rainbow the way/ Gilbert's flag was for them all." In "Marsha P. Started an Uprising," each line of the acrostic poem starts with a letter from the alphabet to describe Johnson's actions to liberate and advocate for transgender rights. The poem packs inspiration into each line. Sanders features diverse cultural representations of the LGBTQIA+ community, including African American, Latinx, and Asian American members. LGBTQIA+ topics and history are described in an age-appropriate way in a glossary. Other back matter includes an author's note, additional reading, "A Word About Pronouns," and a list of the poems with their forms, such as quatrain, senryu, limerick, free verse, and others. Due to the font size, long biographical texts, and subtitles in a font that may be difficult to read, this book is best suited for older elementary students. VERDICT A validation of self through historical heroes to engage readers in the classroom and at home. This book allows young readers to see that real-life heroes find the ability to make a difference by speaking their minds and letting their truths be known.-Dany'l Van Someren

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