February 1, 2022
Grades 6-9 First published in the UK, this informative history of the LGBTQ+ movement is international in scope, although its principal focus is on the U.S. and the UK. It's arranged chronologically from Alexander the Great to Pete Buttigieg. This being a survey, no issue--except AIDS--is explored in depth, but Caldwell has done an excellent job of synopsis, especially with the numerous profiles of significant LGBTQ+ figures she includes: author Oscar Wilde, actress Marlene Dietrich, activist Harvey Milk, actor Rock Hudson, and more. In a nice touch, she also includes contributions from twentysomethings writing about what pride means to them. While much of the book's content will be familiar to readers acquainted with queer history, it will be a revelation to today's youth, for whom much of the pre-twenty-first-century material will be ancient history. They will, however, be familiar with contemporary transgender issues, which Caldwell does an especially good job of covering. Reading about the advances queer people have made over the centuries will, indeed, be inspirational for readers, whatever their age may be.
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Starred review from April 1, 2022
Gr 6 Up-A short but global view of LGBTQIA+ milestones and important figures, this vibrant book shines all the colors of the rainbow on history that's largely only been told in black and white. Bright infographics, time lines, and notable quotations add visual interest, while one-page profiles of notable figures such as Oscar Wilde, Audre Lorde, and Marsha P. Johnson will be sure to motivate readers to seek out additional sources on their own. Starting with ancient human societies across the globe and moving through the centuries to today, this bird's eye view of LGBTQIA+ history will help young people find hope in how far we've come and gain inspiration for the necessary work still ahead. The author never balks at sharing hard truths about the hate and violence that many folks have faced throughout history; however, the major notes are positive, affirming, and full of pride. Inspiring messages from modern-day young adults offer many diverse perspectives and serve as a cleansing breath at the end of each chapter. VERDICT A highly accessible, entertaining, and visually engaging nonfiction book that is a recommended first purchase for all middle and high school libraries.-Catherine Cote
Copyright 2022 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
June 20, 2022
Caldwell’s wide-ranging, clearly contextualized account of LGBTQ history, told across seven chapters, begins with “evidence of same-sex love in almost all ancient civilizations” and follows through to today. Bolstered by timelines, the primer details LGBTQ rights over time, including periods of advancement and backlash, Pride’s beginnings, and the HIV/AIDS crisis, among other topics. Profiles of queer luminaries dot each section, including of Marlene Dietrich, Lili Elbe, Marsha P. Johnson, Audre Lord, and Harvey Milk. Additional boxes provide one-line biographies of lesser-known figures, while first-person interstitials from queer youth anchor Pride firmly in the present. Though the book’s lively scrapbook feel is largely engaging, it occasionally jars, as on a spread that juxtaposes a cartoon image of barbed wire with a 1938 photograph of gay concentration camp prisoners. Nevertheless, this well-paced history offers an engaging survey of a movement—and of individuals working to help “LGBTQ+ people in all their diversity to be visible, proud, and safe.” Includes a foreword by actor Layton Williams and back matter with a glossary, index, and further information. Ages 10–up.
Starred review from May 1, 2022
There's pride everywhere! This stirring work affirms that LGBTQ+ people have existed for centuries. Caldwell notes that ancient cultures--Greece, Rome, Egypt, India, and China--all reflect stories of queer love and offers profiles of queer people throughout history--Oscar Wilde, Lili Elbe, and Audre Lorde, for example--who have embraced their authentic selves. "Have You Heard Of" boxes scattered throughout shed light on lesser-known people who advanced LGBTQ+ rights, such as AIDS activist Cecilia Chung (b. 1935), former drag performer and political hopeful Jos� Sarria (1922-2013), and openly lesbian suffragette Lettice Floyd (1865-1934). Each of the seven chapters includes essays from young people articulating why they're proud members of the LGBTQ+ community. Moments of history are explored in brief vignettes that range in length from a paragraph to approximately two pages. Bright digital illustrations, color and black-and-white photographs, and bold background colors that mirror various pride flags decorate the pages. As a whole, the information provided is far from exhaustive, but it serves to inspire, educate, and bolster--and it does these things exceedingly well. Curious readers will find a springboard for further research--and more potential role models. The pride of any bookshelf, this is a delightful introduction to LGBTQ+ history. (timeline, glossary, index, further reading) (Nonfiction. 9-13)
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January 1, 2022
This history of the struggle for LGBTQ+ civil rights (originally published in the UK) begins in antiquity and progresses through Magnus Hirschfeld's groundbreaking 1900s research, to the seminal Stonewall Riots in 1969 and the civil rights victories of the present day. Sidebars profiling noteworthy people, including Anne Lister, Oscar Wilde, Marsha P. Johnson, and Matthew Shepard dot the chapters, along with testimonials from LGBTQ+ youth about "Why I Have Pride." Line drawings and rainbow colors make the retro design pop. The emphasis on international current affairs will broaden American readers' perspectives. The book concludes with a timeline, glossary, index, and a list of resources (PFLAG, the Trevor Project, etc.) for queer and questioning youth.
(Copyright 2022 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)