Here We Are

Starred review from November 28, 2016
Blogger and editor Jensen compiles a scrapbook-style collection of diverse reflections on feminism’s past and present from more than 40 authors, poets, and artists. Each of the book’s seven sections (“Body and Mind,” “Gender, Sex, and Sexuality,” etc.) features thoughtful and challenging essays that consider the intersection of feminism with body image, disability, mental illness, privilege, appropriation, sexuality, gender identity, and creativity. Brief “FAQs About Feminism,” lists, reading suggestions, and artwork intersperse with longer pieces; most are original to this anthology, though well-chosen excerpts of published work from the likes of Roxane Gay and Mindy Kaling are also included. Laurie Halse Anderson and Courtney Summers discuss rape culture in life and their literature; Sarah McCarry, Kayla Whaley, and Erika T. Wurth offer compassionate appeals to their younger selves; and comics artists and poets are also represented (“We were taught that just because something happens/ doesn’t mean you are to talk about it,” writes Zariya Allen). Sophisticated yet entirely accessible, the collection is valuable both for the breadth of thought and perspective it represents and for the support it directs toward readers. Ages 14–up. Agent: Tina Wexler, ICM. (Feb.)■

Starred review from January 1, 2017

Gr 7 Up-The ever-evolving concept of feminism is approached through a variety of mediums, from essays and drawings to comics and poems, in this fantastic collected work. In six chapters, more than 40 contributors explore how necessary feminism is for both women and men, whether they engage with it personally, socially, or politically. A broad but always inclusive experience of feminism is conveyed. In a reproduced interview with Tricia Romano for DAME magazine, Laverne Cox emphasizes that trans issues are feminist issues. Liz Prince's comic So I Guess This Is Growing Up reveals how she exhibited misogynistic behavior toward other women when she was younger. Interspersed throughout the chapters are lists ("Top Ten Black Female Friendships," "Great Female Scientists") and sections titled "FAQs About Feminism." Bold, patterned borders surround the essays, with doodles and collage-style illustrations by Palese scattered throughout. There are also a number of examples of original artwork (for instance, Tyler Feder's "Intersectional Rosie the Riveter"). This eclectic assembly will educate, inspire, and prompt further exploration. VERDICT There is something here for everyone. This celebratory examination of feminism is a much-needed addition to teen collections.-Tamara Saarinen, Pierce County Library, WA

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from December 1, 2016
A progressive antidote to the ancient teen health textbooks that mull over the dry basics of teen identity. Jensen here assembles a stellar collection of writings--prose, illustrated pieces, and poetry--that showcase contemporary expressions of feminism: what it is, what it isn't, and what it can be, as defined by each writer. Representing a diverse demographic, contributing authors include Roxane Gay, Anne Theriault, Malinda Lo, Daniel Jose Older, Ashley Hope Perez, and Alida Nugent. Prominent authors and performers share space with bloggers and young people, and voices span a range of gender expressions. Characteristic of the quality on offer is a priceless, heartfelt comic by Wendy Xu that explores the bumpy road of a teen romance that ultimately moves her to affirm her Asian identity. The mix of approaches and the brevity of the pieces make this a book that can easily act as a text for any high school class wanting to engage with the topic of feminism. The collection deconstructs stereotypical notions of feminism, teaching readers that feminism is more than just transcending gender norms. Through the multiplicity of stories, readers learn that feminism is a personal statement that expresses itself differently for each individual. With its thoughtful, scrapbooklike design and variety of socio-economic and cultural perspectives, the book invites young readers to engage in this roundtable discussion. An embarrassment of riches. (Anthology. 12-18)

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Starred review from January 1, 2017
Grades 8-11 *Starred Review* Earnest, conversational, and dauntlessly unapologetic in message, this collection of essays, cartoons, and interviews boldly celebrates and analyzes feminism as it exists today. More important, it reinforces the concept of intersectionality, encouraging a feminism that is open and accepting while continually reminding readers about the ways in which the experience of being a woman can vary widely for women of color, LGBTQ women, and women with disabilities. Some pieces here are reprinted from other texts (Roxanne Gay's Bad Feminist: Take Two, Mindy Kaling's Don't Peak in High School ), while others were commissioned exclusively for this publication. Most of the contributors are writers, often of YA novels and popular blogs, but this takes pains to include a wide array of perspectives, including essays by singer-songwriter Matt Nathanson, politician Wendy Davis, and ballet dancer Michaela DePrince and her sister Mia, as well as an interview with transgender actress Laverne Cox. The voices are wildly diverse: men and women, cis and trans, are included (although women, naturally, dominate), and contributors represent a number of different races, religions, and sexual orientations. The scrapbook-style layout makes this fun, and the intimate, informal tone makes it feel like a journal passed between friends. An education unto itself, the message of inclusion and strength is invaluable.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)