Nevertheless, We Persisted

May 1, 2018

Gr 9 Up-All of the contributors-each from different racial and ethnic backgrounds, religions, and sexual orientations-share their experiences and stories of persistence in the face of adversity. They include Prisca Dorcas Mojica Rodriguez, who founded the online platform Latina Rebels; Maneet Chauhan, a woman who defied cultural expectations by becoming a chef; and James Lecesne, the cofounder of a suicide hotline for LGBTQIA teens, the Trevor Project. Some of the prevailing topics center on feminism and women's rights, immigrant experiences, Black Lives Matter, LGBTQIA representation and rights, religion, and homelessness. Each story brings a different perspective to these important conversations and movements. Some notable entries include a letter written to Noah Pozner, who was killed in the Sandy Hook shooting, from his sister Danielle Vaber, who has since become an advocate for gun control; and a piece by Fanny Star, a Holocaust survivor. While most of works are essays, there is a short comic, a letter, and an interview as well. The back matter includes discussion questions for a book club or classroom setting. VERDICT This anthology is a powerful collection of voices; a recommended purchase for high school libraries.-Kat Paiva, Rye Public Library, NH

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

August 6, 2018
As Amy Klobuchar, Minnesota’s first female senator, notes in a foreword, the title of this candid anthology is a riff on the derision turned rallying cry aimed at Massachusetts senator Elizabeth Warren. The contributors—representing a spectrum of ages, ethnicities, and experiences—share their stories through formats that range from comics to prose. They write of finding the strength and tools to battle such obstacles as gender and racial discrimination, self-doubt, physical challenges, and bullying. Fanny Starr, a 96-year-old Holocaust survivor, unflinchingly describes the atrocities she witnessed at Auschwitz; Danielle Vabner explains how the loss of her six-year-old brother to the Sandy Hook, Conn., shooting inspired her advocacy for gun violence prevention; and José Antonio Tijerino, president of the Hispanic Heritage Foundation, movingly details his experience immigrating to America. Readers encountering injustice in their own lives may be compelled to take heart—and even action. Ages 12–up.

August 1, 2018
Grades 8-11 This important collection of essays raises up 48 voices of triumph in the face of adversities, as they deal with gender norms, self-love, advocacy, tragedies, and success. Contributors include Holocaust survivor Fanny Starr, former NFL player Wade Davis, jazz musician Nate Smith, and actress Alysia Reiner, and through them, readers will see what perseverance looks like. Some achieve their goals immediately; others don't see the payoff until years after events occur. As Gavin Grimm writes, perseverance doesn't always look like a triumphant speech from a podium. Sometimes it looks like a moment when you sit, take a deep breath, and think about how exhausted you are. The main upshot for readers will be to see their struggles as important, no matter how big or small they are. This gem of a book ends with contributor biographies and discussion questions. There's a lot to study here and talk about on the way to becoming kinder, more empathetic, and most important, compassionate.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)

January 1, 2019
Foreword by Amy Klobuchar. "Keep working, keep fighting, and keep persisting," urges Senator Klobuchar in her foreword to this collection of inspiring first-person essays. Reflecting on the challenges of their youth, contributors (including athletes, entertainers, politicians, and activists) offer frank discussions of sexuality, racism, poverty, and beyond. Some pieces are less polished than others, but that unevenness ultimately lends the book authenticity. Discussion questions are appended. Ind.

(Copyright 2019 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

Starred review from June 15, 2018
This compelling collection from 48 activists, including athletes, actors, authors, politicians, entrepreneurs, and musicians, is a powerful journalistic tour de force.It is extremely rare to come across a book that is both timely and timeless, but this insightful compilation, whose title derives from the misogynistic treatment of Sen. Elizabeth Warren, more than rises to the occasion. Each essay is a story of struggle to find identity and self-love while confronting the racism, sexism, homophobia, and classism that remain embedded in American culture. The narrative accounts--generally three to five pages in length--are highly accessible, and their formats, which range from essays to interviews and comic strips, highlight the authors' diversity of experiences and celebrate the potency of all forms of storytelling. One particular standout essay is that of former NFL player Wade Davis, whose gut-wrenching account of his struggle with homosexuality demonstrates how sports culture and religion shape American ideals of masculinity. Each tale is a soulful testament to the endurance of the human spirit and reminds readers that they are not alone in their search for self. The biography section shows the diversity of the contributors in terms of ethnicity, nationality, age, physical and mental health status, sexual orientation, and religion.An unflinchingly honest book that should be required reading for every young person in America. (biographies, discussion questions, index) (Nonfiction. 14-18)

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