Scan barcode
ysary's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
3.0
This is a great book for any young activist in the US, but I personally felt like it wasn't exactly aimed at someone like me - a twenty-year-old French student. Plus, the French translation isn't the best, with some words missing here and there.
What I really enjoyed were the profiles of different activists at the end of each chapter - that's what I was most excited about throughout the book.
Reading this made me feel even more motivated to be involved in activism, especially online. However, it didn't provide any solutions to my main problem: how can you get involved in your community when you don't speak the language? In the end, I was left feeling motivated but frustrated without any answers.
What I really enjoyed were the profiles of different activists at the end of each chapter - that's what I was most excited about throughout the book.
Reading this made me feel even more motivated to be involved in activism, especially online. However, it didn't provide any solutions to my main problem: how can you get involved in your community when you don't speak the language? In the end, I was left feeling motivated but frustrated without any answers.
plantpage's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
3.0
I wish I had this book 5-10 years ago, instead of now when I am seemingly out of the target group already. I think it might have really made an impact back then
kenzie_rybak's review against another edition
4.0
Empathetically and effectively written, Margolin humbly leads a generation of young activists through the nitty gritty of being a change maker. Her honesty, passion, and dedication to collaboratively facing climate change shine through as she shares her experiences and wisdom while elevating the voices of other activists throughout the book. She is inspiring, relatable, and helpful!
arwenundomiel03's review against another edition
5.0
This is a FANTASTIC BOOK!! I 100% recommend that you read it - it’s a brilliant guide to youth activism, how to organise yourself, your time and your activism. How to get any organisations you might start, off the ground.
It’s a really easy read, which is really interesting and inspiring but also feels like you’re talking to an old friend who is there for you and just giving you some advice.
It’s a really easy read, which is really interesting and inspiring but also feels like you’re talking to an old friend who is there for you and just giving you some advice.
vi__'s review against another edition
2.0
I think this book is very powerful but I think it takes way too many breaks from the main idea to talk about her life and how her process has played out. Like there’s really random parts where she goes from climate change to queer kids and a whole bunch of other stuff that just comes out of nowhere. But still a very important book.
carlyoc's review against another edition
4.0
This is an inspiring and useful how-to manual on how to make change and fight for causes you believe in, even if you don't have a lot of institutional power like age and money and an influential job. Even as an adult activist, I found much of Jamie's advice relevant.
She covers a wide range of topics including how to balance life, school and activism; how to lobby local state government officials; how to handle the media; and event organizing.
Jamie represents multiple intersecting identities as a young, queer, Jewish Latina. She takes inspiration from her family still back in Columbia, and from indigenous activists, as well as her own personal experiences.
Although her main cause is climate activism, she provides examples in each of her chapters relating to a variety of causes such as LGBTQ+ rights, opposing gun violence, and racial justice. At the end of each chapter are short excerpts of interviews with other youth activists. Those excerpts, plus the forward by Greta Thunberg, are effective demonstrations that Jamie Margolin is not a one-off superkid, but rather part of a movement of young people taking matters into their own hands as they watch the adults around them fail their causes again and again.
I would highly recommend this book to any teen who is looking to get more involved in activism. In fact, I am thinking of donating my copy to such a teen. (Edit: I have already donated my copy.)
She covers a wide range of topics including how to balance life, school and activism; how to lobby local state government officials; how to handle the media; and event organizing.
Jamie represents multiple intersecting identities as a young, queer, Jewish Latina. She takes inspiration from her family still back in Columbia, and from indigenous activists, as well as her own personal experiences.
Although her main cause is climate activism, she provides examples in each of her chapters relating to a variety of causes such as LGBTQ+ rights, opposing gun violence, and racial justice. At the end of each chapter are short excerpts of interviews with other youth activists. Those excerpts, plus the forward by Greta Thunberg, are effective demonstrations that Jamie Margolin is not a one-off superkid, but rather part of a movement of young people taking matters into their own hands as they watch the adults around them fail their causes again and again.
I would highly recommend this book to any teen who is looking to get more involved in activism. In fact, I am thinking of donating my copy to such a teen. (Edit: I have already donated my copy.)
nisobe's review against another edition
I have mixed feelings on this book. It is essentially what’s written on the tin (ie a handbook on how to be an activist). I think I was hoping for more perspective given rather than some actual how-tos but I appreciate that this is aimed at young people who only have their voice and not the political power of adults to demand and make changes. There were times that I honestly kind of felt preached at rather than guided and this would have been exacerbated if I was reading this as a 16 year old. I also appreciate this is written by an 18 year old but it still felt more like a lecture than the call to arms I was expecting. That may just be my own ignorance and so I have chosen to not actually rate this book as I am not the audience and in some ways I am part of the problem so I don’t feel comfortable giving a rating.
bloominglybooks's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
3.0