The Book of Radical Answers

Starred review from July 1, 2023

Gr 5 Up-In a sea of social media overload and misinformation, tweens could use a source of honest, trustworthy information that even adults can refer to. Speaker and activist Taylor has compiled answers on 12 topics from emotions, gender, and sexuality to racism, government, and climate change. The author teaches Radical Self Love (the belief that individuals are enough, just as they are). Tough subjects are prefaced with content notes and presented without judgement or sugarcoating. Taylor emphasizes that access to information helps readers make knowledgeable choices. She encourages follow-up conversations with trusted adults and an openness to therapy, meditation, and journaling. Taylor introduces "Community Conversation Agreements," powerful tips to start difficult discussions that address why even opening up those dialogues are challenging. Taylor always encourages adolescents to ask questions and speak their truths while being kind to themselves and others. This work supports critical thinking and should be embedded in lessons on Indigenous rights, biology, current events, media literacy, and in social studies about antiracism. VERDICT A concise place for tweens and teens to find accessible answers to questions that everyone has pondered at some point, updated for the 21st century. Essential for SEL and social studies shelves.-Laura Dooley-Taylor

Copyright 2023 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 15, 2023
Grades 5-8 Taylor, best-selling author of The Body Is Not an Apology (2018), brings her philosophy of radical self-love to a younger audience. While this conversational question-and-answer guide is aimed at tweens and teens going through puberty, it's more than a book about body changes. Taylor starts with some basic questions about periods and penis size, but the emphasis is more on body positivity, around such topics as body size and facial hair on women, and setting boundaries about being touched. Similarly, rather than focus on anatomy and the mechanics of sex, she highlights many questions that adolescents have about gender identity and sexual orientation, including what it means to be transgender and nonbinary. After thinking about the bodies they're in, readers consider the world around them through sections on racism, climate, school, families, friendship, religion, and other important topics. Taylor provides just enough background information to understand the causes and intersections of systemic issues, and once again, she accentuates positive changes, embracing diversity, and setting healthy boundaries. Concluding self-love tips sum up the mission of this inclusive, affirming resource.

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Starred review from September 15, 2023
Connects with readers while conveying basic life information and providing abundant affirmations. Utilizing a conversational Q&A format, brief chapters cover young people's common concerns, grouped into a dozen topic areas: bodies, emotions, sexuality, gender, racism, families, school, friends, growing up, government, the environment, and religion. Shaded black-and-white spot art showing kids who present as diverse in ethnicity, body type, gender presentation, and faith may appeal to readers but doesn't illustrate textual points. Bullet-pointed lists and text boxes provide checklists, resources, and expert opinions. Interesting comparisons (e.g., to your body and brain, sleeping is like shutting your phone down for updates) help make Taylor's practical advice feel relevant: The material's largely not new, but it's packaged warmly and effectively. A central goal is countering negative and manipulative messages about our appearances and feelings that undermine true well-being. Taylor embraces the philosophy of radical self-love, helping us to "better value each other for all the different ways we bring wisdom and beauty to this world." The text offers criticism of biased and unsustainable systems, rejects restrictive societal norms, advocates for immigrants and universal health care, and explores sensitive topics like suicide and genocide. Nevertheless, the tone overall is hip, humorous, and irrepressibly positive, and the author is clear that adults, not young people, bear responsibility for solving social problems. Holds out a sympathetic helping hand to a cohort of young people dealing with exceptional stressors. (self-love tips, community conversation agreements, glossary, resources) (Nonfiction. 10-14)

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