Queer Heroes: Meet 53 LGBTQ Heroes from Past and Present!

Sicardi honors the legacy of 52 queer artists, activists, athletes, and other figures. Eschewing conventional chronology, Sicardi presents individuals from the distant past alongside queer heroes of today. In one spread, Queen lead singer Freddie Mercury performs onstage; on the opposite page sits the ancient Greek poet Sappho, quill in hand. The text speaks openly about its subjects' sexuality and gender identities and offers general biographical details: "Da Vinci was born in a farmhouse on the hills of Tuscany." Tanat-Jones brings a pop-art aesthetic to the portraits, with accents that express the subjects' distinctive attributes. Tennis player Martina Navratilova is pictured playing on a magenta court, while performer Sia appears in her trademark disguise, an oversize bow in her hair. Other figures include Emma Gonzalez, James Baldwin, Tove Jansson, and David Bowie. While readers won't learn a significant amount about each figure and an index would have been useful, Sicardi and Tanat-Jones deliver a striking graphic homage to a variety of queer legends and influencers. Ages 10-15. (May)

Gr 5 Up--This beautifully illustrated collective biography is designed for casual browsing, with Freddie Mercury alongside Sappho, and teenage activist Emma González sharing a spread with James Baldwin. Unfortunately the text, although celebratory and generally engaging, is marred by frequent shifts in tone and reading complexity, as well as a few (very minor) factual errors and some clumsy wording. The selection of figures is wide ranging and international, with care taken to not misrepresent sexual or gender identities by applying ahistorical labels. However this non-chronological approach would serve readers better if more suggestions for further reading, or any sources at all, were given. The glossary and index contain some odd definitions and organizational choices. That said, most audiences may not notice or care about any of the above, since this is primarily a visual work, and it succeeds as that. Tanat-Jones's style shifts appropriately from portrait to portrait--with expressive linework; a versatile palette; and carefully chosen background iconography highlighting aspects of each subject's identity--while still remaining recognizably her own. Bolded or capitalized quotations and keywords are sprinkled throughout each short entry. Every hero is referred to by first name, furthering the casual and magazine-like feel of the book's design. Readers who usually don't engage with nonfiction may find the picture book format approachable and find themselves drawn in by the vibrant art and breezy text. VERDICT An imperfect work of LGBTQ+ history that succeeds as a gorgeous coffee table book for kids, if not as a fully credible source for deeper learning.--Miriam DesHarnais, Towson University, MD