Declare Yourself: Speak. Connect. Act. Vote.: More Than 50 Celebrate Americans Tell You Why
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Kelly McGorray, Glenbard South High School Library, Glen Ellyn, IL -- School Library Journal, 10/8/2008
From SLJ November 2008
DECLARE YOURSELF: SPEAK. CONNECT. ACT. VOTE.: MORE THAN 50 CELEBRATED AMERICANS TELL YOU WHY. 325p. charts. illus. photos. bibliog. chron. further reading. glossary. notes. Web sites. CIP. HarperCollins/Greenwillow. 2008. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-06-147332-6; pap. $11.99. ISBN 978-0-06-147316-6. LC 2007049592.
Gr 9 Up–From America Ferrera (of Ugly Betty fame) to the artists of Maroon Five, 50 Americans encourage young adults to make their voices heard. This collection, comprised of vignettes, essays, interviews, and poems, ranges from the humorous (an essay by the editors of The Onion), to the sacred (an interview with Ryan J. Bingham, 25-year-old mayor of Torrington, CT, whose dedication to politics is almost religious), to the slightly profane (an expletive-filled diatribe from Adrian Grenier, star of TV’s Entourage). Though the contributors all take decidedly different tacks, their common goal is obvious: to persuade young people to research the candidates and cast their votes on Election Day. The supplemental materials at the end of the book are plentiful and pertinent, including instructions on how to register to vote, ways to get involved in one’s community, a comprehensive glossary of election-related terms, and a general overview of the United States Government. Though this book is obviously more relevant for the 2008 election season, it would be a solid additional purchase for both high school and public libraries.
