Rainbow Revolutionaries: Fifty LGBTQ+ People Who Made History

by Sarah Prager, Sarah Papworth (Illustrator)

Overview

One of Time Out's “LGBTQ+ books for kids to read during Pride Month,” this groundbreaking, pop-culture-infused illustrated biography collection takes readers on an eye-opening journey through the lives of fifty influential queer figures who have made a mark on every century of human existence.

Rainbow Revolutionaries brings to life the vibrant histories of fifty pioneering LGBTQ+ people from around the world. Through Sarah Prager’s (Queer, There, and Everywhere) short, engaging bios, and Sarah Papworth’s bold, dynamic art, readers can delve into the lives of Wen of Han, a Chinese emperor who loved his boyfriend as much as his people, Martine Rothblatt, a trans woman who’s helping engineer the robots of tomorrow, and so many more!

This book is a celebration of the many ways these heroes have made a difference and will inspire young readers to make a difference, too. Featuring an introduction, map, timeline, and glossary, this must-have biography collection is the perfect read during Pride month and all year round.

Biographies include:

Adam Rippon, Alan L. Hart, Alan Turing, Albert Cashier, Alberto Santos-Dumont, Alexander the Great, Al-Hakam II, Alvin Ailey, Bayard Rustin, Benjamin Banneker, Billie Jean King, Chevalière d'Éon, Christina of Sweden, Christine Jorgensen, Cleve Jones, Ellen DeGeneres, Francisco Manicongo, Frida Kahlo, Frieda Belinfante, Georgina Beyer, Gilbert Baker, Glenn Burke, Greta Garbo, Harvey Milk, James Baldwin, Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir, José Sarria, Josephine Baker, Juana Inés de la Cruz, Julie d'Aubigny, Lili Elbe, Ma Rainey, Magnus Hirschfeld, Manvendra Singh Gohil, Marsha P. Johnson, Martine Rothblatt, Maryam Khatoon Molkara, Natalie Clifford Barney, Navtej Johar, Nzinga, Pauli Murray, Renée Richards, Rudolf Nureyev, Sally Ride, Simon Nkoli, Stormé DeLarverie, Sylvia Rivera, Tshepo Ricki Kgositau, Wen of Han, We’wha

*A Junior Library Guild Selection*

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780063091061
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	05/03/2022
Pages:	128
Sales rank:	628,741
Product dimensions:	7.30(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.40(d)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Sarah Prager is the author of four books on LGBTQ+ history for youth: Queer, There, and Everywhere: 27 People Who Changed the World, Rainbow Revolutionaries: 50 LGBTQ+ People Who Made History, Kind Like Marsha: Learning from LGBTQ+ Leaders, and A Child’s Introduction to Pride: The Inspirational History and Culture of the LGBTQIA+ Community. Sarah has presented on LGBTQ+ history to over 200 audiences across eight countries, including two U.S. embassies. Her writing has appeared in the New York Times, The Atlantic, National Geographic, NBC News, and other national outlets. Learn more at www.sarahprager.com and follow on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Sarah Papworth is an illustrator and textile designer who enjoys drawing and painting, growing vegetables in her garden, practicing yoga, and upcycling her home. She is the illustrator for I Know a Woman: The Inspiring Women Who Have Shaped Our World by Kate Hodges and the  sequel, I Know an Artist by Susie Hodge, among others. Sarah has also enjoyed creating work for companies such as the Washington Post, L’Oreal Paris, American Greetings, Royal Botanical Kew Gardens, Quarto, and Scholastic. Sarah lives in a village with her partner in the North Cotswolds, UK. She hopes to one day move to the sea and spend her days painting and drawing from a room with a view, sipping cups of chamomile tea. You can learn more about her at www.sarahpapworth.co.uk, and she spends most of her time on Instagram under @sarahpapworthdesign.

Editorial Reviews

Conquerors and conductors, artists and athletes, dancers and doctors, techies and showbiz types — together they emerge from the shadows of history into present light.

San Francisco Chronicle

This book is phenomenal!

thetinyactivist.com

Filled with exciting, inspiring and heartbreaking stories, this is a wonderful reminder of  LGBTQ+ peoples’ contributions to history. 

Book Riot

[W]ill have the effect of inspiring young readers. For middle-grade readers, it will likely be a compelling volume.

Mombian

"[A] lively look for middle grade readers at queer figures, present and past, who made an impact on the world...each accompanied by a dynamic portrait illustration by artist Sarah Papworth."

Boston Globe

This engaging audiobook will leave listeners impressed by the courage, determination, and accomplishments of these extraordinary heroes who broke barriers and changed the world for future generations.

AudioFile Magazine

Conquerors and conductors, artists and athletes, dancers and doctors, techies and showbiz types — together they emerge from the shadows of history into present light.

San Francisco Chronicle

Prager presents each figure with enthusiasm and provides lots of interesting details that allow readers a glimpse into that person’s world. — Kirkus Reviews

A browsable guide for middle school readers looking to get an overview of LGBTQ+ individuals throughout history. — School Library Journal

"[A] lively look for middle grade readers at queer figures, present and past, who made an impact on the world...each accompanied by a dynamic portrait illustration by artist Sarah Papworth." — Boston Globe

Filled with exciting, inspiring and heartbreaking stories, this is a wonderful reminder of  LGBTQ+ peoples’ contributions to history.  — Book Riot

[W]ill have the effect of inspiring young readers. For middle-grade readers, it will likely be a compelling volume. — Mombian

Conquerors and conductors, artists and athletes, dancers and doctors, techies and showbiz types — together they emerge from the shadows of history into present light. — San Francisco Chronicle

This engaging audiobook will leave listeners impressed by the courage, determination, and accomplishments of these extraordinary heroes who broke barriers and changed the world for future generations. — AudioFile Magazine

This book is phenomenal! — thetinyactivist.com

"Engaging and digestible bios. Celebrate[s] the stories of people who have made their mark on history while loving who they loved." — USA Today

From the Publisher

06/12/2020

Gr 3–7—This middle grade resource profiles 50 LGBTQ+ people. Each double-page spread contains a full-page illustration of the person rendered in a folk art style. The single page of text offers background information detailing the person's life, such as why they are included in the book as well as their personal accomplishments. The text is easy to understand, making it accessible to a wide range of readers. A variety of individuals are represented and span cultures, time periods, and occupations. Historical and modern figures are included. There are sports heroes (Billie Jean King), mathematicians (Benjamin Banneker), dancers, artists, political figures (Alexander the Great and Georgina Beyer), soldiers, and inventors. Readers will enjoy the ease of dropping in and reading a little bit here and there, but some middle schoolers may be put off by the impression that it is a picture book. VERDICT A browsable guide for middle school readers looking to get an overview of LGBTQ+ individuals throughout history.—Debbie Tanner, S D Spady Montessori Elem., FL

School Library Journal

Ines del Castillo’s hip conversational tone enlivens this compendium of 50 boundary-breaking LGBTQ+ figures from across history and around the globe. Many names, like Ellen DeGeneres, will be familiar to listeners, but many will be less well known, like the ancient Chinese emperor Wen of Han. Del Castillo’s enthusiasm and pride are evident in the short biographies representing a wide diversity of races, ethnicities, genders, and sexualities. She pronounces international names like those of Icelandic politician Jóhanna Sigurdardóttir and African transgender activist Tshepo Ricki Kgositau as effortlessly as if they were her best friends. This engaging audiobook will leave listeners impressed by the courage, determination, and accomplishments of these extraordinary heroes who broke barriers and changed the world for future generations. S.C. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine

JUNE 2020 - AudioFile

Ines del Castillo’s hip conversational tone enlivens this compendium of 50 boundary-breaking LGBTQ+ figures from across history and around the globe. Many names, like Ellen DeGeneres, will be familiar to listeners, but many will be less well known, like the ancient Chinese emperor Wen of Han. Del Castillo’s enthusiasm and pride are evident in the short biographies representing a wide diversity of races, ethnicities, genders, and sexualities. She pronounces international names like those of Icelandic politician Jóhanna Sigurdardóttir and African transgender activist Tshepo Ricki Kgositau as effortlessly as if they were her best friends. This engaging audiobook will leave listeners impressed by the courage, determination, and accomplishments of these extraordinary heroes who broke barriers and changed the world for future generations. S.C. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine

JUNE 2020 - AudioFile

2020-02-26
This colorful compendium covers 50 boundary-breaking LGBTQ+ figures from across history and around the globe.

Starting at A with Adam Rippon, each hero receives a straightforward one-page biography that includes an account of how they changed the world, broke a barrier, or fought for LGBTQ+ rights and is accompanied by vivid, blocky illustrations. This list of potential role models includes big names like Harvey Milk as well as some that may be unfamiliar to many Americans, like Simon Nkoli. The selection showcases a diversity of races, ethnicities, genders, and sexualities, with some gaps; for example, the glossary explicitly includes intersex people, yet none are identified as such within the text of their biography, and the only East Asian included is from the second century B.C.E. Stylistically, many of the sentences are wordy and sometimes awkward, including unclear or unusual constructions and tone shifts. Add a handful of cringeworthy word choices, such as “between her legs” and an instance of “female” used as a noun, and readers may find themselves shaking their heads. Nevertheless, this does not diminish the book’s fundamental value as a resource for young people. Prager presents each figure with enthusiasm and provides lots of interesting details that allow readers a glimpse into that person’s world, be it 1970s San Francisco or 1600s Mexico.

An exciting if uneven volume that offers much to inquisitive kids seeking LGBTQ+ information. (timeline, LGBTQ+ flags and symbols, selected bibliography) (Collective biography. 8-14)

Kirkus Reviews