This was so fantastic. It was a great look forward in the collective queer conscience and I loved it. whether you’re part of the rainbow or just an ally, this is an incredible read to discuss what we can all do moving forward to make being queer easier.

In a very short book, Eli unpacks very big and very personal subjects. He discusses his identity as a Jewish man and his identity as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community and the point in which those two identities meet and where they sometimes clash. He also speaks on his experiences in Jewish and LGBTQIA+ activism and what the latter can learn from the former. Leaning on the Jewish principles of pikuach nefesh (which places human life—all human life— above other religious rules) and mutu­al respon­si­bil­i­ty, he says “if you mess with one of us, you mess with us all.

This is a very short informational type self-help book. I wasn't overly impressed with it. Perhaps I'm not the right audience. I am an LBGTQ+ Ally. Most of the information seemed to be pretty common knowledge to me. I honestly couldn't tell if the book was geared toward people in the LGBTQ+ community, Allies, or someone who wanted to learn more about it and wanted to make sure they were using the appropriate terms and being accomodating to people in the LGBTQ+ community. Eli did a good job telling his story and wrote well. I just didn't "learn" much from the book if that was what the goal was.

I'm really enjoying this series of short reads by young activists for other young people. LGBTQ+ identity, awareness and community has changed a lot over the last few decades, and Adam Eli brings up the idea that, as it changes, young people have the ability and the responsibility to shape what they want it to look like in the future. He lists many ideas for what he values in the community and what he would like to see change in the future. We have a number of LGBTQ+ teens and their allies at my library, so this will definitely find an audience.

I think that teens feeling isolated and alone will see themselves in this book. The way in which Eli demonstrates links between the Jewish and Queer communities is really interesting. Not my favorite from the Pocket Change Collective, but a good resource, for sure.

Pocket Change Collective has a very simple mission: small, small books that bring awareness of big ideas--such as climate change, gender equity, activism, and improving our global communities-- for young adult readers.
Adam Eli has written a quick overview of his queer experience while highlighting the importance of creating a safe space for LGBTQIAA+ to be openly themselves. This is a wonderful overview for young adult readers who are first learning about the LGBTQIAA+ community, identity, and history. Eli provides small examples of how an individual can affect change through kindness and the recognition of our own privilege in order to uplift those around us. It is a very quick read (finished it in less than an hour) and provides resources for those interested in further reading.
Because this is a concise overview, there are some areas where I would have loved to hear more of Eli's experience and how they connect to the proposed principles of the new queer conscience. Additionally, Elis does recognize his privilege as a cis white gay man and it would be out of the scope of this book for him try to talk about the BIPOC perspective in anything other than the facts (in his examples of Black trans women who are murdered at far higher rates).
As mentioned, the LGBTGIAA+ community is not a monolith and one voice cannot begin to cover the experiences of all queer folks. This is definitely a good introduction for young people and a very optimistic view of the future for the LGBTQIAA+ community and the global community.

The Pocket Change Collective series is a great addition to the library. Giving information to students while not being overwhelming!

This is a great, short, and easy read. I love the connections the author makes to his Jewish faith and tying that into his LGBTQ identity. I am always looking for books that combine those two subjects. This is a great book to hand to a teen or adult who is LGBTQIA+, an ally, or someone looking to learn more. This is also a quick read and great way to get teens interested in nonfiction which can often be a tough sell. I would recommend to all teen librarians to have in their collection.

I can see myself using excerpts from this book as a parallel to Night by Eli Wiesel with my 8th graders!

Copied from Goodreads: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This was amazing and literally everyone needs to read it. I think what struck me most is that as a Jew, many of the teachings Eli brings up are ones that are so instilled in me that I forget they’re inherently Jewish and that not every major religious group places the same value on them. I think the connection he makes between the solidarity of the Jewish community and the queer community is a beautiful idea and one that I’m sure many folx would love to see come to fruition.

Short, sweet, and to the point. This is an incredibly affirming book for all queer people, and I sincerely hope that Gen Z feels like much of his points are already being done in their spaces. This is book is really intended for the queer community, I think, but I'd definitely recommend it to allies, too.

I picked up this book from the SLJ Live conference. I think have these short condensed topic driven books are great for young readers... and even adult readers who need an entry way to learning. Reading about people's personal experiences is a great way to wake up your brain to understanding others and throwing away fears and prejudices. This book is full of great perspectives on how the Queer community can band together and continue their work for equality and equity.

Thank you Netgalley for an e=arc of this book in exchange for a review.

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read this book! This is a nice little book that speaks to the experience of queer teens and gives them some tips for how to navigate a world that isn't really built for them. It has some good autobiographical details that help anchor it and make it feel like something a little more than just a self-help book. I think it can be a useful resource for queer teens, especially those who aren't sure how to embrace their queerness and who feel like they are completely alone in the world. It is a tad too upbeat and idealistic at times, but overall it is a worthwhile read for queer teens and their allies.

I loved this one. Though its a short and quick read I think this is a wonderful book to give those in the LGBTQ community hope. I need more books like this one! Thank you netgalley for this e-arc

I thought this was a great and educational book! I consider myself an Ally and loved to get to read this and learn more about what I can do. I think this was a great book to educate Allies on how to act and how you can help be a better Ally. I would recommend this book to other Allies or people who want to educate themselves on this subject!!

If you need more information regarding queers in America, this is the perfect book! I almost highlighted every word as I was reading on my kindle. I’ll be picking up the rest in this collection and recommend it to everyone!