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Pocket Change Collective
Taking on the Plastics Crisis
Pocket Change Collective was born out of a need for space. Space to think. Space to connect. Space to be yourself. And this is your invitation to join us.
In this personal, moving essay, youth activist Hannah Testa shares with readers how she led a grassroots political campaign to successfully pass state legislation limiting single-use plastics and how she influenced global businesses to adopt more sustainable practices. Through her personal journey, readers can learn how they, too, can follow in Hannah's footsteps and lower their carbon footprint by simply refusing single-use plastics.
Pocket Change Collective is a series of small books with big ideas from today's leading activists and artists. In this installment, youth activist Hannah Testa, the founder of Hannah4Change, chronicles both her personal and political mission to save the Earth's oceans by limiting single-use plastic products.
In this personal, moving essay, youth activist Hannah Testa shares with readers how she led a grassroots political campaign to successfully pass state legislation limiting single-use plastics and how she influenced global businesses to adopt more sustainable practices. Through her personal journey, readers can learn how they, too, can follow in Hannah's footsteps and lower their carbon footprint by simply refusing single-use plastics.
Pocket Change Collective is a series of small books with big ideas from today's leading activists and artists. In this installment, youth activist Hannah Testa, the founder of Hannah4Change, chronicles both her personal and political mission to save the Earth's oceans by limiting single-use plastic products.
64 pages, Paperback
First published October 13, 2020
8 people are currently reading
758 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 115 reviews
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April 22, 2020A young writer and climate activist of colour is releasing a book about what we all can do to protect and save the environment and I need everyone to know about it
February 11, 2021
how does a 60 page book have such an impact? its informative, urgent, inspiring, necessary and encourages you to take immediate action. loved it! if you want something short and sweet on plastic and climate change, this is it.
July 14, 2020
First of all, I love the fact that Pocket Change Collective is on a mission to amplify the voice of youth around various social issues. And 17-year-old Hannah Testa will inspire teens with her strong message about the harm that plastics are doing to our planet.
That being said, the writing and layout could have been more appealing. The cover art is great, but there are no illustrations or text features to break things up. There is so much rich information that just calls out for a chart or “did you know” to grab the reader. The writing is uneven, fluctuating between a more conversational style where we’re clearly hearing the voice of a teenager, and a couple of chapters that are much more adult-teacher voice.
There are some instances of assuming privilege (“like most kids my age, my friends and I loved American Girl dolls”). Many of the suggestions about reducing plastic involve money (have your bamboo utensils handy! Keep extra aluminum straws in your car! Have the meat wrapped in paper instead of plastic!)
A mixed bag. 2.5 stars rounded up to 3.
Thank you, Penguin Random House and Edelweiss, for the electronic ARC.
That being said, the writing and layout could have been more appealing. The cover art is great, but there are no illustrations or text features to break things up. There is so much rich information that just calls out for a chart or “did you know” to grab the reader. The writing is uneven, fluctuating between a more conversational style where we’re clearly hearing the voice of a teenager, and a couple of chapters that are much more adult-teacher voice.
There are some instances of assuming privilege (“like most kids my age, my friends and I loved American Girl dolls”). Many of the suggestions about reducing plastic involve money (have your bamboo utensils handy! Keep extra aluminum straws in your car! Have the meat wrapped in paper instead of plastic!)
A mixed bag. 2.5 stars rounded up to 3.
Thank you, Penguin Random House and Edelweiss, for the electronic ARC.
October 3, 2021
➸ Trigger warnings for mentions of cancer, and animal death & illness.
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Blog • Trigger Warning Database • Twitter • Instagram
May 26, 2021
This is a good primer for understanding the issues we face with the plastics crisis. If there is one thing I wish she'd included, it's a list of resources for further education and action (she did mention several organizations started by young people).
August 10, 2022
A goof primer on a very important issue.
dnf
September 4, 2021 I received the Pocket Change Collective series from Penguin Teen. #PenguinTeenPartner
DNF at page 52
I really liked where this was going. However, I just feel like she missed the mark of educating versus preaching. As this is a short book, there just needed to be more emphasis on how *not* using plastic entirely is not realistic because of class status, disability, and location. Not once does she acknowledge those living in poverty and under lower-class statuses? They cannot just eliminate plastics out of their daily life. Not using plastic products is very much a privilege as is sustainability and Testa really missed the mark on that. I liked the initiative this book brought to teach teens they can be sustainable while not being voting age. However, this conversation needs to be addressed with disabled people in mind, too because plastic straws are a resource and necessity for disabled people. Thus, we cannot just eliminate them entirely. I really loved the purpose and intent behind this book, but it definitely missed a lot of key information.
DNF at page 52
I really liked where this was going. However, I just feel like she missed the mark of educating versus preaching. As this is a short book, there just needed to be more emphasis on how *not* using plastic entirely is not realistic because of class status, disability, and location. Not once does she acknowledge those living in poverty and under lower-class statuses? They cannot just eliminate plastics out of their daily life. Not using plastic products is very much a privilege as is sustainability and Testa really missed the mark on that. I liked the initiative this book brought to teach teens they can be sustainable while not being voting age. However, this conversation needs to be addressed with disabled people in mind, too because plastic straws are a resource and necessity for disabled people. Thus, we cannot just eliminate them entirely. I really loved the purpose and intent behind this book, but it definitely missed a lot of key information.
May 28, 2021
I listened to the audiobook version of this, and it's really short, like a 1-hour speech about Testa's experience with social action to address the plastics crisis. In a very personal and concise way, Testa aims to inform her YA audience about the plastic crisis and share how teens can influence legislation that will help. SHe's not really specific about this; it's not a how-to, but it is inspiring.
December 27, 2020
This was a good introduction to the plastics crisis and does give young people ideas on how to create change. But, it’s just an introduction. I wish there were more tips and list of further reading, watching, and listening. I also wish that there was more research included.
July 22, 2023
More people need to talk about this and take personal action.
August 6, 2024
Important info and a good primer on the issue, but a stressful read. Testa does offer some suggestions for readers on how to reduce their plastics usage, but it would have been appreciated if references to more organizations and resources had been included.
April 16, 2021
I wanted to love this. I really did. I've been really enjoying everything I've read from the Pocket Change Collective and I think it's so important to address the plastics crisis going on in our world. This book does a lot of good, but it is also so narrow in view as to be potentially harmful. I'm going to break it into pros and cons.
Pros:
-The mixture of science and emotion drives home how dire the situation is and how important it is that we act.
-The quick and accessible style means that the writing can reach a broad audience.
-Some of the examples of action that has already been taken are helpful and interesting.
-Some of the suggestions included are genuinely helpful.
Cons:
-Straws. STRAWS. How many times do we have to argue that single-use straws are an accessibility item and that no alternative can be used by every person? I'm tired. Glass and steel straws are not heat-safe if you need a straw for hot beverages or hot liquid foods. Certain biodegradable options are not allergy-safe. Paper straws are a choking hazard. Most reusuable straws are difficult to clean and can be a major health risk when not properly cleaned. You can't guarantee a restaurant that provides reusable straws has cleaned them properly, and when you're disabled there is no guaranteeing you have the dexterity to clean it properly yourself. If you don't need a straw, don't use them, but to simply suggest that we do away with them is reckless. Disabled people have the right to drink, and by not providing single-use plastic straws and putting up additional barriers to accessing them, you are removing a vital accessibility tool from countless disabled people. This book is really short and it still spent like ten pages talking about straws without mentioning disabled people at all.
-While the straws are the most glaring example (partially because this argument has been had to death everywhere else, partially because the book spent a lot of time on it), there are a number of things that I thought just ignored the realities of disabled people. Specially wrapping foods in paper rather than sticking it in a ziplock is not going to be possible for many disabled people (this is something I personally don't think I could manage on a regular basis). Creating beauty products at home is absolutely not something I would have the energy for.
-Cost is a major factor in a number of suggestions she offers, and it is not mentioned as a barrier at all. Buying in bulk may reduce the amount of packaging and the overall cost, but the upfront cost can be too much. Buying sustainable products and supporting sustainable companies is great when possible, but these are often a larger upfront financial cost which isn't manageable for many. While most poor folks (like me) do a ton of their clothing shopping through secondhand shops, if I have to buy something new I can't guarantee that I can afford a specific fabric type.
-Many of these tips are not accessible for certain communities. For example, there are many communities without access to clean water that can't just stop buying bottled water. That absolutely needs to be fixed, but just telling people not to buy bottled water in the meantime is cruel.
I wanted to love this but I just couldn't. Being poor and disabled, a lot of the advice is stuff that I can't manage or couldn't morally support because people I know would be harmed by it. Don't get me wrong, there's some great advice here. Recycle based on your community guidelines. Contact your local representatives or businesses. Reduce, reuse, recycle, refuse, and raise awareness wherever it is possible for you to do so. I'm not sure I could recommend this to someone who isn't well versed in disability and class justice because I would worry about potentially harmful messages being consumed.
Pros:
-The mixture of science and emotion drives home how dire the situation is and how important it is that we act.
-The quick and accessible style means that the writing can reach a broad audience.
-Some of the examples of action that has already been taken are helpful and interesting.
-Some of the suggestions included are genuinely helpful.
Cons:
-Straws. STRAWS. How many times do we have to argue that single-use straws are an accessibility item and that no alternative can be used by every person? I'm tired. Glass and steel straws are not heat-safe if you need a straw for hot beverages or hot liquid foods. Certain biodegradable options are not allergy-safe. Paper straws are a choking hazard. Most reusuable straws are difficult to clean and can be a major health risk when not properly cleaned. You can't guarantee a restaurant that provides reusable straws has cleaned them properly, and when you're disabled there is no guaranteeing you have the dexterity to clean it properly yourself. If you don't need a straw, don't use them, but to simply suggest that we do away with them is reckless. Disabled people have the right to drink, and by not providing single-use plastic straws and putting up additional barriers to accessing them, you are removing a vital accessibility tool from countless disabled people. This book is really short and it still spent like ten pages talking about straws without mentioning disabled people at all.
-While the straws are the most glaring example (partially because this argument has been had to death everywhere else, partially because the book spent a lot of time on it), there are a number of things that I thought just ignored the realities of disabled people. Specially wrapping foods in paper rather than sticking it in a ziplock is not going to be possible for many disabled people (this is something I personally don't think I could manage on a regular basis). Creating beauty products at home is absolutely not something I would have the energy for.
-Cost is a major factor in a number of suggestions she offers, and it is not mentioned as a barrier at all. Buying in bulk may reduce the amount of packaging and the overall cost, but the upfront cost can be too much. Buying sustainable products and supporting sustainable companies is great when possible, but these are often a larger upfront financial cost which isn't manageable for many. While most poor folks (like me) do a ton of their clothing shopping through secondhand shops, if I have to buy something new I can't guarantee that I can afford a specific fabric type.
-Many of these tips are not accessible for certain communities. For example, there are many communities without access to clean water that can't just stop buying bottled water. That absolutely needs to be fixed, but just telling people not to buy bottled water in the meantime is cruel.
I wanted to love this but I just couldn't. Being poor and disabled, a lot of the advice is stuff that I can't manage or couldn't morally support because people I know would be harmed by it. Don't get me wrong, there's some great advice here. Recycle based on your community guidelines. Contact your local representatives or businesses. Reduce, reuse, recycle, refuse, and raise awareness wherever it is possible for you to do so. I'm not sure I could recommend this to someone who isn't well versed in disability and class justice because I would worry about potentially harmful messages being consumed.
May 22, 2022
Reflections and lessons learned:
This one took me a bit by surprise as I’d started to become a bit cynical on yoof telling the world where they’re going wrong… I’ve been longing for someone to have actioned things before publishing the book, and Testa is a fine example - solutions, positive measurable actions that have been achieved and further ideas for the future - fantastic!
This one took me a bit by surprise as I’d started to become a bit cynical on yoof telling the world where they’re going wrong… I’ve been longing for someone to have actioned things before publishing the book, and Testa is a fine example - solutions, positive measurable actions that have been achieved and further ideas for the future - fantastic!
October 1, 2020
Another great essay from the Pocket Change Collective.
Hannah Testa has been an activist since she was a child, and she uses this platform to inspire other teens to action. She explains the way that plastic use has ballooned over the years, acknowledging its benefits (space travel!) while staying focused on the major problem of single-use plastics like straws, utensils, cups, and the ubiquitous plastic grocery bags. She expands on the 3 R's (reduce, reuse, recycle) to include "refuse" and "raise awareness" in a way that's clear easy to remember. She also uplifts many other young activists and their projects, emphasizing that young people of any age can get involved and make meaningful change.
I have two main critiques that keep this from being a 5-star read. One, I wish she had taken the time to acknowledge the privileges of wealth (buying metal/glass replacements) and non-disability (re: straws) that would affect a person's experience while addressing the plastics issue. Two, I wish there had been more of a discussion of the role of reusable plastics in this environmental fight. I know some people try to minimize plastic use entirely, and I wonder what she would have to say. These essays are short by design, but I feel that this would have benefitted from even a brief expansion on both of those points.
I received a copy of this title from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Hannah Testa has been an activist since she was a child, and she uses this platform to inspire other teens to action. She explains the way that plastic use has ballooned over the years, acknowledging its benefits (space travel!) while staying focused on the major problem of single-use plastics like straws, utensils, cups, and the ubiquitous plastic grocery bags. She expands on the 3 R's (reduce, reuse, recycle) to include "refuse" and "raise awareness" in a way that's clear easy to remember. She also uplifts many other young activists and their projects, emphasizing that young people of any age can get involved and make meaningful change.
I have two main critiques that keep this from being a 5-star read. One, I wish she had taken the time to acknowledge the privileges of wealth (buying metal/glass replacements) and non-disability (re: straws) that would affect a person's experience while addressing the plastics issue. Two, I wish there had been more of a discussion of the role of reusable plastics in this environmental fight. I know some people try to minimize plastic use entirely, and I wonder what she would have to say. These essays are short by design, but I feel that this would have benefitted from even a brief expansion on both of those points.
I received a copy of this title from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
January 16, 2023
A lot of the tips are very privileged and not accessible for all. Also, the author flies around the world to do beach clean ups to save the environment? Does anybody see the irony there?
November 2, 2020
Continuing the series of raising awareness with these pocket exchange booklets that feature the voices of those focused on doing something about the topic or having experienced it.
In this one, teen advocate Testa who as a young teen had taken up the banner for fighting for the environment specifically as it related to plastics and the waste spilling into the oceans which lead to complicating factors related to animal life, oxygen levels, etc.
For as wide-ranging as the topics she covers, it moves quickly, doesn't get bogged down in too many intricate details, and generally helps raise awareness for the issue. She certainly has done a lot for such a young person and that might be intimidating to others reading it. But her passion certainly shows.
She gives some concrete examples of things to do and things to be aware of to take or leave as you wish and it seems as if she's approaching it logically-- as in "let's start here" because the surest way to negate your campaign of awareness and change is to be too extreme. People need to get comfortable with an idea and slowly change bad habits.
In this one, teen advocate Testa who as a young teen had taken up the banner for fighting for the environment specifically as it related to plastics and the waste spilling into the oceans which lead to complicating factors related to animal life, oxygen levels, etc.
For as wide-ranging as the topics she covers, it moves quickly, doesn't get bogged down in too many intricate details, and generally helps raise awareness for the issue. She certainly has done a lot for such a young person and that might be intimidating to others reading it. But her passion certainly shows.
She gives some concrete examples of things to do and things to be aware of to take or leave as you wish and it seems as if she's approaching it logically-- as in "let's start here" because the surest way to negate your campaign of awareness and change is to be too extreme. People need to get comfortable with an idea and slowly change bad habits.
June 18, 2021
I really love this series and I love the optimism that Hannah Testa brings to the plastics crisis. I loved the expansion of the 3 Rs to 5. One thing I think this book was lacking was the cost of being eco friendly. She acknowledges that companies and brands need to do more, but still, most of the tips put the responsibility on individuals. Swapping what you use for more eco friendly variations can be costly and with so many Americans living paycheck to paycheck, it's not as easy as she made it seem. There was also a lot of talk about how plastics from one place can end up on the other side of the world, but I wish the book had really emphasized how the west and industrialized countries are responsible for the climate crisis while other countries deal with the majority of the cost. Overall a great, short, concise read.
November 1, 2020
Taking on the Plastics Crisis was definitely my favorite of the Pocket Change Collective! First off, it was so informative about the nitty gritty details of the creation, use, and consequences of plastic use. Hannah Testa, and the other activists she mentioned, are incredible examples of ambition, compassion, and perseverance. I appreciated that she outlines the drawbacks of the recycling system, and included ways that consumers can influence business and legislation to make better decisions. With that said, I wish Testa had dedicated a portion of the essay to corporation’s impact on climate change. I firmly believe that individuals should make concentrated efforts to reduce their carbon footprint, but corporations are largely at fault.
February 17, 2024
A book with simple words, good illustration and comes in pretty good cute size. Handy and love to carry it around. The book focuses on the issue of plastic use and how it impacts negatively to our pretty natural environment. Harming marine lives and beyond, to the extend that human feces contained plastic. At such a young age, people have raised their voices against the use and manufacturing of plastic. After reading this small informative book, you will definitely end up saying: say no to plastic.
Read
January 14, 2026reduce reuse recycle. words we all are familiar with. this book challenges us to look further than that. I'm in awe of what Hannah was able to accomplish at such a young age. this essay talks about her journey and how and why we need to look beyond recycling to save the future of our planet.
in general about the pocket change collective: these are such a good way to absorb new information quickly and efficiently. they introduce a great variety of important issues and every single one is a worthwhile read.
in general about the pocket change collective: these are such a good way to absorb new information quickly and efficiently. they introduce a great variety of important issues and every single one is a worthwhile read.
Read
August 11, 2021""the greatest threat to the planet is the belief that someone else will save it"" -Hannah Tesla
This short but amazing book by a driven teenage activist educates about the effects that severe reliance on plastics has on our planet, our fellow animals, and our health. It also shows opportunities where we can take individual responsibility, corporate responsibility, and collective social responsibility to scale down the use of plastics. It was definitely an urgent personal reminder for me about my own single-use-plastic consumption levels and the things I can do to abate it.
This short but amazing book by a driven teenage activist educates about the effects that severe reliance on plastics has on our planet, our fellow animals, and our health. It also shows opportunities where we can take individual responsibility, corporate responsibility, and collective social responsibility to scale down the use of plastics. It was definitely an urgent personal reminder for me about my own single-use-plastic consumption levels and the things I can do to abate it.
November 16, 2020
While I knew a lot of the stuff in this book already, it is always important to get a reminder. It is a very important topic that I tend forget day to day. Take care of the planet with your choices and encourage others to do the same.
July 16, 2022
3.5 stars
Read
September 6, 2022Bought for my classroom! My students will love this quick and informative read about the plastics crisis and solutions, written by a youth activist!
October 18, 2020
Do Your Part
Refuse, reduce, reuse, recycle, raise awareness. That is the 5 R's that we need to pay attention to. This book helps you understand the serious impacts of your carbon footprint and how to stop using plastic altogether. Definitely something you should read to educate yourself on the plastic crisis.
Refuse, reduce, reuse, recycle, raise awareness. That is the 5 R's that we need to pay attention to. This book helps you understand the serious impacts of your carbon footprint and how to stop using plastic altogether. Definitely something you should read to educate yourself on the plastic crisis.
August 7, 2023
dnf about halfway through, I just can't. I did skim through to the end, but oof. I really needed this to be better.
immediately I found the narrative voice annoying, and as a report, this is all over the place. although I can appreciate reading something from an actual teen who is actively working on sustainability issues, this really does read like a 10th grader's science paper and I couldn't bear it for one more short page.
this could have benefited GREATLY from a more linear or organized approach to explaining the current state of our environment, what is happening to it as a result of human habits, and how the average person can start to make their own changes. there is a small section towards the end of this volume that gives pointers on how to reduce your own plastic use, but about half of them assume the reader has enough autonomy and/or resources to make the switch easily. if you're living in a densely packed city struggling to make ends meet, if you're a young person who has no control over how things are purchased at home, or if you're not sure how to learn about sustainable beauty alternatives, welp. you're just part of the problem. broader, more neutrally encouraging things would be helpful to see, especially along the way instead of at the end of the volume.
I also really wish there were citations here so we can read more about the specific facts and concerns that come up - it's stated that "approximately every other breath we take is generated from the ocean" but doesn't explain the basics of how this works, there are mentions of "various studies" that support facts about plastic use, disposal, and effects on human health but no reference to who wrote these studies or where we can learn more. These are really simple fixes in the editing process and it's disappointing to see so many important details floating inside a janky narrative. As an adult and librarian I know how to look these things up (and also understand that I should fact check if something juicy is stated with no citation), but a young reader drawn to the short format and peer author might consume this without any second thought, which is not ideal.
overall........ didn't like this, can you tell? I think I just really don't love Pocket Change Collective and how the series is set up, I always seem to get worked up every time I finish one of these. there's a dedication to voice and authenticity that I can appreciate in theory, but I wish there was a little more editing involved so these titles can be as successful as possible.
immediately I found the narrative voice annoying, and as a report, this is all over the place. although I can appreciate reading something from an actual teen who is actively working on sustainability issues, this really does read like a 10th grader's science paper and I couldn't bear it for one more short page.
this could have benefited GREATLY from a more linear or organized approach to explaining the current state of our environment, what is happening to it as a result of human habits, and how the average person can start to make their own changes. there is a small section towards the end of this volume that gives pointers on how to reduce your own plastic use, but about half of them assume the reader has enough autonomy and/or resources to make the switch easily. if you're living in a densely packed city struggling to make ends meet, if you're a young person who has no control over how things are purchased at home, or if you're not sure how to learn about sustainable beauty alternatives, welp. you're just part of the problem. broader, more neutrally encouraging things would be helpful to see, especially along the way instead of at the end of the volume.
I also really wish there were citations here so we can read more about the specific facts and concerns that come up - it's stated that "approximately every other breath we take is generated from the ocean" but doesn't explain the basics of how this works, there are mentions of "various studies" that support facts about plastic use, disposal, and effects on human health but no reference to who wrote these studies or where we can learn more. These are really simple fixes in the editing process and it's disappointing to see so many important details floating inside a janky narrative. As an adult and librarian I know how to look these things up (and also understand that I should fact check if something juicy is stated with no citation), but a young reader drawn to the short format and peer author might consume this without any second thought, which is not ideal.
overall........ didn't like this, can you tell? I think I just really don't love Pocket Change Collective and how the series is set up, I always seem to get worked up every time I finish one of these. there's a dedication to voice and authenticity that I can appreciate in theory, but I wish there was a little more editing involved so these titles can be as successful as possible.
April 5, 2022
[REVIEW]
*Trigger/content warnings in this book for mentions of animal death, cancer, and death*
This is my second Pocket Change Collective book, the second that talks about global warming and the climate crisis. In this book, teen environmentalist Hannah Testa discusses the global impacts of plastic, as well the complications of recycling and other ways we can reduce our plastic intake.
From the first page, you can tell how passionate Testa is about the environment and finding ways to save humans, animals, and the earth. I liked how Testa balanced both urgency to take action while also showing what actual people are doing all over the world to make a difference. She provides many solutions to do your part, including understanding different types of plastics, pushing businesses to go green, and voting for politicians who will help the environment.
That said, this did come off as privileged and even insensitive at time. Some of the solutions Testa provided were buying metal or glass alternatives (not everyone can afford these) and not using plastic straws (which many disabled people have voiced about, explaining that looking down on those who use plastic straws is ableist). I have left links to reviews that go into these problems better than I can. Please take the time to check them out.
REVIEWS:
ELIZABETH’S REVIEW:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
NESS’S REVIEW:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
STEPHANIE’S REVIEW:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
*Trigger/content warnings in this book for mentions of animal death, cancer, and death*
This is my second Pocket Change Collective book, the second that talks about global warming and the climate crisis. In this book, teen environmentalist Hannah Testa discusses the global impacts of plastic, as well the complications of recycling and other ways we can reduce our plastic intake.
From the first page, you can tell how passionate Testa is about the environment and finding ways to save humans, animals, and the earth. I liked how Testa balanced both urgency to take action while also showing what actual people are doing all over the world to make a difference. She provides many solutions to do your part, including understanding different types of plastics, pushing businesses to go green, and voting for politicians who will help the environment.
That said, this did come off as privileged and even insensitive at time. Some of the solutions Testa provided were buying metal or glass alternatives (not everyone can afford these) and not using plastic straws (which many disabled people have voiced about, explaining that looking down on those who use plastic straws is ableist). I have left links to reviews that go into these problems better than I can. Please take the time to check them out.
REVIEWS:
ELIZABETH’S REVIEW:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
NESS’S REVIEW:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
STEPHANIE’S REVIEW:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
January 9, 2022
I’m really enjoying the Pocket Change series. It’s so great to hear the voices of young people that are passionate about making the world a better place.
Hannah Testa has certainly made an impact with her advocacy and all before she was even old enough to vote. She does a great job of giving an overview of the plastic problem and explaining how there’s more to bring eco-friendly than just the 3 Rs. As other reviews have mentioned, I think Testa still has some learning to do regarding privilege and class, which left some obvious gaps in the narrative surrounding plastic. Overall, I think this is a great book to inspire people to get involved and find ways they can make an impact on the plastic crisis. 3/5
Hannah Testa has certainly made an impact with her advocacy and all before she was even old enough to vote. She does a great job of giving an overview of the plastic problem and explaining how there’s more to bring eco-friendly than just the 3 Rs. As other reviews have mentioned, I think Testa still has some learning to do regarding privilege and class, which left some obvious gaps in the narrative surrounding plastic. Overall, I think this is a great book to inspire people to get involved and find ways they can make an impact on the plastic crisis. 3/5
March 25, 2021
This is a great primer on plastics, recycling, and what we can all do to be more environmentally conscious. However, it is absolutely unconscionable to repeat the idea that everyone should stop using plastic straws when that is not possible. Plastic straws were created as an accessibility aid for disabled, chronically ill, and injured folks. Removing the straw from that context is irresponsible and ableist—and it will lead to ableds continuing ignorance on the fact that some people need single-use plastic straws for a variety of reasons. It is disappointing to see that in an otherwise excellent book.
April 8, 2021
This is my least favorite of the Pocket Change Collective books so far. It's not necessarily bad, but it definitely has a middle class abled perspective that was never acknowledged and was kind of off-putting. There's a good chuck of narrative dedicated to the evils of plastic straws without once mentioning that they're necessary for a lot of disabled people. I would have loved a section about ways to help the environment if you can't afford to purchase high quality long-lasting items and rely on their low-cost plastic alternatives.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 115 reviews