AOC The fearless rise and powerful resonance of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

This edited volume combines heartfelt accounts of how the Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) story resonates with the contributors' personal histories, alongside informative pieces about her anti-poverty political agenda, her command of social media and democratic socialist views, and how she fits into the history of Puerto Rican activism. Carmen Rita Wong reminds us of the fire that AOC brought to her grilling of Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, and "how revolutionary it is to have someone who looks like us, who shares our history and our expansive underrepresented culture, speaking to power." Natalia Sylvester illustrates the power of AOC's resort to Spanglish as she questioned a Guatemala asylum seeker in a congressional committee hearing. Erin Aubry Kaplan sees in the story of AOC dancing into her new congressional office the joy and hope that all US citizens need: "She reminds us all, especially women, of that feeling that simply being young and emergent is force enough to change the world." Mariana Atencio's essay describes the cleverness and authenticity of AOC's social media posts, communications that enable her to "prompt people to act and react." Overall, the book is inspiring and engaging, and will leave readers expectant of seeing more of AOC's already legendary influence in years to come. Summing Up: Recommended. All readers. --Melissa R Michelson, Menlo College

In this collection by journalist Lopez, 15 prominent writers and politicians chart the rise of congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and break down in detail what her newfound power means for our moment. The politician's lived experience as a working-class woman of Puerto Rican descent is central to this book's angle, as Pedro A. Regalado writes in his essay connecting her politics to previous generations of black and Latinx organizers in New York before her. She comes from a family in the same kind of circumstances that her policies seek to improve, and also represents all who have been left out (or kept out) of national politics. Standout pieces include one from New York Magazine writer and best-selling author Rebecca Traister, who analyzes why Ocasio-Cortez's bold moves stir fears "of chaos and destruction" precisely because she is a woman. Another essay from personal finance expert and TV host Carmen Rita Wong demands readers recognize how important it is that the congresswoman sits on the House Financial Services Committee. VERDICT While there are several articles about Ocasio-Cortez, this book dives deep into her background, image, and ideas, and comes up with important insights. For readers interested in aspiring to politics.--Sierra Dickey, Ctr. for New Americans, Northampton, MA

Fifteen writers reflect on the meteoric rise of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. When Ocasio-Cortez was elected as the U.S Representative for New York's 14th congressional district in 2018, having defeated a 10-term incumbent, she made history as the youngest woman to serve in Congress. She also set the path for a new breed of young, social justice--minded politicians. Lopez, an Emmy-winning radio and TV journalist who anchors WCBS NewsRadio in New York City, assembles a bright and uniformly compelling collection of thought pieces on AOC. Her contributors--from the arts, media, and political landscapes--closely examine the essential qualities of AOC's broad appeal. The right voice at the right moment, AOC embodies a growing progressive movement in the U.S. Deeply conscious of working-class values and environmental concerns, she's a feminist with nimble social media skills, effectively communicating her message to an expanding mass of supporters. Among the many memorable essays are "In No Uncertain Terms," in which Peru-born novelist Natalia Sylvester digs into AOC's Latin roots and demonstrates how she and AOC share an imperfect yet emotionally engaging bilingualism; Pedro Regalado's precise consideration of "the complexity of Ocasio-Cortez's Latina background" within the historical context and expanding strength of Puerto Rican activism in New York; and Nathan J. Robinson's eloquent summary of AOC's enduring influence. "[Her] democratic socialism is a threat to the established order," writes Robinson, "because she presents a vision of a possible politics where young people, working people, women, and people of color all create a humane and decent society together, one where everyone is clothed, housed, fed, and given quality healthcare, and you don't have to be a billionaire to serve in public office….She is the expression of a profound and new kind of socialist politics, one that may very well change the world." Other contributors include Rebecca Traister, Jennine Capó Crucet, and Carmen Rita Wong. Enlightening and engaging perspectives on a remarkable political ascent. (8-page b/w insert) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.