Queer Ducks (and other animals): The Natural World of Animal Sexuality

Genre/Award/Honor

2023 Printz Honor Book

Informational/Non-Fiction

Age Group

7th – 12th

Summary

Queer Ducks is a non-fiction account of how animals in the wild often do not conform to the “natural” heterosexual bondings that are often attributed to them. Schrefer includes sidebar interviews with successful scientists who are not heterosexual, creating an opportunity for LBQTIA+ teens to glimpse into scientific career paths. While the book is bound to be controversial, it is a wonderful resource about diversity both the animal kingdom and in the human world.

Justification

When I saw Queer Ducks on the Printz Honor List, I knew I had to read it! I love ducks. It turns out, ducks don’t make an appearance until late in the book. But I learned a lot about how “natural” doesn’t always mean heterosexual monogamous relationships.

Format

I listened to Queer Ducks on a road trip. I loved that I was able to hear almost the entire book on a weekend where it was going to be hard to read. However, I felt that a lot of the humor of the book was lost in the translation from printed word to audio book. Additionally, the illustrations by Jules Zuckerberg are lost in this format. Having seen them after I completed listening to Queer Ducks, I feel that it would have been better to read it as a print or digital book.

Tone

Schrefer aims to entertain with an irreverent tone. However, in the audiobook, many of the jokes fell flat. The interpretation of the illustrations seemed childish and I didn’t understand what they were until I saw the comic panels from the book. Nonetheless, the information was fascinating, so I kept listening even though I didn’t like parts of the recording.

Authority

Schrefer provides a huge amount of scientific data without being boring. The studies he cites and the scientists he consults show that he has researched the subject of animal sexuality thoroughly. According to his website, Schrefer himself holds a M. A. in Animal Studies from NYU. He also writes about science for Discover, USAToday, and The Washington Post Magazine (About Me, n.d.).

References

Schrefer, E. (2022) Queer ducks (and other animals): The natural world of animal sexuality. (J. Fromkin, Narr.; D. Ballard, Narr.; H. Newhouse, Narr.; N. Cihi, Narr.) [Audiobook]. Harris County Public Library. https://hcpl.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S980C6508831 (2022)

About Me. (n.d.). Eliot Schrefer. Retrieved October 24, 2023, from https://www.eliotschrefer.com/bio