Social Justice Books

Critically reviewed selection of multicultural and social justice books for children, young adults, and educators.

Dos Conejos Blancos / Two White Rabbits

Review by Beverly Slapin Reviewed Source: DeColores Reviews Book Author: On the cover is a little girl, comfortably lying down with her head resting on her papá’s leg. Her body is relaxed and her eyes are wide open; she’s happily playing with her toy bunny. Papá is sitting upright, leaning on his backpack. He’s looking […]

A Mystery Bigger Than Big: A Mickey Rangel Mystery

Review by Wendy Bermudez Reviewed Source: Teaching for Change Book Author: Mickey Rangel, boy detective, has a case to solve when a new student joins his fifth grade class. Natalia is quiet, sits alone in the cafeteria, and wears old shoes and tattered clothes. Students quickly start fabricating stories, some more outlandish than others, to […]

The Head of the Saint

Reviewed by Lyn Miller Lachmann Reviewed Source: Pirate Tree Book Author:  Translated fiction for teen readers is not easy to find. Despite the recent success of adult titles by Elena Ferrante, Steig Larsson, Roberto Bolaño, Haruki Murikami, and others, and the growing number of acclaimed picture books from other countries, middle grade and young adult […]

Taking Down Ms. Moody

Reviewed by Matthew Smee Source: Teaching for Change Book Author: Taking Down Ms. Moody by D.C. high school students, Rochelle Jones, Destiny Mayhew, and Naseem Roach, and illustrated by D.C.’s Duke Ellington School of the Arts graduate, Zoë Gatti, tells a story of students dealing with a difficult teacher. In Taking Down Ms. Moody, the […]

The Hoodie Hero

Reviewed by Matthew Smee Reviewed Source: Teaching for Change Book Author: The Hoodie Hero by Washington, D.C. high school students Ashley Cooper, Daequan Golden, and Rico McCard tells an inspirational story of confronting a bully that is chock-a-block with valuable lessons. The story opens with the protagonist, Da’Monte, playing basketball at school. The reader is […]

A-to-Z: The Real DC

Reviewed by Matthew Smee Review Source: Independent Book Author: People often look at Washington, D.C., solely through a political lens, as it is the nation’s capital. Federal buildings and monuments are highlighted and other key components of the city are neglected in turn. Few outside of the district are familiar with our vibrant culture and […]