Social Justice Books

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

Freedom Bird: A Tale of Hope and Courage

Reviewed by Paige Pagan Review Source: Teaching for Change Book Author: Following in the tradition of oral storytelling, Freedom Bird is a blend of history and folklore. Reminiscent of Roots, but targeted for children and inspired by The People Could Fly, Nolen tells the multigenerational story of the Wheeler family on Simon Plenty’s fictional plantation. The narrative […]

Counting Kindness

Reviewed by Umm Aminah Review Source: De Colores: The Raza Experience in Books for Children Book Author: Of course, any attempt to generate increased compassion for dislocated individuals should be applauded. However, in an attempt to encourage the welcoming of immigrants from war-torn countries, Counting Kindness // A Contar amabilidad makes a few inexplicit implications. Among these are: (1) Trauma that […]

Abuela’s Weave

Reviewed by Brad Manker Review Source: Teaching for Change Book Author: Abuela’s Weave tells the story of a girl (Esperanza) and her grandmother (Abuela), a tale of an older generation passing on a traditional artform — weaving — to a younger one. It begins in the rural Guatemalan compound where the two women live with their […]

The Notebook Keeper: A Story of Kindness from the Border

Reviewed by Brad Manker Review Source: Teaching for Change Book Author: Our home is different. Not like it used to be. When the protagonist, Noemí, and her mother are suddenly uprooted and forced to flee their homes in central Mexico, they seek refuge in the United States. At the border checkpoint, they meet Belinda, a […]

Troublemaker

Reviewed by Edi Campbell Review Source: Cotton Quilts Book Author: Jordan Park is convinced that he’s a disappointment to his parents. What makes it even worse is that they and his school principal have confirmed that to him. Since he can never measure up to his sister, Jordan opts to fall short with intention. He chooses […]

Banned Books Week 2022

Over the last two years libraries and schools have faced an unprecedented number of bids to have books banned. As Jonna Perrillo writes in the Washington Post, these book bans may be even more dangerous than those of the past. The most frequently challenged books are ones that students are reading on their own accord, even if they are accessing them through […]