Social Justice Books

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

Long Way Down

Reviewed by Shea Martin Review Source: Electric Lit Book Author: This ain’t the year for sugarcoating the truth. Jason Reynolds’s 2017 novel, Long Way Down, gives it to us in heart-wrenching verse that demands we pay attention — not only to the story, but also to our own truth. Readers spend the novel on an elevator ride […]

Support Social Justice Books in 2020

Teaching for Change developed SocialJusticeBooks.org to help families and educators identify the best multicultural and social justice children’s books. We examine the representation, the story line, and the quality of writing of each book. Traffic to our website exploded this year, thanks in part to Beverly Daniel Tatum, author of Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in […]

Sulwe

Reviewed by Vanessa Oyugi, Ph.D. Review Source: Africa Access Book Author: Sulwe, Lupita Nyong’o’s first picture book, subtly celebrates her Kenyan heritage. The main character’s name means star in Luo (Lupita’s mother tongue) and there is an illustration of young girls playing a classic Kenyan jumping game called kati. Sulwe, the story of a young black girl dealing […]

The Range Eternal

Reviewed by Debbie Reese Source: American Indians in Children’s Literature Book Author: When I was a little girl on our reservation (Nambé Owingeh), I sat by my grandmother’s wood stove and watched her cook and tend the fire in her stove. In The Range Eternal, we see a mother and daughter standing at their stove, making soup. Here’s […]

Mary and the Trail of Tears: A Cherokee Removal Survival Story

Reviewed by Catherine Baty Review Source: Acornmush Book Author: When I first got Mary and the Trail of Tears I checked the About the Author on the last page. Often in children’s literature Native stories are told by non-Natives which can lead to inaccuracies in the portrayal of characters. I was delighted to learn that the author, Andrea […]

Apple (Skin to the Core)

Reviewed by Debbie Reese Review Source: American Indians in Children’s Literature Book Author: Monday, October 12 is Indigenous Peoples’ Day. There will be many virtual events taking place. Top of my list is the one from Arizona State University. Eric Gansworth will open their day of events. When you click on through to register for his lecture […]