Social Justice Books

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

King Shaka

Reviewed by Fatima Barnes Review Source: Africa Access Book Author: The graphic novels – Shaka Rising and the sequel, King Shaka – are  imaginative, engaging, and innovative ways of narrating the legend of Shaka, the most renowned 19th century  monarch in Southern Africa. Comic book writer-illustrator Luke Molver, a South African born in Durban,  does an excellent job of telling […]

Shaka Rising

Reviewed by Fatima Barnes Review Source: Africa Access Book Author: The graphic novels – Shaka Rising and the sequel, King Shaka – are  imaginative, engaging, and innovative ways of narrating the legend of Shaka, the most renowned 19th century  monarch in Southern Africa. Comic book writer-illustrator Luke Molver, a South African born in Durban,  does an excellent job of telling […]

From North to South / Del Norte al Sur

Reviewed by Grace Cornell Review Source: Rethinking Schools Book Author: Hot off the press, From North to South/Del norte al sur addresses issues of family separation and deportation head-on. The story is told from the perspective of José, a young child who travels from San Diego to Tijuana to see his mother, recently deported in a […]

Fry Bread

Reviewed by Ashleigh (13), Alexis (19), Charlie (17), Langston (13), and Michael (18) Review Source: Indigo’s Bookshelf: Voices of Native Youth Book Author: There is no doubt about it–Native children’s literature and  YA literature, fiction and nonfiction, is having a moment. Every time we turn around, there’s another wonderful book at the library or the publication details are announced […]

Orange for the Sunsets

Reviewed by Meena Khorana, Ph.D. Review Source: Africa Access Book Author: Set in 1972, Orange for the Sunsets is a welcome novel on the expulsion of Indians from Uganda under the regime of President Idi Amin, a topic that has been the subject of only one other adolescent novel about Africa in recent years (Shenaaz Nanji’s Child […]

Hands Up!

Reviewed by Deborah W. Thomas Tellin’ Stories Roving Readers Coordinator Review Source: Teaching for Change Book Author: Hands up! What comes to mind when you hear that? Is it a command, a request, a statement? Does “hands up!” illicit feelings of anger, negativity or sadness? Breanna McDaniel shows us in this children’s picture book, illustrated […]