Social Justice Books

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

They Call Me Güero: A Border Kid’s Poems

Review by Beverly Slapin Review Source: De Colores: The Raza Experience in Books for Children Book Author: Memories from the author’s own childhood experiences—as well as those of his son, his friends, and the young men he worked with as a middle-school teacher—inform this too-slim book of poetry from the perspective of a 12-year-old Chicano border […]

A Girl Called Echo

Reviewed by Jean Mendoza Review Source: American Indians in Children’s Literature  Book Author: Apple, Echo, and the Importance of “More Than One Book” Two Native high school girls, two unique stories about not fitting in, and about trying to make sense of Indigenous heritage/ancestry when something has disrupted their place in a Native community…. Most regular […]

Dactyl Hill Squad

Reviewed by Debbie Reese Review Source: American Indians in Children’s Literature Book Author: Some time back, I learned that Daniel José Older was working on a series that would blend history and fantasy. The first book in the series—Dactyl Hill Squad—is out and I gotta say, I enjoyed it! Older, by the way, is not […]

Mission to Space

Reviewed by Debbie Reese Review Source: American Indians in Children’s Literature Book Author: Regular readers of American Indians in Children’s Literature know that I emphasize several points when reviewing children’s or young adult books, especially: Is the book by a Native author or illustrator? Does the book, in some way, include something to tell readers […]

A Wish After Midnight

Reviewed by Edith (Edi) Campbell Review Source: Cotton Quilts Book Author: Genna’s mother probably never told her to be careful what she wished and she probably never told Genna that she was beautiful, or smart, or a wonderful daughter. Mom was too busy struggling with a son and a daughter she already lost to the […]

Zoe and the Fawn

Reviewed by Jean Mendoza Review Source: American Indian’s in Children’s Literature Book Author: Little Zoe and her dad are feeding their horses when Zoe is captivated by a fawn lying under an aspen tree nearby. Dad takes a picture. Zoe wonders where the fawn’s mother is, and Dad suggests they look for her. They walk through […]