Social Justice Books

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

Side By Side/Lado a Lado

Reviewed by: Maria Ramos-Chertok Review Source: Latinxs in Kid Lit Book Author: Growing up, my mother told us we had to boycott grapes. At that time, I only understood farmworkers were treated badly and Cesar Chavez was helping them. Years later, I’ve found a bilingual children’s book that would have helped me understand, not only the […]

When I Was Eight

Reviewed by: Debbie Reese Review Source: American Indians in Children’s Literature Book Author: The most powerful stories are those that pull you in such that you feel the emotions of the character(s) in the story and when you come to the end, you let loose a big sigh. When I Was Eight did that to […]

The Harlem Charade

Reviewed by: Cooperative Children’s Book Center Review Source: Cooperative Children’s Book Center Book Author: The rich past and present of Harlem is central to this lively, Balliett-esque mystery featuring three diverse young detectives. When Korean American Jin first pairs with African American Alex for a school assignment to explore some dimension of Harlem history, she’s […]

The Great Wall of Lucy Wu

Reviewed by: Edi Campbell Review Source: Cotton Quilts Book Author: The Great Wall of Lucy Wu is Wendy Wan-Long Shang’s first novel. It is the story of sixth grader, Lucy Wu, whose life is about to be ruined not only by a long lost aunt with whom she has to share a bedroom, by Talent […]

Where’s Rodney?

Reviewed by: Rebecca Lehr Book Author: Rodney is an elementary school student who just can’t stay in his seat. Far from engaged in the curriculum, he’s distracted by the birds outside the window and the bug in the classroom. His constant longing to be outdoors leads to inattention and class clown antics, which lead to […]

Every Falling Star

Reviewed by: Cooperative Children’s Book Center Review Source: Cooperative Children’s Book Center Book Author: Sungju Lee’s comfortable early childhood was spent in Pyongyang, North Korea, where his father held an important position within the military. Three years after Kim Il-Sung’s death in 1994, Sungju and his parents made an abrupt move to Gyeong-Seong. Although his […]