Social Justice Books

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

My Name Is Not Easy

Reviewed by Debbie Reese Review Source: American Indians in Children’s Literature Book Author: Yesterday I read Debby Dahl Edwardson’s My Name Is Not Easy. It is a powerful novel, moving me in the same ways that Joseph Bruchac’s Hidden Roots did. Powerful governmental institutions did some really horrible things to Indigenous people. My Name Is Not Easy […]

Me and Momma and Big John

Reviewed by Katie Seitz Review Source: Teaching for Change Book Author: Me and Momma and Big John is a quietly excellent children’s book that deserves attention as one of the best of 2012. Told through the voice of her oldest son, the book charts the progress of St. John the Divine’s first woman of color stonecutter […]

Marisol McDonald and the Monster: Marisol McDonald y El Monstruo

Reviewed by Elsa Gall Review Source: Reading While White Book Author: Marisol McDonald loves the letter m, but there is one “m word” she does not like: ¡MONSTRUO! She knows that monsters are not real, but she hears them beneath her bed and her vivid imagination gets the best of her. After begging family member after […]

Mything Mandela

Reviewed by Deborah Menkart Book Author: Mandela, the beautifully illustrated children’s book by Kadir Nelson, has been selected as one of the top books on Nelson Mandela by many groups including Colorlines and Kirkus Reviews. Given Nelson’s talents and strong reputation as a children’s book author and illustrator, Mandela is likely to become a staple […]

Little Brother

Reviewed by Don Allen, Teaching for Change Publications Director Review Source: Teaching for Change Book Author: Set in the very near future, Little Brother goes to technological places that Orwell’s Big Brother could not. Students that have read 1984 will love the references to Orwell’s original and will appreciate the upgrade. After a major terrorist […]

Jahohora and First Day

Reviewed by Donnarae MacCanni Review Source: Africa Access Book Author: Jahohora and First Day is a creation myth and that is, in itself, something of value. Readers are indirectly asked to ponder why things are the way they are. Could things be different? Do I play a part in helping things become different? Jahohora and […]