Social Justice Books

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

Finding Melody Sullivan

Reviewed by Linda Dittmar Review Source: Rethinking Schools Book Author: Especially now, when support for Palestinians is being cast as anti-Semitism, it takes courage to write a YA novel about a U.S. teenager’s journey into Israel’s Occupied Territories of Palestine, and yet this is what Alice Rothchild does in Finding Melody Sullivan. It also takes […]

Rocket Says Speak Up!

  Reviewed by Erin Green Review Source: Instagram – disruptivenarratives Book Author: This Instagram review is by Erin Green, a teacher educator in Texas. Learn more about her work at Erin Green, M.Ed.   View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Erin Green, M.Ed. | Curriculum Writer (@disruptivenarratives)

Rock Your Mocs

Reviewed by Debbie Reese Review Source: American Indians in Children’s Literature Book Author: Several years ago on Native social media, I saw people talking about plans to wear their moccasins for “Rock Your Mocs” day. On that day, we took photos of our mocs and shared them joyously in a way that radiated an Indigenous […]

Rez Ball

Reviewed by Debbie Reese Review Source: American Indians in Children’s Literature Book Author: Earlier this month, I was in San Diego at the California Indian Ed for All 2023 Summit. I was invited to give a presentation about children’s books. During that trip I was reading an advance copy of Rez Ball by Byron Graves. At […]

Jo Jo Makoons: The Used-To-Be Best Friend

Reviewed by Debbie Reese Source: American Indians in Children’s Literature Author: Today’s Short and Sweet Rec is for Dawn Quigley’s Jo Jo Makoons, The Used-to-Be Best Friend. For starters, here’s the description of the book (from the publisher): Hello/Boozhoo — meet Jo Jo Makoons! Full of pride, joy, and plenty of humor, this first book in […]

With Lots of Love

Reviewed by Estella Frias Review Source: Reading Is Resistance Book Author:  She missed Abuela’s warm tortillas and the way they smelled sweet and fresh, like the damp earth after a soft rain. She missed the pretty song of her language. With Lots of Love tells Rocio’s riveting story about the struggle and newness of immigrating […]