Social Justice Books

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

When a Brown Girl Flees

Reviewed by Paige Pagan Review Source: Teaching for Change Book Author:  When a Brown Girl Flees is a thought provoking, contemporary young adult novel where author Aamna Qureshi seamlessly invests readers in her protagonist’s journey of healing from all-consuming grief to rediscovery and self-love. Eighteen-year-old Zahra Paracha makes the biggest decision of her life after graduation […]

Saving Sunshine

Reviewed by Paige Pagan Review Source: Teaching for Change Book Author:  Saving Sunshine is a contemporary graphic novel that makes issues such as Islamophobia and covert racism accessible for a middle grade audience. Zara and Zeeshan can’t remember the last time they had anything in common — they’re the epitome of opposite twins. Neither one of […]

Speculation

Reviewed by Paige Pagan Review Source: Teaching for Change Book Author:  Inspired by the work of authors such as Toni Morrison and Alice Walker, Speculation is a middle-grade novel that explores the myriad of ways in which Black families in America have been, still are, and always will be intrinsically affected by slavery.  Set in 1960s […]

Walking for Water: How One Boy Stood Up for Gender Equality

Reviewed Stacey Sewall Review Source: Africa Access Book Author: Walking for Water tells the story of Victor and his twin sister, Linesi, who live in a village in Malawi.  The children have turned 8 years old, and Linesi must now begin helping the women and older girls fetch water each day from the river instead […]

All My Rage

Reviewed by Paige Pagan Review Source: Teaching for Change Book Author:  A powerful contemporary young adult novel, All My Rage is rife with anger and grief on the ongoing price of the American dream for immigrant families. This narrative is an homage to the predecessors who painstakingly worked to carve out a smoother pathway for their […]

Viva’s Voice

Reviewed by Issac Abernethy Review Source: Reading Is Resistance Book Author:  Many voices together can make a big noise, Papi. Viva’s Voice, written by Raquel Donoso and illustrated by Carlos Vélez Auiglera, is the story of Viva and her papi standing up for change and is inspired by the author’s  childhood experiences as the daughter […]