Social Justice Books

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

Bitter

Reviewed by Alex Brown Review Source: Tor.com Book Author: In Pet, Akwaeke Emezi’s 2019 young adult debut, we followed Jam and Redemption as they hunted down an all-too-human monster with the titular creature, an angel from another dimension. Two years later Emezi has bestowed upon the world the follow-up, a prequel about Jam’s eventual parents, Bitter and […]

The Assignment

Interview by Alaina Leary Review Source: Diverse Books.org Book Author: Book description: SENIOR YEAR. When an assignment given by a favorite teacher instructs a group of students to argue for the Final Solution, a euphemism used to describe the Nazi plan for the genocide of the Jewish people, Logan March and Cade Crawford are horrified. Their […]

Everything You Wanted to Know about Indians But Were Afraid to Ask (Young Readers Edition)

Reviewed by: Jean Mendoza Review source: American Indians in Children’s Literature Book Author: Anton Treuer’s original Everything You Wanted to Know About Indians But Were Afraid to Ask was published in 2012. Many people, myself included, hoped there would soon be a version for young people. And at last, there is, and it’s getting good critical attention, including […]

The Round House

Reviewed by: Mykella Palmer Review Source: We Should All Be Bookworms Book Author:  In the We Should All Be Bookworms podcast, host Mykella Palmer introduces her listeners to Louise Erdrich’s book The Round House. You can listen to her review of the book here. Here is a short description of the book from the publisher: One of […]

Spíləx̣m: A Weaving of Recovery, Resilience, and Resurgence

Reviewed by Debbie Reese Review Source: American Indians in Children’s Literature Book Author: Today’s Short and Sweet Rec is for Nicola I. Campbell’s memoir, Spílexm: A Weaving of Recovery, Resilience, and Resurgence. I’ll begin with the description from the publisher’s site: If the hurt and grief we carry is a woven blanket, it is time to weave ourselves anew. In […]

Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood

Reviewed by Stergios Botzakis  Review Source: Graphic Novel Resources Book Author:  Marjane Satrapi was in elementary school when the Shah was ousted from power in Iran and a conservative Islamic regime took control. Because her family had communist and socialist leanings, as well as a distant familial relationship to the deposed Shah, they had to navigate a perilous political landscape. […]