Social Justice Books

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

Dactyl Hill Squad

Reviewed by Debbie Reese Review Source: American Indians in Children’s Literature Book Author: Some time back, I learned that Daniel José Older was working on a series that would blend history and fantasy. The first book in the series—Dactyl Hill Squad—is out and I gotta say, I enjoyed it! Older, by the way, is not […]

She Sang Promise: The Story of Betty Mae Jumper: Seminole Tribal Leader

Reviewed by Alexis Blendel Review Source: American Indians in Children’s Literature Book Author: This is my last year of Florida Virtual School. Soon I will take a trip with my cousin to the Glades to visit the Big Cypress Reservation. My mother is originally from Hollywood, but I want to see the Glades again. It […]

Dragonfly Kites

Reviewed by Debbie Reese Review Source: American Indians in Children’s Literature Book Author: Fifteen years ago, I learned about three delightful picture books by Tomson Highway. Illustrated by Brian Deines, each one had a great story that was presented in English and in Cree. Fox on the Ice, Caribou Song, and Dragonfly Kites were published by a major publisher […]

I Am Birch

Reviewed by Debbie Reese Review Source: American Indians in Children’s Literature Book Author: A colleague wrote to ask me about Scott Kelley’s I Am Birch. Published in 2018 by Islandport Press, it is getting a ‘not recommended’ from me. In the back of I Am Birch is an “About the Book” page that tells readers that:  The legends of […]

Apple in the Middle

Reviewed by Jean Mendoza Review Source: American Indians in Children’s Literature Book Author: Two Native high school girls, two unique stories about not fitting in, and about trying to make sense of Indigenous heritage/ancestry when something has disrupted their place in a Native community…. Most regular readers of this blog won’t need to be convinced that […]

Hearts Unbroken

Reviewed by Debbie Reese Review Source: American Indians in Children’s Literature Book Author: I’ll start by echoing the title of this post. I highly recommend Cynthia Leitich Smith’s Hearts Unbroken. Lou, the main character, is a senior in high school. There’s a lot in here that I love, for several reasons. There are spoilers below, so you might […]