Social Justice Books

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

For All / Para Todos

Reviewed by Paige Pagan Review Source: Teaching for Change Book Author:  For All Para Todos takes children on Flor and her father’s journey of crossing the Mexico-United States border and the injustices they face as undocumented immigrants in a nation that is heralded as one united para todos. Growing up, television serves as a window […]

Save Me a Seat

Review Source: Teach Pluralism Book Author: Our first chapter book read aloud this year was Save Me a Seat by Gita Varadarajan and Sarah Weeks. It’s an amazing book for so many reasons, and was the perfect first read aloud for our class. While we felt it allowed for natural segues into many of the beginning of […]

Salma the Syrian Chef

Reviewed by Hadeal Salamah Review Source: Hijabi Librarians Book Author: Salma and her mother are Syrian Muslim refugees living at the Welcome Center for new immigrants in Vancouver, Canada. They both miss home and hope that one day soon Salma’s papa will be able to join them. Mama’s long days are filled with English classes and […]

Mama’s Nightingale: A Story of Immigration and Separation

Reviewed by Alice Review Source: Vamos a Leer: Teaching Latin America Through Literature Book Author: Saludos, todos, and welcome back to our weekly book reviews! Now that we have all had some time to rest during the holidays, we are ready to delve into the spring semester with an especially powerful January theme: civil rights. Throughout […]

The Radius of Us

Reviewed by Daniella Burgi-Palomino Review Source: Independent Book Author: Recommended with a caveat Marie Marquardt’s captivating and poignant story of Phoenix and Gretchen in The Radius of Us draws the reader in and makes us feel like we really get to know both characters and accompany them on their emotional journey. I give the author credit […]

From North to South / Del Norte al Sur

Reviewed by Grace Cornell Review Source: Rethinking Schools Book Author: Hot off the press, From North to South/Del norte al sur addresses issues of family separation and deportation head-on. The story is told from the perspective of José, a young child who travels from San Diego to Tijuana to see his mother, recently deported in a […]