Social Justice Books

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

The First Rule of Punk

Reviewed by Lettycia Terrones Review Source: Latinos in Kid Lit Book Author: There is a scene half-way through Celia C. Pérez’s brilliant middle-grade novel The First Rule of Punk that pulls so powerfully at the heartstrings of all those who have ever struggled with forming their identity as a minoritized person in the U.S. Having just wrapped up […]

Radiant Child: The Story of Young Artist Jean-Michel Basquiat

Reviewed by Sujei Lugo and Lila Quintero Weaver Review Source: Latinx in Kid Lit Book Author: Radiant Child is a heartfelt and vibrant picture book about the childhood and life of Puerto Rican-Haitian American artist Jean-Michel Basquiat. Written for young children, it celebrates Basquiat’s art and traces the early steps of his artistic formation, as […]

One of a Kind, Like Me/Unico Como Yo

Reviewed by Latinx in Kid Lit Review Source: Latinx in Kid Lit Book Author: One of a Kind Like Me/Único como yo is a book every elementary school should own. It takes the subject of gender identity out of the public discourse, where morality and religion weigh heavily in the debate, and puts it into the personal […]

Drum Dream Girl

Review by Sujei Lugo Review Source: Latinx in Kid Lit Book Author: Girls cannot be drummers. Long ago on an island filled with music and rhythm, no one questioned that rule — until the drum dream girl. She longed to play tall congas and small bongós and silvery, moon-bright timbales. She had to practice in secret. […]

Growing Up Pedro

Review by Lila Quintero Weaver Review Source: Latinx in Kid Lit Book Author: FROM THE BOOK JACKET:  Before Pedro Martinez pitched the Red Sox to a World Series championship, before he was named to the All-Star team eight times, before he won the Cy Young Award three times, he was a kid from a place called […]

Max Loves Muñecas

Review by Ashley Hope Pérez Review Source: Latinx in Kid Lit Book Author: PUBLISHER’S DESCRIPTION: Max wants to visit a beautiful boutique that sells handmade dolls, but he worries that other children will tease him. When he finally finds the courage to enter the store, Max meets Señor Pepe who has been making dolls since he was […]