Reviewed by Rodrigo Ribera d’Ebre Review Source: Huffington Post Book Author: Héctor Tobar Recently I was invited by the California Writers Club to attend a talk at their Long Beach location. This club was founded in 1909, is one of the oldest clubs in the nation, and some of its honorary members include: Jack London, John Muir, and Joaquin Miller. The scheduled speaker was Hector Tobar, who would be presenting and signing his most recent work, The Barbarian Nurseries, a book about class and conflict in contemporary Southern California. His previous works include: Translation-Nation and The T ..read more

Reviewed by Pat Corekin Review Source: Teaching for Change Book Author: Viet Thanh Nguyen Simone tells the story of a mother and child during an evacuation from a raging fire in California and the mother’s memories of fleeing a flood in Vietnam when she was a child. As Simone’s mother recounts the story of the flood when she was Simone’s age, the memories evoke feelings of resilience and courage as both mother and daughter seek safety. Themes of community emerge as they settle into a temporary shelter. Simone shares her crayons and encourages other children to draw firefighters — both the one ..read more

Reviewed by Deborah Menkart Review Source: Rethinking Schools Book Author: Traci Huahn This picture book tells the true story of a fight for access to public education by an 8-year-old Chinese American girl, Mamie Tape, and her parents. There were no public schools for Chinese Americans in 1884 in San Francisco when Mamie tried to attend the white school and was turned away. That led her parents to go to court, first at the city level and then with the state. Victories were met with more setbacks. When legally allowed to enroll, school authorities gave Mamie reasons she could not attend ..read more

Review Source: Rethinking Schools Book Author: Renée Watson Black Girl You Are Atlas is Renée Watson’s first book of poetry. Like her novels, Watson’s poems explore the intersection of race, class, and gender. And like her novels, this semi-autobiographical collection celebrates the joys and sorrows of growing up a Black girl in this country. Woven throughout the book are loving odes to Black women — mothers, sisters, friends. Although young people are the book’s intended audience, the pieces will resonate across age levels. Black Girl You Are Atlas is a teacher’s dream, full o ..read more

Reviewed by Keesha Ceran Review Source: Teaching for Change Book Author: Terence Lester, Zion Lester We appreciate this book’s exploration of a topic that is rare in children’s books — naming economic disparities. The diversity of faces and ages in the illustrations are powerful and important. Yet, we recommend this book with a caveat and implore consideration to expand actions that can be taken by others beyond charity. The picture book chooses to feature Zion and her school actively engaged in the “Let’s Give Back” project, a worthwhile activity that many young people and families part ..read more

Wear Teach Banned Books buttons — and share them with your friends — to prompt conversations about the need to actively oppose book bans, teach truthfully, and defend LGBTQ+ rights. Your donation supports the Zinn Education Project’s efforts to provide free people’s history lessons to teach outside the textbook. The buttons are 1.5″ round with a matte finish. GET BUTTONS The post Teach Banned Books Buttons appeared first on Social Justice Books ..read more

Reviewed by Paige Pagan Review Source: Teaching for Change Book Author: Laila Sabreen SPOILER ALERT A powerful contemporary young adult novel that’s essential when having conversations about  challenging Islamophobia and encouraging teens to funnel their creative energies into advocacy. The course of three teenage Muslim girls’ lives virtually converge in the aftermath of a terrorist attack in Washington D.C. Sabriya’s summer plans included preparation for an audition to join the American Ballet Theatre’s youth intensive. Meanwhile, Zakat planned to spend her time off from scho ..read more

Reviewed by Paige Pagan Review Source: Teaching for Change Book Author: Aamna Qureshi 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 that she can never take back — running away. She is the first in her devout Pakistani family to commit such an act and goes into it completely out of sorts, carrying the weight of a secre ..read more

Reviewed by Paige Pagan Review Source: Teaching for Change Book Author: Saadia Faruqi 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 them is happy when they’re forced to spend time together during the family’s trip to a conference in Key West where their mother will be honored as the first Muslim woman recipient of a Pediatrician of the Year award. Despite th ..read more

Reviewed by Paige Pagan Review Source: Teaching for Change Book Author: Nisi Shawl 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 Mississippi, Winna and her baby sister are staying with their grandparents until their mother recovers from a mysterious and sudden affliction of her lungs. When Winna’s glasses break, her grandfather gifts her those of her great aunt ..read more