Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds

“I genuinely believe that Reynolds has magical powers. One of my students (a self-proclaimed “hater” of reading) read this book for book club, finished it in one night and came in the next day to tell us how good it was. As an English teacher, this is the kind of thing I dream about!”

A Good Kind of Trouble by Lisa Moore Ramée

“Connection is important. It’s how we learn. And, when we find ourselves caught in the middle of the good kind of trouble, then we aren’t alone.”

Stamped from the Beginning: the Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America by Ibram X. Kendi

“However uncomfortable it is, the path to truth, reconciliation, and healing, learning about our history. We can’t eliminate racism, prejudice, discrimination, or injustice until we bravely look it in the face.”

A Song Below Water by Bethany C. Morrow

“With a focus on female friendships, social justice, and the power of identity — all with the magic of the sea sprinkled throughout — A Song Below Water is a unique blend of fantasy and reality.”

A Song of Wraiths and Ruin by Rosanne A. Brown

“The fantastical elements of A Song of Wraiths and Ruin will capture your imagination, but it’s the characters and their ways of surviving adversity that capture our interest and our emotions.”

The Loud Minority: Why Protest Matters in American Democracy by Daniel Q. Gillion

“In the book, Gillion presents the research he found when he pursued the question, “How do protests impact American democracy?” He reviews not only the history of protests in the United States but also the data collected from his action research about protests and their various natures.”

How to be An Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi

“I chose the side of “no racism.” But, it wasn’t until the summer after the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbury that I realized it isn’t enough to be “not racist. We have to be antiracist.”

The Field Guide to the North American Teenager by Ben Phillipe

“Norris has a chip on his shoulder after his dad refuses to let Norris stay in Canada instead of moving to Texas.”

With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo

“I love this book for what it tells my students: no matter what life hands you, no matter how difficult it may be, surround yourself with people who cheer you on and hold on to your power, talent, and inherent worth. Don’t let anyone try to tell you you aren’t worthy because of x,y, or z. Because they are wrong.”

The Opposite of Hate by Sally Kohn

“I like the thought of my students becoming global citizens who can have a rational conversation with anyone — even people who have radically different beliefs than them. I like the idea that my students can be safer in the world if we all start connecting rather than hating.”