Tag: social justice

Best Fiction for Young Adults (#BFYA2026) Featured Review: Up in Smoke by Nick Brooks

After a young man is killed by a police officer after allegedly stealing, a peaceful protest in the local neighborhood takes place. Uncomfortable at the thought, Cooper accompanies his “big brother” Jason and other friends to loot some of the local stores. A woman is shot and killed and Jason is the prime suspect.

This fast paced mystery will keep readers hooked. Additionally, readers will relate to Cooper’s guilt over keeping secrets from his father, his friends and his crush. This book also has a social justice component that will appeal to readers. It is a reasonable length and will appeal to reluctant readers.

Fans of the author’s work Promise Boys as well as readers who enjoy a mystery mixed with social justice themes will enjoy this book. This book will appeal to fans of Nic Stone as well as Angie Thomas and Jason Reynolds.

– Melissa Palmer

The Selected Lists teams read throughout the year in search of the best titles published in their respective categories. Once a book is suggested (either internally or through the title suggestion form), it must pass through a review process to be designated an official nomination.

Each week, the teams feature a review of one of the officially nominated titles. Additional titles to receive this designation are listed as well. At year’s end, the team will curate a final list from all nominated titles and select a Top Ten.
The Best Fiction for Young Adults Committee appreciates teen feedback as members evaluate the nominated titles. Teen librarians are encouraged to share the List of Potential Nominees under consideration with their patrons and solicit feedback using the link: tinyurl.com/bfya2026

Check out The Hub Advisory Board’s Interview with Nick Brooks

Check out our blogpost for more resources!

Best Fiction for Young Adults (#BFYA2026) Featured Review: Dear Manny by Nic Stone

  • Dear Manny
  • by Nic Stone
  • Publisher: Crown Books for Young Readers
  • Release date: March 4th, 2025
  • ISBN: 978593308035

Third in the Dear Martin series, this installment focuses on Jared, the rich white boy, and his struggle to find his way in life while dealing with family traditions and expectations. He hopes to find a person he likes being at the end of the struggle. Jared’s dad is pressuring him to make decisions that will align with the family legacy but Jared is not sure if that is something he wants to uphold. Along the way, he begins to have strong feelings for Dylan, his political opponent. Needless to say, this is not what his father is looking for from him. If that is not enough to keep them apart, the host of obstacles that they need to overcome might be.

Complex characters like Jared (not just a rich white kid) and Dylan (feisty and confident) will keep readers engaged. Jared’s evolution from spoiled to aware of his white privilege will keep readers interested. Familiar characters like Justyce and SJ will make readers of the first two books smile to see them again. John Preston IV is a character that readers will root against. Dear Manny continues Nic Stone’s pattern of rallying against a system that allows injustices to happen on a daily basis. The plot moves at a rapid pace, which will increase reader appeal. The theme of equality for diverse members of our people is supported well by characters that readers will connect to, feel empathy for or be concerned about.

Teens interested in books about social justice, making the world a better place and having a strong sense of right vs wrong will enjoy this book. This will appeal to fans of the previous two books in the series, as well as those who are fans of authors such as Angie Thomas and Jason Reynolds. It also will hold up well as a stand alone book.

– Melissa Palmer

The Selected Lists teams read throughout the year in search of the best titles published in their respective categories. Once a book is suggested (either internally or through the title suggestion form), it must pass through a review process to be designated an official nomination.

Each week, the teams feature a review of one of the officially nominated titles. Additional titles to receive this designation are listed as well. At year’s end, the team will curate a final list from all nominated titles and select a Top Ten.
The Best Fiction for Young Adults Committee appreciates teen feedback as members evaluate the nominated titles. Teen librarians are encouraged to share the List of Potential Nominees under consideration with their patrons and solicit feedback using the link: tinyurl.com/bfya2026

Best Fiction for Young Adults (#BFYA2026) Featured Review: All the Noise at Once by DeAndra Davis

There is nothing about football Aiden doesn’t love, and he knows he could be a fantastic player. Though his summer tryout results in a sensory overload meltdown, his star brother gets him a second chance and spot on the team. But when other teammates are less welcoming to Aiden, who is autistic, tensions between players rise to the point of a physical fight – during which Aiden’s brother, Brandon, is arrested and falsely accused of assaulting a police officer. The accusation and resulting court case means Brandon’s football future may be in question. Full of guilt over his brother’s arrest, Aiden is determined to discover what really happened and clear Brandon’s name.

All the Noise at Once is a beautiful, engrossing look at how one teen navigates the world as a neurodiverse, Black male. This powerful story explores social justice, race, class, and ability in an appealing, relatable, and engaging manner that does not shy away from laying bare the reality of systemic racism and bias. Aiden’s relationships with his family, friends, and self are rendered with sensitivity and nuance, and even secondary characters feel real for the reader. Aiden’s emotional journey will resonate with readers.

Teens who have an interest in social justice will appreciate All the Noise at Once, as will readers who enjoy contemporary realistic stories. All the Noise at Once is an excellent readalike for any fan of The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas, The Black Kids by Christina Hammonds Reed or Kneel by Candace Buford.

– Erica Schimmel

The Selected Lists teams read throughout the year in search of the best titles published in their respective categories. Once a book is suggested (either internally or through the title suggestion form), it must pass through a review process to be designated an official nomination.

Each week, the teams feature a review of one of the officially nominated titles. Additional titles to receive this designation are listed as well. At year’s end, the team will curate a final list from all nominated titles and select a Top Ten.
The Best Fiction for Young Adults Committee appreciates teen feedback as members evaluate the nominated titles. Teen librarians are encouraged to share the List of Potential Nominees under consideration with their patrons and solicit feedback using the link: tinyurl.com/bfya2026

Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers (#QP2025) Feature Review: Poemhood; Our Black Revival: History, Folklore, & The Black Experience by Amber McBride, Erica Martin, and Taylor Byas

This poetry anthology explores the diversity of Black experience in America through the poetry of thirty-seven classic and contemporary Black poets. The poets touch on a range of topics including family life, history, folklore, religion and politics. Some of these poems also tackle more difficult topics like police brutality, racism, and other forms of bigotry.

The poetry in this anthology is a mix of contemporary and classic works, none of which are extremely lengthy or verbose. The poems are emotive and accessible, whether or not readers are well-versed in poetry or social justice. Each poem has an outro that explains its major themes and ideas to help with understanding. Teens interested in social justice will be able to connect easily to these poems.

Readers of other social justice-minded poetry works like Inheritance: A Visual Poem by Elizabeth Acevedo, Say Her Name by Zetta Elliott, and And We Rise by Erica Martin will enjoy this anthology. Teens who enjoy socially-conscious hip-hop albums like Little Simz’s Drop 7 or 21 Savage’s american dream may enjoy broadening their horizons in this book.

—Dakota Hall

Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers (#QP2025) Feature Review: Shackled: A Tale of Wronged Kids, Rogue Judges and Town That Looked Away by Candy J. Cooper

Shackled is the story of the “Kids for Cash” scandal that sent more than 2,500 kids and teens to for-profit detention centers for relatively minor offenses, just to make two judges rich. It details a sinister pattern of abuse and bribery resulting in what the Juvenile Law Center calls “one of the largest and most serious violations of children’s rights in the history of the American legal system.” 

Shackled focuses on two corrupt judges, in Pennsylvania in the 2000s who concocted a plan to put kids away for cash in for-profit detention centers. The meticulous details offer a look into the repercussions of staying silent, of being complicit, and the judicial system that was never about rehabilitation but about exploitation and greed. The commentary from plaintiffs who were shackled and locked away are heartbreaking. Youth as young as ten years old were sent to wilderness camps or detention centers with obscene serving times as punishments for extremely menial crimes. The impact on the community is beyond measure, and as a reader you are flabbergasted at how this happened. 

The book is 172 pages with an engaging cover and the first chapter immediately hooks you with the arbitrary and cruel practices of the judges. Every detail is well-researched, and the plot easily follows the victims of this shameful court but uses the judges as the through-line so you are never lost or confused. Teens who liked Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption by Bryan Stevenson, The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness by Michelle Alexander, and Monster by Walter Dean Myers would enjoy this read. Readers could also watch the documentary “Kids for Cash” as a follow-up to the book for those intrigued by how such horrific crimes could be committed against so many children.

-TuesD Chambers

Best Fiction for Young Adults (#BFYA2024) Featured Review: Mascot by Charles Waters and Traci Sorell

  • Mascot
  • by Charles Waters and Traci Sorell
  • Publisher: Charlesbridge
  • Release date: Sept 5, 2023
  • ISBN: 9781623543808

As part of their 8th grade Honors English class, students are asked to consider whether their mascot, an “Indian Brave”, is appropriate and whether it should be changed.  Their assignment: write a research paper and be prepared to debate the topic as partners in class.

Told from the perspectives of the students in the class, their teacher, and community stakeholders, this provides a nuanced discussion of a timely and controversial topic written by #ownvoices authors. Engaging writing with ample white space allows the plot to flow well.  Student voices and perspectives are distinct and realistic, but the language used makes it accessible to teens on the younger end of the age range.
Students who are athletes or are passionate fans, as well as those readers who want to better understand diverse perspectives will connect with this books. Hand this title to young social justice advocates who liked Miles Morales: Suspended by Jason Reynolds or those who want to think deeply about identity and liked Rain Rising by Courtne Comrie.

-Melissa Palmer

Other Nominated Titles

Release Date: May 2, 2023
Release Date: January 10, 2023
Release Date: February 21, 2023
Release Date: May 23, 2023
Release Date: September 12, 2023

The Selected Lists teams read throughout the year in search of the best titles published in their respective categories. Once a book is suggested (either internally or through the title suggestion form), it must pass through a review process to be designated an official nomination.

Each week, the teams feature a review of one of the officially nominated titles. Additional titles to receive this designation are listed as well. At year’s end, the team will curate a final list from all nominated titles and select a Top Ten.

The Best Fiction for Young Adults Committee appreciates teen feedback as members evaluate the nominated titles. Teen librarians are encouraged to share the List of Potential Nominees under consideration with their patrons and solicit feedback using the link: https://bit.ly/BFYA24TeenFB

Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers (#QP2024) Feature Review: Sun Keep Rising by Kristen R. Lee

  • Sun Keep Rising
  • by Kristen R. Lee
  • Publisher: Crown Books for Young Readers
  • Imprint: Penguin Random House
  • Release date: January 24, 2023
  • ISBN: 9780593309193

Teen mom B’onca has always found a way to survive. Things are harder now with her baby, but she finds a way to stay in school, help pay the rent and raise her daughter. Unfortunately, her Memphis neighborhood is being gentrified and the rent is increasing. Soon B’onca and her mom get an eviction notice. B’onca can’t lose her home or her daughter. The father’s family is threatening to take the baby if she can’t prove she has a stable household. Pushed into a corner, B’onca decides to take a risk to get quick money, putting everything even more in jeopardy. 

The difficult, but real issues in this book are handled with grace and also don’t shy away from the pain and injustices. The realistic way it’s written will appeal to reluctant readers who like true stories with believable characters. In this short book the reader is drawn into B’onca’s life.

Readers who enjoy realistic stories that deal with complex life issues will enjoy this book. This tells a story that isn’t often told and gives a voice to young teen mothers who love their babies and strive to make themselves better for their kids. For more books about young women of color finding their voice while grappling with complicated lives read Vinyl Moon by Mahogany Browne and Me: Moth by Amber McBride.

Other Nominated

Release Date: September 6, 2023
Release Date: November 8, 2022
Release Date: February 28, 2023
Release Date: December 6, 2022

The Selected Lists teams read throughout the year in search of the best titles published in their respective categories. Once a book is suggested (either internally or through the title suggestion form), it must pass through a review process to be designated an official nomination.

Each week, the teams feature a review of one of the officially nominated titles. Additional titles to receive this designation are listed as well. At year’s end, the team will curate a final list from all nominated titles and select a Top Ten.

Earth Day is Every Day! (pssst: it’s also next week)

Since its origin on April 22, 1970, Earth Day has evolved into a multi-day celebration and call to action. This year, the festivities kick off on April 20 with a global youth climate summit and the Hip Hop Caucus “We Shall Breathe” event. On the 22nd, President Biden will host world leaders at a Global Climate Summit, where we hope they will respond directly to the work and words of the young environmental activists leading the conversation for change. To help bring more teens into that dialogue, we’ve gathered resources from around the web and the world.

No Planet B from Haymarket Books and Teen Vogue is a collection of essays that embraces the intersectionality of the climate movement. Editor Lucy Diavolo recognizes that young people have already demonstrated their capacity and willingness to lead on this issue, and this book gives them the microphone. From essential FAQ-style pieces to journalism on the global plastics crisis or publicly owned utilities, this book covers a lot of ground and would be great for a young activist in the making or as a classroom curriculum support.

Continue reading Earth Day is Every Day! (pssst: it’s also next week)

Using History to Understand Current Social Issues

Many current social issues have long histories, and many teens are expressing interest in understanding the historical context of contemporary politics. To become better informed, teens might want to revisit these issues as they played out in history to gain a deeper understanding of modern day events and attitudes. As teens learn more and judge for themselves how the past compares to attitudes today, it could also inspire a deeper understanding of human rights and our responsibilities as humans in today’s modern society.

using-history-to-understand-current-social-events

While this author is not an expert on these topics, she hopes it will encourage teens and teen advocates to understand the past and how this could foster discussion on our current societal issues. Continue reading Using History to Understand Current Social Issues

Resources for Social Justice and Disability

Previously I posted on Social Justice and Disability – Evaluating Materials and Media with Characters with Disabilities. I am back to share some other essential resources and sites to follow. After a divisive presidential campaign, where the elected official hasn’t been forthcoming on stances in regards to disability issues this has raised concerns in the disabled community. Ambiguity has led to a sense of uncertainty. When it comes to social justice we need to be as informed as possible and empathetic as possible.

social-justice-and-disability-resources

In the last post I posted a video from Annie Elainey. Again, because she discusses so many great things. Here she discusses Disability Identity and Language:

As she discusses, individuals have their own preferences on how they want to be identified whether it is person-first (person with a disability) versus identity-first (disabled). She links to this article on the Autistic Self Advocacy Network that at the bottom has articles on both sides and some in between.

There are some other great Youtubers out there discussing their disabilities and issues around disability. That in itself requires its own post for The Hub. For now, check out these posts from Disability Now and Disability Thinking on Youtubers to follow. Continue reading Resources for Social Justice and Disability