Voices of Justice

by George Ella Lyon and Illustrated by Jennifer M. Potter

Poetry/©2020/Recommended for Middle School

Book Information (Courtesy of Goodreads):

A bold, lyrical collection of poems that highlight some of the most celebrated activists from around the world and throughout history.

In the face of injustice, the world has always looked to brave individuals to speak up and spark change. Nelson Mandela used his voice to bring down Apartheid. Jane Goodall, Dian Fossey, and Birutè Galdikas gave a voice to the primates who couldn’t speak for themselves. The Women of Greenham Common used their collective voice to fight against preparations for nuclear war. And today’s youth—like Xiuhtezcatl Martinez, the students of Stoneman Douglas High School, and Greta Thunberg—unite their voices to stop gun violence, save the planet, and so much more.

Through enlightening poems by award-winning poet and author George Ella Lyon and stunning portraits by artist Jennifer M. Potter, Voices of Justice introduces young readers to the groundbreaking work of people who fought—and continue to fight—to make the world a better place.

Featuring those mentioned above along with Virginia Woolf, Dolores Huerta, Shirley Chisholm, Jasilyn Charger, Jeannette Rankin, and more, each portrait offers a vision of action and love that gets up and does something, no matter the forces ranged against it, no matter the odds.

My Thoughts:

The poems, highlighting people over a range of social issues, are enlightening and beautifully illustrated. A brief bio of each is included at the end providing additional information. A fast read, but one that will stay with you.

Punching the Air

by Ibi Zoboi and Yusef Salaam

Story in Verse/©2020/Recommended for 7th Grade and Above

Book Description (Courtesy of Goodreads):

From award-winning, bestselling author Ibi Zoboi and prison reform activist Yusef Salaam of the Exonerated Five comes a powerful YA novel in verse about a boy who is wrongfully incarcerated. Perfect for fans of Jason Reynolds, Walter Dean Myers, and Elizabeth Acevedo.

The story that I thought was my life

didn’t start on the day

I was born

Amal Shahid has always been an artist and a poet. But even in a diverse art school, he’s seen as disruptive and unmotivated by a biased system. Then one fateful night, an altercation in a gentrifying neighborhood escalates into tragedy. “Boys just being boys” turns out to be true only when those boys are white.

The story that I think

will be my life

starts today

Suddenly, at just sixteen years old, Amal’s bright future is upended: he is convicted of a crime he didn’t commit and sent to prison. Despair and rage almost sink him until he turns to the refuge of his words, his art. This never should have been his story. But can he change it?

With spellbinding lyricism, award-winning author Ibi Zoboi and prison reform activist Yusef Salaam tell a moving and deeply profound story about how one boy is able to maintain his humanity and fight for the truth, in a system designed to strip him of both.

My Thoughts:

Such a heartbreaking story told so beautifully and powerfully in verse. It is a quick read, but it packs a punch as it shines a spotlight on the institutional racism and systematic oppression that kids of color experience in school and in our justice system. It is a timely and incredibly important read.

Additional Reads:

Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Jason Reynolds, Ibram X Kendi

Just Mercy (Adapted for Young Adults): A True Story of the Fight for Justice
by Bryan Stevenson

Dictionary For A Better World: Poems, Quotes, and Anecdotes from A to Z

by Irene Latham & Charles Waters

Poetry/©2020/Recommended for Middle School

 

Book Description (Courtesy of Goodreads):

How can we make the world a better place? This resource for middle-grade readers is organized as a dictionary; each entry presents a word related to creating a better world, such as ally, empathy, or respect. For each word, there is a poem, a quote, a personal anecdote from the authors, and a “try it” prompt for an activity.

My Thoughts:

What a gem of a book! Just visually it is stunning with a beautifully illustrated double spread for each word, complete with poems, quotes, and anecdotes that add a deeper understanding. The Try It! part for each word is an especially powerful addition to each page in that it inspires the reader to be a better person and make a difference in ways that are completely doable no matter the age. Its title – Dictionary For A Better World – couldn’t be more appropriate.

Another Book by These Authors:

Can I Touch Your Hair?: Poems of Race, Mistakes, and Friendship