Who Was Ida B. Wells? tells the inspiring story of a brave African American woman who spoke out against unfair treatment. She was born in 1862, when slavery still existed, and grew up during a time of big changes and challenges. She wrote articles and gave speeches to speak out against racism and the cruel acts of lynching in the South. She also fought for women’s rights and helped start groups that worked for fairness and equality.
Starr Carter, the protagonist of The Hate U Give just wanted to live a normal life free from any huge troubles. However, her dreams of normalcy are shattered when she witnesses the shooting death of a childhood friend. Starr is torn between speaking out and keeping it to herself, but as challenges in her community grow, Starr realizes sometimes, you have to be brave to cause change.
To Kill a Mockingbirdby Harper Lee is one of the most predominant classics of our time, centering on topics such as racism and prejudice, among other heavy topics. Atticus Finch, a white lawyer, is defending the falsely accused black Tom Robinson, in the 1930s. It is also important to note that this story is taking place in Alabama, where racism and prejudice is especially prominent. Segregation was still a very big issue, and tensions ran high between different members of the community.
The Hate U Give is a must read for fans of realistic fiction, and/or socially conscious books. The book is about Starr, a 16-year-old African American teenager who witnesses the shooting of her friend Khalil by a police officer. The rest of the book follows the struggles Starr faces while trying to seek justice for her friend and the impact it has on her and those around her. It has won awards such as Goodreads Choice Awards Best of the Best (2018), and Audie Award for Young Adult (2018).
All American Boys - One night. One incident. Two teenage lives forever changed. Rashad, a black teenager, gets brutally beaten by a cop for a crime he never committed. Quinn, a white teenager, watched it all unfold. Now, they’re both stuck in a mental fight. Rashad seeks justice, while Quinn battles his morals and emotions. With the world watching, they must make decisions that no teenager should have to make. Will they stand up, or just be another person lost in the crowd?
The realistic fiction novel, Troublemaker, by John Cho is a wonderful coming-of-age story about a young Korean American boy as he attempts to keep his father safe and fix their troubled relationship. In Los Angeles during the spring of 1992, people are rioting in Koreatown over several recent cases of gun violence. Amidst this, Jordan, our main character, has just been suspended from school for cheating.
The life of a First Lady might seem like a dream, but Michelle Obama's memoir, Becoming, reveals the complexities behind the role. Through this deeply emotional and insightful book, Obama chronicles her journey from a racially segregated childhood to becoming one of the most influential women of our time. As the first African American First Lady, she transformed the White House into a beacon of inclusivity and championed causes for women and girls both in the U.S. and globally.
“She's the most important person in the world [but] her family [lives] in poverty.” This is the truth engraved in every page of the book. In a society full of racial inequality, those of darker skin are secretly used as test subjects in the medical world. They are lured into hospitals, claiming to offer “free” treatment. But the actual price they pay at the end of the day is beyond monetary value. One such victim was a Black mother, Henrietta Lacks.
To Kill a Mockingbird explores racial injustice and loss of innocence in the American South. It's narrated by Jean Louise "Scout" Finch, who remembers events from her childhood. Scout lives with her older brother Jem and their father, Atticus Finch, a respected lawyer. The story unfolds over three years, focusing on several events. The first being Scout and Jem's fascination with their introverted neighbor, Arthur "Boo" Radley, and their attempts to lure him out.
Angie Thomas’ The Hate U Give is a Young Adult Fiction novel that recounts the experiences of Starr Carter, a teenage Black girl who attends a rich, white prep school—a stark contrast to her poorer, predominantly Black neighborhood. Starr has an intense desire to explore how to define her identity as a result of her different experiences with her two very different worlds. Her desire is primarily fueled by the death of her childhood best friend, Khalil, who was killed by a police officer.
