Fresh Reads, Honest reviews, Educator-approved
A powerful, lyrical anthem of identity! A beautiful guide from simple everyday observations to a profound appreciation of Black history, culture, and activism. Packed with exceptional educational back-matter—including poems, timelines, and a playlist to celebrate community heritage.
A powerful and wryly funny graphic novel adaptation, Borders follows a Blackfoot mother and son trapped in legal limbo at the U.S.-Canada border. Seamlessly blending Thomas King’s sharp narrative with Natasha Donovan’s breathtaking illustrations, this book is a must-have for middle school libraries looking to spark profound student discussions on identity, sovereignty, and visual literacy.
Based on the little-known true story of the Kingdom of the Happy Land, The American Queen explores the challenges and hopes of formerly enslaved people during Reconstruction. While the pacing may not appeal to every reader, the novel shines a light on an important and often overlooked chapter of American history, making it a valuable addition to high school history and literature collections.
In When Crack Was King, journalist Donovan X. Ramsey delivers a humanizing, kaleidoscopic account of the crack cocaine era told through four powerful survivor narratives. By cutting through political myths and confronting systemic racism, this vital work of history uncovers the roots of today’s mass incarceration and police brutality.
Dress Coded is a powerful, realistic fiction novel that sparks a middle school revolution. Fed up with unfair, sexist dress code enforcement, eighth-grader Molly Frost launches a podcast that unites her school community against administrative bias.