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The Nickel Boys, by Colson Whitehead, is a book about justice. The main character, Elwood, is a teenage boy who believes in the teachings of Martin Luther King Jr. and is sent to reform school for a crime he had nothing to do with. He resists his oppressors time and again to rise above the constraints placed in him by society. Elwood’s reform school, the Nickel Academy, is inspired by the real reform camps of the segregation era and the horrors that would go on in those schools.
Just Mercy by Brian Stevenson is a novel that perfectly encapsulates the jarring stories resulting from the failures of the criminal justice system. The memoir centers around the story of Walter McMillian–a wrongly convicted black man who was placed on death row–and the negative effect the racism that permeated the justice system at that time had in Walter’s case.
The Hate U Give is a realistic fiction young adult novel that follows the young woman, Starr, through a difficult time of hate and racism in her life. Her childhood friend, Khalil, is shot by a police officer even though Khalil did nothing wrong. As Starr goes through grieving, her neighborhood falls into chaos as the news keeps portraying Khalil as the enemy.
The Hate U Give is an amazing book that follows the story of Starr, an African American girl living in Garden Heights. Starr switches between her predominantly Black neighborhood and her predominantly white school. After witnessing her childhood friend Khalil get shot by a police officer, Starr decides to speak up against racism. Despite facing many challenges and intimidation, she eventually testifies and helps bring the perpetrator to justice. The book touches on themes of racism and the power of speaking out.
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas is an amazing book that tackles themes of race, identity, and justice. The main character Starr Carter is a 16 year old African American girl who has two lives:her rich prep school and her poor neighborhood. For most of her life, they stayed separate, but it all changes when Starr’s friend Khalil is wrongfully shot by a police officer who presumed that Khalil pulling out a comb was Khalil pulling out a gun.
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas is a powerful novel following a black teenage girl named Starr Carter who is forced to see two of her childhood best friends brutally murdered at a young age. Starr struggles to fight against the discrimination and police brutality her entire community has faced--she is put in a situation where she must stand up for what is right. She has the choice to either stay quiet to protect herself, or speak up for those she has lost.
Summary: An Unkindness of Ghosts by Rivers Solomon is a compelling work of fiction set on a generational spaceship, the HSS Matilda, where society is divided by race and class, echoing the injustices of America. The story follows Aster, a dark-skinned healer who discovers secrets about the ship's past while navigating a hierarchy that mirrors the worst aspects of slavery.
We Deserve Monuments by Jas Hammonds is a romantic mystery novel where Avery moves from D.C. to a small southern town and unravels her family secrets, and what it means to fall in love again. This story tackles both racism and homophobia in the United States, weaving a deep mystery. Avery has to reconnect with her tough, hardened Mama Letty. There is a lot of characterization of both Avery and Letty. The other characters help support the novel but feel a little stereotypical without a lot of growth.
The Power of One is a movie based on life in South Africa during the 1930s. The movie is about Peekay, a young boy who grows up in South Africa during the 1930s and 1940s. Peekay faces many challenges throughout his life, including bullying, racism, and everyone he cares about leaving him or dying. He finds out he has a passion for boxing and develops strong relationships with his mentor, Doc, and a black prisoner named Geel Piet.
Yusuf Azeem Is Not a Hero by Saadia Faruqui, is about a boy named Yusuf Azeem and his troubles with being an immigrant Muslim in America. He is starting 6th grade in this close to the 20th anniversary of 9/11. With all the “never forget” banners around the school Yusuf starts to feel like he does not belong. Then on the first day of 6th grade he starts getting mean and racist notes in his locker. Yusuf is a boy who likes robotics and likes to code. He is very smart and brave.
