There are some amazing books that teach about social justice -books that teach about social justice and are great for Martin Luther King Day and black history month. Social justice books for teens are a great way to start conversations.
Social justice books are a great way to teach and/or learn real world lessons. Social justice is an ongoing issue in real life.
As a mom, as a teacher, as a person, I need to be willing to put myself in someone else’s shoes. To empathize with my fellow man. As I live out my life, I hope that the lessons my own children, as well as my students, have learned from me will help them to be better people. To be empathetic, sympathetic, to be GOOD people, now and always.
Respect.
Tolerance.
Diversity.
Equality.
Justice.
These are all concepts that need to be taught. Defined. Lived. As mothers, teachers, parents, we can only do so much, but with everyone’s help, our world can be a better place.
With headline after headline of police brutality, rioting, social injustice-sadly, the list goes on and on. We need to do better. We need to BE better. No excuses. We have run out of time.
What I have taught….
One of the units that I used to teach as a middle school English teacher was Deep Study of Character -with Lucy Caulkins curriculum. It is literature based on all the above characteristics woven through their themes. I love to use books to teach all sorts of lessons.
I was new back to the classroom a few years ago after a long hiatus bringing up my boys, so many of the books on the following list were still new to me. However, I have researched all of these, and I am part of a wonderful group of teachers on Facebook that shares and elaborates, so I pulled a lot of information from that group. Read on for great social justice books for young adults (and everyone)!
Check the bottom of the post for other options besides books!
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Social justice books for everyone!
These books were chosen to represent the best of what I have taught and what I have learned as a teacher listening to other teachers…
There are sections for picture books, short stories, young adult and adult, and finally, authors who have written so many books to choose from. I wanted to get this out and published because this is such an important subject and will be adding to this list frequently!
“Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.”―Martin Luther King Jr.
#1 Best Social Justice Books For Everyone: Picture Books
Not My Idea -Higginbotham
This is an honest book that looks at race, racism and being white in today’s world. This addresses the topic of civic responsibility in a great way for kids to relate to. I have ordered for my classroom!
“For white folks who aren’t sure how to talk to their kids about race, this book is the perfect beginning.
” —O MAGAZINE
It’s Our World, Too: Young People Who Are Making a Difference: How They Do It -How You Can Too! -Hoose
This is two books in one. First part is stories about kids today who are making a difference in various ways. The second part is how-to advice to get started for young people who WANT to make a difference in positive ways.
Juneteenth for Mazie – Cooper
Juneteenth is a holiday celebrating the emancipation of those who had been enslaved in the southern United States that had formed the Confederacy. This is a sweet story about a little girl who is ready to celebrate freedom. She celebrates the day her ancestors were freed from slavery.
Separate is Never Equal – Tonatiuh
The unknown story of school integration in California 10 years before Brown v. The Board of Education. This began school integration in California for Mexican-Spanish American children.
You, Me, and Empathy -Sanders
“Showing empathy towards others is a learnt trait, and one to nurture and cherish with the children in our care,” -this quote taken from the book description. Such a wonderful book about the main character, Quinn learning that empathy means “being able to understand how another person is feeling and recognizing their needs helps people to connect to one another across race, culture and the diversity that is ever-present and so important to our world.” Everyone needs to read this one!
Unspeakable -Weatherford
This is a wonderful book about a terrible event that took place in Tulsa, Oklahoma one hundred years ago.
“I cannot say whether things will get better if we change; what I can say is that they must change if they are to get better.”― Georg Lichtenberg
#2 Best Social Justice Books For Everyone: Short Stories
Thank You, M’am – Langston Hughes
This short story is all about morality. What is good? How do we know? A boy tries to steal a woman’s purse to buy a new pair of shoes. Find out what happens… I found this on the CommonLit website.
Flying Lessons and Other Stories -Ellen Oh
This selection of stories is such a great collection. I have not read them all, but between my classes last year, I have heard about all of them from my students. All sorts of stories about all sorts of people. My students chose the story with this book that resonated with to do a project on for class. These ten stories are all great in their own way.
The Hero Next Door -Rhuday-Perkovich
This is another gathering of stories about being brave in today’s world. Young people can make a difference, all it takes a little courage. Again, I have not read all of this collection, but the couple that I have read were great!
Fresh Ink – Giles
These short stories are unfinished. Their endings are still playing out in today’s headlines. These are all amazing stories of individuality and bravery. Diverse and raw and uplifting. Please read!
Our Stories, Our Voices -Reed
These are essays by popular YA authors who all have something to say about all sorts of things that happen as kids grow up.
The Treasure of Lemon Brown -Myers I found this on CommonLit.org We studied this story in my eighth grade class this year. So many lessons contained in this short story! We all loved it.
51 Black Heroes -Norwood
“Black Heroes introduces you to 51 black leaders and role models from both history and modern times” from all walks of life. This book is for younger audiences, but also good for lower readers.
“In these days of difficulty, we Americans everywhere must and shall choose the path of social justice…, the path of faith, the path of hope, and the path of love toward our fellow man.”― Franklin D. Roosevelt
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#3 Best Social Justice Books For Everyone: Young Adult
Wishtree -Applegate
An old oak tree that has been used as a “wishtree” for the surrounding community. A new family that is not necessarily welcomed by all. A crow and other creatures watch from the trees branches as this story unfolds. This is a wonderful story told by a tree, but so much more! If you are not a fan of fantasy, give this a try anyway-because, a tree is wise.
Dear Martin -Stone
This follows the story of a Justyce, who always Is doing the right thing: honor student, helps those in need, all-around good guy. Then, he is arrested and cuffed by an off-duty police officer after an event which Justyce just happens to be there. I have not read this, but it’s on my list! There is a sequel, Dear Justyce, which follows up as Justyce is at Yale as a college student.
Refugee -Gratz
This was another class favorite. Three refugees on three different paths are all connected by the end of the story. All of them leave homes that they love for reasons beyond their control. They encounter so many difficulties both on their journeys and at their different destinations. I learned a lot about the plight of refugees and many of their circumstances!
All-American Boys -Co-written by Reynolds and Kiely
This story could unfortunately be ripped out of today’s headlines. Gripping and realistic. Could not put down!
Long Way Down -Reynolds
This book has haunted me. My students all were intrigued by this story and a lot of great discussion came from this. The length of time it takes to get down Will’s building’s elevator. His brother has been shot and killed. While Will rides the elevator down one day, he is visited by people from his brother’s past as it stops at each floor. This is now available in a graphic novel version -soooo good!
Will got on the elevator with a singular purpose. Will he get out at the bottom and carry through his plan?
“Genuine equality means not treating everyone the same, but attending equally to everyone’s different needs.”― Terry Eagleton
The Poet X – Acevedo
The main character her, Xiomara, is a young woman with a lot to say. She writes in her journal, and has many thoughts that she feels cannot be shared anywhere else. She is invited to a slam poetry contest, but she knows that her family would not approve.
The 57 Bus -Slater
This is based on a true story. Two kids from completely different parts of the world, within one city. They have eight minutes together each day. Then a tragic event occurs. One is injured. One is charged with a crime…
Monster -Myers
This is a complicated story about the trial of a young man for a crime. Is he guilty or innocent? A pawn of the system and the characters surrounding the crime. Is he a “monster” as he has been titled? Steve, the young man in this story, starts to transcribe his story as a film script. What is the verdict? This would be a good one to read with your teen…
Mexican White Boy – de la Peña
Half Mexican, half white, Danny is struggling with a lot of things as a teenager in San Diego. He mostly wants to figure out where he belongs…
The Hate You Give -Thomas
I have to admit that I have not read the book, but the movie was great!
Harbor Me -Woodson
I loved this book! Six kids meet in a room that they have a special name for. They can talk about their lives. It’s a wonderful story about a caring teacher, a group of kids dealing with so much, and the friendships that evolve from their meetings. My students loved this book.
Out of My Mind – Draper
This book really got to me. Locked into a body that won’t work, Melody is assumed to be stupid. Far from it. She finally proves that she is really smart only to be rejected again. Heartbreaking, heartwarming… My students learned that students with disabilities are always what they seem! Along the same lines as Wonder, another wonderful book and movie!
There are 2 more books that follow Out Of My Mind, Out of My Heart and Out of My Dreams -both of which are on my list to read soon!
Ghost Boys -Rhodes
Two boys meet who have been tragically been killed as a result of racism in different places and times. They help one another to figure out some things about what happened to each of them. This is on my list to order for my classroom!
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry -Taylor
This is a classic! A wonderful story set in the depression about hate and racism and social injustice. It stands the test of time.
Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You -Jason Reynolds and Ibram Kendi
The authors reworked Kendi’s book Stamped From the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America, and write it in a way so that you can identify racist thoughts and ideas and “stamp” them out when they begin. I have not read this, but it was recommended by a good friend who is a counselor as a great choice for this list.
“When we identify where our privilege intersects with somebody else’s oppression, we’ll find our opportunities to make real change.”― Ijeoma Oluo
#4 Best Social Justice Books For Everyone: For Adults
Just Mercy -Stevenson
This is a true story about a young lawyer defending a young man accused of a crime he swears that he did not commit. Compared to To Kill a Mockingbird, another great book about good v. evil, black v. white.
I’m Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness -Brown
Written by Austin Brown, who finds out at the age of 7, that her parents named her Austin so that future schools and employers would think that she was a white man. As she grows up, Austin learns that people don’t mean what they say, and she grapples with what it means to be a woman of color in today’s world. Really good insight for me.
The Nation Must Awake -Parrish
There are many books written about the Tulsa Massacre of 1921. I really like this one in particular because it is a memoir written in story form by a woman who lived through this event with her daughter.
Raising Fences -Datcher
I read this a few years ago for a book club. It’s a memoir written by a black man who wants to be a good father without having had one himself. This was painful to read, but I never felt so white while reading this.
Americanah -Aditchie
This is a novel that really opened my eyes. It is a love story, but is also a story about how unaware we are of race in this country as white people. This was so good!
The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America’s Great Migration -Wilkerson
This is a story that covers the migration of six million people from the south to the north in the US from 1915 to 1970. Thousands of interviews and really great stories of a people who tried to escape oppression and find a better life for themselves and their families.
“The world howls for social justice, but when it comes to social responsibility, you sometimes can’t even hear crickets chirping.”― Dean Koontz
#5 Best Social Justice Books For Everyone: Authors to Check Out
#6 Best Social Justice Books for Everyone: Podcasts
From my friend, Louisa, over at what used to be LPTutoring, she had this great list of podcasts that I copied here from an old blog post. Sadly, I cannot find her website any longer.
- Talking to White Kids About Race & Racism – from Safe Space Radio; I highly recommend listening to this episode right away!
- Kojo For Kids: Jason Reynolds Talks About Racism And The Protests from WAMU in Washington, DC
- How To Talk To Your Kids About Race And Justice – From WBUR in Boston
- Code Switch – a podcast series from NPR; I’ve listened to this podcast for YEARS. Produced and hosted by people of color, it talks about all things race in the U.S, from school to housing to the census.
- Throughline – a U.S. history podcast from NPR. It often features stories about marginalized populations and how they affected and were affected by events in U.S. history
- 1619 Project – from the New York Times
#7 Best Social Justice Books For Everyone: Hope this helps you start a conversation…
This list is by no means complete! Please let me know if you have a good suggestion that will help to teach our young people lifelong lessons. I hope that these best social justice books for teens will help you start or continue a conversation that has to happen in order for our world to be a better place for everyone.
Final Thoughts about Best Social Justice Books For Everyone:
Learning about other cultures is always a good thing. We can all practice stepping into someone else’s shoes. Empathy is something that we all need to learn. I hope that this variety of books and resources will help you yourself or as you parent or teach.
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