Written by sign language interpreter Lynne Kelly, Song for a Whale introduces Iris, a mechanically inclined girl who, as the only deaf student at her school, fixes radios because she understands feeling like no one is listening. When she learns about a whale who sings at a frequency that makes it difficult to communicate, she devises a plan to help him feel less alone. Her journey underscores the importance of empathetic communication, community and representation for readers young and old alike.
middle school
The host of The Daily Show, Trevor Noah, began his life with his most criminal act: his birth. As the son of a black Xhosa mother and a white Swiss father, Noah’s existence violated the harsh segregation laws of apartheid South Africa. It’s Trevor Noah: Born a Crime (Adapted for Young Readers) uses humor and honesty to contrast personal vignettes of Noah’s childhood with the history of injustice in his country.
middle school
In Not Light, But Fire: How to Lead Meaningful Race Conversations in the Classroom, educator Matthew R. Kay provides a guide to creating a dialogic classroom in which students can have difficult conversations about race. Kay describes his teaching strategies and provides examples of his successes—and failures—facilitating discussions about topics such as cultural appropriation and the n-word, always trying to nudge his students past offering up facile proclamations and toward wrestling with what he calls the “hard problems.”
professional development
When it’s time for Henry’s class to turn in their kindness projects, he’s got nothing! But why? Turns out he doesn’t think he’s done anything kind in the past week, but his classmates show him he couldn’t be more wrong. In Henry is Kind: A Story of Mindfulness, written by Linda Ryden and illustrated by Shearry Malone, students not only get a sweet introduction to mindfulness but also a great reminder of the power of kindness.
elementary school
In author Ibi Zoboi’s debut, she presents a devastating, yet beautiful, young adult novel that combines mysticism and realism. American Street tells the story of teenage Haitian immigrant Fabiola Toussaint’s quest to reunite with her mother, who is detained by immigration officials. Be aware that Fabiola’s story also includes frequent use of the n-word. Her haphazard journey, which includes the help of spiritual guides, leads readers through raw and emotional experiences that illuminate failed systems, violence, the elusive American dream and the tenderness of love.
high school
It’s hard to fathom packing 150 years of Indigenous Canadian history into 10 stories spread across fewer than 300 pages. This Place: 150 Years Retold is a collection of tales in comic book style. However, this is more than a graphic novel—it’s an extraordinary history text (with a dash of speculative fiction) that animates obscured narratives and will enchant and educate all ages.
professional development
The day before he was assassinated, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was in Memphis lending peaceful support to 1,300 black men from the Memphis Department of Public Works. The Sanitation Strike of 1968 was born from a combination of extremely low wages, dangerous working conditions and the tragic deaths of two black sanitation workers caused by malfunctioning equipment. Poetry, prose and artwork knit together the story of Memphis, Martin, and the Mountaintop: The Sanitation Strike of 1968 by Alice Faye Duncan and illustrator R. Gregory Christie.
elementary school
The Poet X tells the story of a young woman coming to terms with her identity and place in the world amid the backdrop of a vibrant Harlem neighborhood. X’s (short for Xiomara) journey of self-discovery and self-love leads her to discover her own personal liberation through the art of slam poetry. This National Book Award-winning debut novel from Elizabeth Acevedo is a unique and skillful blend of short poems and novel writing resembling Xiomara’s diary of poetry and inner reflections on the struggles she confronts daily. X comes to terms with homophobia, misogyny, street harassment, religion and abuse among other timely topics. Acevedo uses very accessible language that students use themselves and presents struggles they might face within their own personal journeys and school communities. Educators and students alike will find tremendous value in this book.
high school
Professional Development
White Kids: Growing Up with Privilege in a Racially Divided America
By Margaret A. Hagerman
High School
The 57 Bus: A True Story of Two Teenagers and the Crime That Changed Their Lives
By Dashka Slater
middle School
Modern HERstory: Stories of Women and Nonbinary People Rewriting History
By Blair Imani
elementary School
Mary Wears What She Wants
By Keith Negley
