Youth Activists: Reading List
by Lindsey Turnbull
If you’re looking for books by and for young activists, about youth rights, and more, I’ve got you covered! Here are some books you can add to your TBD list:
More Than Enough: Claiming Space for Who You Are (No Matter What They Say)
by Elaine Welteroth
“Throughout her life, Elaine Welteroth has climbed the ranks of media and fashion, shattering ceilings along the way. In this riveting and timely memoir, the groundbreaking journalist unpacks lessons on race, identity, and success through her own journey, from navigating her way as the unstoppable child of an unlikely interracial marriage in small-town California to finding herself on the frontlines of a modern movement for the next generation of change makers.
Welteroth moves beyond the headlines and highlight reels to share the profound lessons and struggles of being a barrier-breaker across so many intersections. As a young boss and often the only Black woman in the room, she’s had enough of the world telling her—and all women—they’re not enough. As she learns to rely on herself by looking both inward and upward, we’re ultimately reminded that we’re more than enough.” – From Amazon
“Elaine Welteroth is an award-winning journalist, author, and judge on the new Project Runway. She was most recently editor-in-chief of Teen Vogue where she in 2017 became the youngest person ever appointed editor-in-chief and in 2012 had been the first African American ever to hold the post of beauty and health director at a Condé Nast publication. Prior to Teen Vogue, she was the senior beauty editor at Glamour and the beauty and style editor at Ebony. She’s now a leading expert and advocate for the next generation of change-makers.”
-from Amazon
Marley DIas Gets It Done and So Can You!
by Marley Dias
“Marley Dias, the powerhouse girl-wonder who started the #1000blackgirlbooks campaign, speaks to kids about her passion for making our world a better place, and how to make their dreams come true! In this accessible guide with an introduction by Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Ava DuVernay, Marley Dias explores activism, social justice, volunteerism, equity and inclusion, and using social media for good. Drawing from her experience, Marley shows kids how they can galvanize their strengths to make positive changes in their communities, while getting support from parents, teachers, and friends to turn dreams into reality.”
Tell Me Who You Are: Sharing Our Stories of Race, Culture, & Identity
by Winona Guo and Priya Vulchi
“Winona Guo and Priya Vulchi recount their experiences talking to people from all walks of life about race and identity on a cross-country tour of America. Spurred by the realization that they had nearly completed high school without hearing any substantive discussion about racism in school, the two young women deferred college admission for a year to collect first-person accounts of how racism plays out in this country every day–and often in unexpected ways.
In Tell Me Who You Are, Guo and Vulchi reveal the lines that separate us based on race or other perceived differences and how telling our stories–and listening deeply to the stories of others–are the first and most crucial steps we can take towards negating racial inequity in our culture. Featuring interviews with over 150 Americans accompanied by their photographs, this intimate toolkit also offers a deep examination of the seeds of racism and strategies for effecting change.
Winona Guo and Priya Vulchi co-founded the organization CHOOSE in 10th grade to provide the tools we lack to talk about race and identity in America. They published a racial literacy textbook for educators called “The Classroom Index,” which has been recognized and funded by Princeton University…Before attending Harvard and Princeton University (respectively), Winona and Priya traveled to all 50 states, collecting hundreds of powerful stories about race, culture, and intersectionality. They are the youngest residents in the TED Residency Program and spent their summer further analyzing their research before heading to college.” -from Amazon
Born Just Right
by Jordan Reeves & Jen Lee Reeves
“When Jordan Reeves was born without the bottom half of her left arm, the doctors reassured her parents that she was “born just right.” And she has been proving that doctor right ever since!
With candor, humor, and heart, Jordan’s mother, Jen Lee Reeves, helps Jordan tell her story about growing up in an able-bodied world and family, where she was treated like all of her siblings and classmates—and where she never felt limited. Whether it was changing people’s minds about her capabilities, trying all kinds of sports, or mentoring other kids, Jordan has channeled any negativity into a positive, and is determined to create more innovations for people just like her.
Her most famous invention, aptly called Project Unicorn, is a special prosthetic (that shoots glitter!) made with the help of a 3-D printer. A real-life superhero, Jordan is changing the world with her foundation, Born Just Right, which advocates and celebrates kids with differences, and helps them live their best possible life—just like Jordan is today!” – from Amazon
Modern HERstory: Stories of Women and Nonbinary People Rewriting History
by Blair Imani (Author), Monique Le (Illustrator), Tegan and Sara
“With a radical and inclusive approach to history, Modern HERstory profiles and celebrates seventy women and nonbinary champions of progressive social change in a bold, colorful, illustrated format for all ages. Despite making huge contributions to the liberation movements of the last century and today, all of these trailblazers come from backgrounds and communities that are traditionally overlooked and under-celebrated: not just women, but people of color, queer people, trans people, disabled people, young people, and people of faith.”- from Amazon
Get one or all of these books from your local independent bookstore! Share your reviews with us at @missheardmedia on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram!
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