Activism and Voting are two sides of the same coin. Activate your vote! Listed below are 25 young adult books published in the past year, since August 2019, on the subjects of voting and activism. Included (and noted) in this mostly nonfiction list are a few fiction books and graphic format books.
Voting
Drawing the Vote: The Illustrated Guide to Voting in America, by Tommy Jenkins, 2020. Looks at the history of voting rights in the United States and how it affects the way we vote today. Author, Tommy Jenkins, identifies events and trends that led to the unprecedented results of the 2016 presidential election that left American political parties more estranged than ever. Nonfiction, Graphic Format.
Election Manipulation: Is America's Voting System Secure?, by John Allen, 2020. Law enforcement and intelligence experts warn that Russia and other
foreign countries are likely to try to interfere in America's
presidential election in 2020. Federal and state officials must guard
against computer hacks, disinformation and fake news on social media,
and attempts to disrupt the voting system. This book examines how
America's voting system can be made more secure. Nonfiction.
One Person, No Vote: How All Voters are Not Treated Equally (Young Readers' Edition), by Carol Anderson and Tonya Bolden, 2019. Chronicles the rollbacks to African American
participation in the vote since the Supreme Court's 2013 Shelby ruling,
which allowed districts to change voting requirements without approval
from the Department of Justice, with a foreword by Senator Dick Durbin. Nonfiction.
The State of Us, by Shaun David Hutchinson, 2020. When Dean Arnault’s mother decided to run for president, it wasn’t a surprise to anyone, least of all her son. But still that doesn’t mean Dean wants to be part of the public spectacle that is the race for the White House—at least not until he meets Dre. The only problem is that Dre Rosario's on the opposition; he’s the son of the Democratic nominee. Realistic Fiction
Stolen Justice: The Struggle for African American Voting Rights, by Lawrence Goldstone, 2020. In this portrait of the systematic
suppression of the African American vote, Lawrence Goldstone traces the injustices of the post-Reconstruction era
through the eyes of incredible individuals, both heroic and barbaric,
and examines the legal cases that made the Supreme Court a partner of
white supremacists in the rise of Jim Crow. Though this is a story of
America's past, Goldstone draws direct links to today's
creeping threats to suffrage. Nonfiction.
Vote!: Women's Fight for Access to the Ballot Box, by Coral Celeste Frazer, 2019. In the battle for the right to vote, American women faced arrest, jail
time, and ridicule. They organized marches, forged alliances with other
social reform movements, and lobbied politicians. They saw the
right to vote as a guarantee of freedom and equality. Today, through
voter purges, voter ID laws, and other tactics, many states make it hard
for citizens--especially young people, poor people, and people of
color--to register to vote and to cast ballots. What can we learn from
history? And what can you do to protect your access to the ballot box? Nonfiction.
Votes of Confidence: A Young Person's Guide to American Elections, by Jeff Fleischer, 2020. A reference for teen students that provides information about the past, present, and future of American elections. Nonfiction.
The Voting Booth, by Brandy Colbert, 2020. From Stonewall Award-winning author Brandy Colbert comes an all-in-one-day love story perfect for fans of The Sun is Also A Star. Marva
Sheridan was born ready for this day. She's always been driven to make a
difference in the world, and what better way than to vote in her first
election? Duke Crenshaw is so done with this election. He just
wants to get voting over with so he can prepare for his band's first
paying gig tonight. Only problem? Realistic Fiction.
Activisim
Earth Day and the Environmental Movement: Standing Up for Earth, by Christy Peterson, 2020. On April 22, 1970, an estimated twenty million people held a teach-in
to show their support for environmental protections. It was the largest nationwide event ever, and
lawmakers took notice.
But one day didn't change everything.
Fifty years after the first Earth Day, climate change remains a dire
concern. The divide between political parties continues to widen, and
environmental policy has become an increasingly partisan issue. Nonfiction.
Enough is Enough: How Students Can Join the Fight for Gun Safety, by Michelle Roehm McCann, 2019. Explores the complexities of gun violence in America by explaining the myths, facts, causes, and obstacles surrounding the issue, and provides resources for students to get involved in gun safety activism. Nonfiction.
Flowers in the Gutter: The True Story of the Edelweiss Pirates, Teenagers Who Resisted the Nazis, by K.R. Gaddy, 2020. The Edelweiss Pirates were a loosely organized group of working-class
young people in the Rhine Valley of Germany. They faced off with Nazis
during the Third Reich and suffered consequences for their resistance
during and after World War II. Nonfiction.
In Good Hands: Remarkable Female Politicians From Around the World Who Showed Up, Spoke Out, and Made Change, by Stephanie MacKendrick. Written for young women interested in running for office, with inspiring stories of eighteen women role models along with the all the tools and resources needed to get a campaign off the ground. Nonfiction.
Into the Streets: A Young Person's Visual History of Protest in the United States, by Marke Bieschke, 2020. Photos, artwork, and other visual elements guide readers through a lively and informative exploration of significant protests, sit-ins, and collective acts of resistance throughout U.S. history. Nonfiction.
Jane Against the World: Roe v. Wade and the Fight for Reproductive Rights, by Karen Blumenthal, 2020. A history of the fight for reproductive rights in the United States. Tracing the path to the landmark decision in Roe v. Wade and the continuing battle for women's rights, Blumenthal examines the root causes of the current debate around abortion and repercussions that have affected generations of American women. Includes a glossary of legal and medical terms, timeline, and information about significant Supreme Court cases. Nonfiction.
Kent State, by Deborah Wiles, 2020. Told from different points of view--protesters, students, National Guardsmen, and "townies"--recounts the story of what happened at Kent State in May 1970, when four college students were killed by National Guardsmen, and a student protest was turned into a bloody battlefield. Historical Fiction.
Kent State: Four Dead in Ohio, by Derf Backderf, 2020. On May 4, 1970, the Ohio National Guard gunned down unarmed college
students protesting the Vietnam War at Kent State University. In a
deadly barrage of 67 shots, 4 students were killed and 9 shot and
wounded. It was the day America turned guns on its own children--a
shocking event burned into our national memory. A few days prior,
10-year-old Derf Backderf saw those same Guardsmen patrolling his nearby
hometown, sent in by the governor to crush a trucker strike. Using the
journalism skills he employed on My Friend Dahmer and Trashed,
Backderf has conducted extensive interviews and research to explore the
lives of these four young people and the events of those four days in
May, when the country seemed on the brink of tearing apart. Graphic Format, Nonfiction.
Ms. Gloria Steinem: A Life, by Winifred Conkling, 2020. Gloria Steinem is perhaps the single-most iconic
figure associated with women's rights, her name practically synonymous
with the word "feminism." Documenting everything from her
boundary-pushing journalistic career to the foundation of Ms. magazine
to being awarded the 2013 Presidential Medal of Freedom. Biography.
Rainbow Revolutions: Power, Pride, and Protest in the Fight for Queer Rights, by Jamie Lawson, 2020. Around one o'clock in the morning on June 28, 1969, police raided the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in New York, sparking days of intense rioting. What happened at Stonewall sent shockwaves around the world, and became a defining moment for the LGBTQ+ community. Nonfiction.
Raise Your Voice: 12 Protests That Shaped America, by Jeffrey Kluger, 2020. A recounting of protests throughout American history that have shaped our nation: The Boston Tea Party, 1773 -- The Seneca Falls Convention, 1848 -- The Triangle Shirtwaist factory fire and the fight for workers' rights, 1911 -- The Montgomery bus boycott, 1955-1956 -- The March on Washington, 1963 -- The Democratic Convention, 1968 -- The Stonewall Uprising, 1969 -- Earth Day, 1970 -- The march against nuclear weapons, 1982 -- ACT UP, 1987 -- The Women's March, 2017 -- Dakota Access uprising, 2016-2017. Nonfiction.
Speak Up!: Speeches by Young People to Empower & Inspire, by Adora Svitak, 2020. A compilation of inspiring speeches from youth around the world whose voices have helped move the needle of progress. Nonfiction.
Stand Up! Be an Upstander and Make a Difference, by Wendy L. Moss, 2020. You may doubt that you can make a difference. You can't fly like Wonder Woman or scale walls like Spiderman, but you could be a hero to someone else by speaking up. Small changes can lead to bigger and bigger changes. Chock full of quizzes, examples, practical advice, and small steps you can take in your real life, Stand Up! takes readers through the ways to be an Upstander, including being kind to yourself, having empathy for others, spreading kindness, and dealing with conflicts. Nonfiction.
Take the Mic: Fictional Stories of Everyday Resistance, edited by Bethany C. Morrow, 2019. Anthology featuring fictional stories--in poems, prose, and art--that reflect a slice of the varied and limitless ways that to resist every day. Take the Mic's collection of stories features work by Jason Reynolds, Samira Ahmed, Bethany C. Morrow, Darcie Little Badger, Keah Brown, Laura Silverman, L.D. Lewis, Sofia Quintero, Ray Stoeve, Yamile Mendez, and Connie Sun. Short Stories.
Thank You for Coming to my TED Talk: A Teen Guide to Great Public Speaking, by Chris Anderson and Lorin Oberweger, 2020. A teen edition of the New York Times best-selling TED TALKS: The Official TED Guide to Public Speaking, chock-full of tips and techniques to help teens become confident, capable speakers. For today’s teen, being able to communicate clearly in front of an audience is essential. From class presentations to interviews to online videos, an engaging talk can not only inspire and electrify a room, it can change people’s minds, and even change the world. Nonfiction.
True or False: A CIA Analyst's Guide to Spotting Fake News, by Cindy L. Otis, 2020. A former CIA analyst unveils the history of fake news and gives tips on how to avoid falling victim to it. "Fake news" is a term you’ve probably heard a lot in the last few years, but it’s not a new phenomenon. From the ancient Egyptians to the French Revolution to Jack the Ripper and the founding fathers, fake news has been around as long as human civilization. Nonfiction.
You Call This Democracy?: How to Fix Our Government and Deliver Power to the People, by Elizabeth Rusch, 2020. The political landscape has never been so tumultuous: issues with the electoral college, gerrymandering, voter suppression, and a lack of representation in the polls and in our leadership have led to Americans of all ages asking, How did we get here? Rather than pointing fingers at people and political parties, You Call This Democracy? looks at flaws in the system--and offers a real way out of the mess we are in. Each chapter breaks down a different problem plaguing American democracy, exploring how it's undemocratic, offering possible solutions (with examples of real-life teens who have already started working toward them), and suggesting ways to effect change. Nonfiction.
