Activate Your Vote

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.

What's Your Philosophy?: Activate Your Politic

No civics class in your schedule? Wondering about current issues, politics, and/or how things are run? Unsure where you stand? Feeling side lined? Get informed! Below is a roundup of issue oriented books recently added to the teen collection. This list is organized alphabetically by title. Descriptions, sometimes paraphrased, are from the Library's online catalog. An "activate your politic" list is by nature (one trusts) nonfiction. Following the nonfiction there are some recently published biographies and memoirs and a short list of recently published relevant fiction. Titles are linked to their record in the catalog.
To get started, added here for encouragement and inspiration,
a poem from Jason Reynolds:

For Every One, by Jason Reynolds, 2018. New York Times bestselling author and National Book Award finalist Jason Reynolds's inspirational poem addressed to the dreamers of the world was originally performed at the Kennedy Center for the unveiling of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, and later as a tribute to Walter Dean Myers.


Blacklisted!: Hollywood, The Cold War, and the First Amendment, by Larry Brimner, 2018. Recounts the 1947 government investigation into the motion picture industry by the House Un-American Activities Committee.

Can Your Conversation Change The World?, by Erinne Paisley, 2018. From the Pop Activism series for teens this book looks at the importance of talking about feminism and continuing to fight for equal rights.

Economic Inequality: The American Dream Under Siege, by Coral Frazer, 2018. Millions of Americans don't earn enough money to pay for decent housing, food, health care, and education. Meanwhile the rich keep getting richer. Learn how governments, businesses, and citizens are fighting to close the economic gap.

Feminism from A to Z, by Gayle Pitman, 2017. An alphabetical primer on feminism examines 26 topics of feminist theory, from family life to violence and literacy. Includes call-to-action exercises for each topic.

Glimmer of Hope: How Tragedy Sparked a Movement, by the founders of March For Our Lives, 2018. From The March for Our Lives founders, Glimmer of Hope tells the story of how a group of teenagers raced to channel their rage and sorrow into action, and went on to create one of the largest youth-led movements in global history.

Globalization: Why We Care About Faraway Events, by Carla Mooney, 2018. Is your salad drizzled with olive oil imported from Italy? What country made the car that your parents drive? Globalization delves into the nature and history of interconnected relationships between governments, businesses, media, and industries all around the world and asks questions about the future.

Gun Violence and Mass Shootings, by Bradley Steffens, 2018. This book examines the prevalence of all types of gun violence in America and the factors-historical, cultural, and constitutional-that make this country an outlier among industrialized nations. It also explores possible solutions to reducing gun deaths and the controversies surrounding those proposals.

The Handy American Government Answer Book: How Washington, Politics, and Elections Work, by Gina Misiroglu, 2018. A comprehensive look at the history, systems, people, and policies that comprise American democracy through answers to nearly 800 questions, including Why is America's democratic system considered so precious? What does 'checks and balances' mean? Where do the party symbols of the donkey and the elephant come from? What is electoral realignment? What does it mean to lobby? Who pays for the campaigns of candidates?

How I Resist: Activism and Hope for a New Generation, edited by Maureen Johnson, 2018. In How I Resist, the voices represented are at turns personal, funny, irreverent, and instructive. Not just for a young adult audience, this collection will appeal to readers of all ages who are feeling adrift and looking for guidance.

The Little Book of Philosophy, by the Dorling Kindersly Publishing Staff, 2018. A compact guide that explores the history and concepts of philosophy, and demystifies its often-daunting subject matter. Explore feminism, rationalism, idealism, existentialism, and other influential movements in the world of philosophy from Ancient Greece to the modern day.

Modern HERstory: Stories of Women and Nonbinary People Rewriting History, by Blair Imani, 2018. An illustrated primer on the progressive social change movements of the last 60 years as told through the stories of 60 diverse female and non-binary leaders in those movements, from the Civil Rights Movement and Stonewall riots through today.

Our stories, our voices : 21 YA Authors Get Real About Injustice, Empowerment, and Growing Up Female in America, edited by Amy Reed, 2018. A collection of 21 essays from award-winning and bestselling YA writers that touch on a range of topics related to growing up female in today's America, and the intersection with race, religion, and ethnicity.

Putting Peace First: 7 Commitments to Change the World, by Eric Dawson, 2018. When he was 18, Eric co-founded the non-profit Peace First based on the idea that young people can change the world for the better--not someday, but right now. Twenty-five years later, Peace First has reached millions worldwide, teaching young people how to become peacemakers and create real change. Each chapter highlights an aspect of peacemaking, with explanations of how each peacemaker achieved their goals.

Steal This Country: A Handbook for Resistance, Persistence, and Fixing Almost Everything, by Alexandra Styron, 2018. Contents: The why -- The who -- The what. Climate change ; Immigration ; LGBTQIA rights ; Racial justice ; Religious understanding ; Women's rights ; Intersectionality ; Disability issues -- The how.

Street Spirit: The Power of Protest and Mischief, by Steve Crawshaw, 2017. Street Spirit is a celebration of some of the most remarkable protests from around the world that have used humour, courage and creativity to bring about change.

Threads: From the Refugee Crisis, by Kate Evans, 2017. In the French town of Calais, famous for its historic lace industry, a city within a city arose. This new town, known as the Jungle, was home to thousands of refugees, mainly from the Middle East and Africa, all hoping, somehow, to get to the UK. Into this squalid shantytown of shipping containers and tents, full of rats and trash and devoid of toilets and safety, the artist Kate Evans brought a sketchbook and an open mind. (graphic format)

The Untold History of the United States, Volume 1, 1898-1945: Young Readers' Edition, (Note: Volume 2 publication date is January 15, 2019.) A young readers' companion to the ten-part documentary series outlines provocative arguments against official American historical records to reveal the origins of conservatism and the obstacles to progressive change.

Verax: The True Story of Whistleblowers, Drone Warfare, and Mass Surveillance, by Pratap Chatterjee, 2017. A history of the use of electronic surveillance and drone strikes by the United States, as well as the journalists and whistle blowers who helped to expose the truth about these activities. (graphic format)

Votes for Women!: American Suffragists and the Battle for the Ballot, by Winifred Conkling, 2018. Relates the story of the 19th Amendment and the nearly eighty-year fight for voting rights for women, covering not only the suffragists' achievements and politics, but also the private journeys that led them to become women's champions.

We Are Not Yet Equal: Understanding Our Racial Divide, by Carol Anderson, 2018. Young Adult adaptation of Anderson's book White Rage. When America achieves milestones of progress toward full and equal black participation in democracy, the systemic response is a consistent racist backlash that rolls back those wins. We Are Not Yet Equal examines five of these moments.

We Say #NeverAgain: Reporting by the Parkland Student Journalists, edited by Melissa Falkowski and Eric Garner, 2018. This collection of essays looks at the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland and the fight for gun control-- as told by the student reporters for the school's newspaper and TV station.

Biography:

Americanized: Rebel Without a Green Card, by Sara Saedi, 2018. In San Jose, California, in the 1990s, teenaged Sara keeps a diary of life as an Iranian American and her discovery that she and her family entered as undocumented immigrants.

The Beloved World of Sonia Sotomayor, by Sonia Sotomayor, 2018.  An adaptation of her memoir, My Beloved World, in which Sotomayor, the first Hispanic and third woman appointed to the Supreme Court of the United States, details her achievements, which serve as testament that no matter the obstacles, dreams can come true.

The Dead Eye and the The Deep Blue Sea: A Graphic Memoir of Modern Slavery, by Vannak Anan Prum, 2018. In a testament to the lives of Cambodian fishermen trapped on boats in the Indian Ocean, the author, a survivor of human trafficking, shares his ordeal through raw, vivid, detailed illustrations, which serve as some of the first records of what happens to the men and boys who end up working on fishing boats in Asia. (graphic format)

Deep Dark Blue: A Memoir of Survival, by Polo Tate, 2018. A Young Adult memoir of a former United States Air Force Academy student chronicles the physical, sexual, and emotional abuse she suffered at the hands of her superiors and the harassment she received from peers who did not believe her story.

Eleanor Roosevelt: Fighter For Justice: Her Impact on the Civil Rights Movement, The White House, and the World, by Ilene Cooper, 2018. Shows how this former First Lady evolved to be a protector and advocate for those without a voice, including aiding in the fight for Civil Rights and other important causes. There is a timeline, biography, index, and many historic photographs.

I Have the Right To: A High School Survivor's Story of Sexual Assault, Justice, and Hope, by Chessy Prout, 2018. The memoir of a young survivor of a sexual assault when she was a freshman in a prestigious boarding school shares her story of survival, advocacy, and hope.

John McCain: An American Hero, by John Perritano, 2018. This biography covers McCain's life, from growing up as the son of a four-star admiral to his own time at the Naval Academy, his service as a pilot, and his experience as a prisoner of war. It explores McCain's 30 years as a senator, as well as his two bids for the presidency.

Rendez-Vous in Phoenix, by Tony Sandoval, 2016. Sandoval was born and raised in northwestern Mexico, where the temptation to cross the border in the US ultimately becomes a matter of the heart. Drawn by the need to reunite with his American girlfriend and faced with an insurmountable visa process standing in the way of their relationship, he makes the ultimate romantic gesture: smuggling himself across the border, despite the dangers he'll face. (graphic format)

Fiction:

Alpha: Abidjan to Paris, by Bessora, 2018. Determined to reunite with his family, Alpha sets off from his home in Cote d'Ivoire. Alpha's wife and son left for France months ago, and he has heard nothing from them since. Without a visa he is adrift for over a year, encountering human traffickers in the desert, refugee camps in Mali and Algeria, overcrowded boats carrying migrants between the Canary Islands and Europe's southern coast, and a cast of  companions lost and found along the way. (graphic format)

Dream Country, by Shannon Gibney, 2018. Spanning two centuries and two continents, Dream Country is the story of five generations of young people caught in a spiral of death and exile between Liberia and the United States.

Here to Stay, by Sara Farizan, 2018. When a cyberbully sends the entire high school a picture of basketball hero Bijan Majidi, photo-shopped to look like a terrorist, the school administration promises to find and punish the culprit, but Bijan just wants to pretend the incident never happened and move on.

Illegal, by Eoin Colfer, 2018. Resolved to join the siblings who left months earlier, 12-year-old Ebo ventures through the Sahara and the dangerous streets of Tripoli before embarking on a hazardous voyage from Ghana to a safe haven in Europe. (graphic format)

Your Own Worst Enemy, by Gordon Jack, 2018. For fans of Andrew Smith and Frank Portman and the movies Election and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off comes a hilarious and satirical novel about the highs and (very low) lows of the electoral process, proving that the popular vote is the one that matters most.