Books for students

Nonfiction to read

Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You, by Jason Reynolds

Want to know more about the history of racism? And better yet, how you can become antiracist? Check out this "not a history, history book" by Jason Reynolds - who has written many books you love like the Track series (Ghost, Patina, Sunny, Lu), All American Boys, Long Way Down, among others. You will learn a lot and enjoy reading it too - as it is not written like a history book at all! Highly recommended. You can get it on MMSD Overdrive as an ebook and hopefully soon as an audiobook!

This Book is Antiracist: 20 Lessons on How to Wake Up, Take Action, and Do The Work by Tiffany Jewell

"Gain a deeper understanding of your anti-racist self as you progress through 20 chapters that spark introspection, reveal the origins of racism that we are still experiencing, and give you the courage and power to undo it. Each chapter builds on the previous one as you learn more about yourself and racial oppression. 20 activities get you thinking and help you grow with the knowledge. All you need is a pen and paper." - from Amazon.

We Rise, We Resist, We Raise Our Voices

"Featuring poems, letters, personal essays, art, and other works from such industry leaders as Jacqueline Woodson (Brown Girl Dreaming), Jason Reynolds (All American Boys), Kwame Alexander (The Crossover), Andrea Pippins (I Love My Hair), Sharon Draper (Out of My Mind), Rita Williams-Garcia (One Crazy Summer), Ellen Oh (cofounder of We Need Diverse Books), and artists Ekua Holmes, Rafael Lopez, James Ransome, Javaka Steptoe, and more, this anthology empowers the nation's youth to listen, learn, and build a better tomorrow." - from Goodreads

Just Mercy (Adapted for Young Adults): A True Story of the Fight for Justice, by Bryan Stevenson

"In this very personal work--adapted from the original #1 bestseller--acclaimed lawyer and social justice advocate Bryan Stevenson offers a glimpse into the lives of the wrongfully imprisoned and his efforts to fight for their freedom." - from Goodreads

When They Call You a Terrorist : a Story of Black Lives Matter and the Power to Change the World (Young Adult Edition) by Patrisse Khan-Cullors and asha bandele

"Necessary and timely, Patrisse Khan-Cullors’ story asks us to remember that protest in the interest of the most vulnerable comes from love. Leaders of the Black Lives Matter movement have been called terrorists, a threat to America. But in truth, they are loving women whose life experiences have led them to seek justice for those victimized by the powerful." - from the publisher

Things That Make White People Uncomfortable (Adapted for Young Adults) by Michael Bennett

"Bennett adds his voice to discussions of racism and police violence, Black athletes and their relationship to powerful institutions like the NCAA and the NFL, the role of protest in history, and the responsibilities of athletes as role models to speak out against injustice."