YA Books Almost Advocacy & Activism

past Jane Gov, Youth Services Librarian
updated 2/xx/2020

Yes No Maybe Then past Becky Albertalli and Aisha Saeed

New York Times bestselling authors Becky Albertalli and Aisha Saeed have crafted a resonant, funny, and memorable story about the power of dearest and resistance.

YES
Jamie Goldberg is cool with volunteering for his local country senate candidate—as long as he'southward behind the scenes. When information technology comes to speaking to strangers (or, allow's face information technology, speakingat all to almost anyone), Jamie's a choke creative person. There'southward no mode he'd ever knock on doors to ask people for their votes…until he meets Maya.

NO
Maya Rehman's having the worst Ramadan ever. Her best friend is besides busy to hang out, her summer trip is canceled, and now her parents are separating. Why her mother thinks the solution to her bug ispolitical canvassing—with some awkward dude she inappreciably knows—is beyond her.

MAYBE SO
Going door to door isn't exactly glamorous, but maybeinformation technology's not the worst thing in the world. After all, the polls are getting closer—and so are Maya and Jamie. Mastering local activism is one matter. Navigating the cantankerous-cultural romance of the century is another thing entirely.

Publication Date:  February 2020

Observe Your Phonation: A Guided Journal for Writing Your Truth by Angie Thomas

Write fearlessly. Write what is truthful and real to you.

In this guided journal, #1New York Times bestselling writer Angie Thomas shares communication and best practices for developing a true-to-yous writing project.

Includes pace-by-pace craft tips, writing prompts, and exercises for:

Discovering story ideas
Creating memorable characters
Realizing your setting
Shaping your story
Writing your "zero typhoon"
And more!
With 24 illustrated inspirational quotes from Angie's acclaimed novelsThe Hate U Give andOn the Come Up, and plenty of blank pages for your own words,Observe Your Voice volition ignite your inventiveness and assist you bring your ain unique stories to life.

Publication Appointment: March 2020

Running past Natalia Sylvester

When fifteen-twelvemonth-quondam Cuban American Mariana Ruiz's father runs for president, Mari starts to see him with new eyes. A novel about waking up and continuing up, and what happens when you stop seeing your dad every bit your hero—while the whole country is watching.

In this thoughtful, authentic, humorous, and gorgeously written novel nearly privacy, waking up, and speaking upwardly, Senator Anthony Ruiz is running for president. Throughout his successful political career he has always had his daughter's vote, but a presidential campaign brings a whole new level of scrutiny to sheltered fifteen-year-one-time Mariana and the rest of her Cuban American family, from a lx Minutes–style tour of their house to tabloids doctoring photos and inventing scandals. As tensions rise within the Ruiz family, Mari begins to acquire about the details of her father's political positions, and she realizes that her father is not the homo she thought he was.

But how practice you discover your voice when everyone'due south watching? When it means disagreeing with your father—publicly? What exercise you exercise when your dad stops beingness your hero? Will Mari get a chance to confront her father? If she does, will she have the courage to seize it?

Publication Engagement: May 2020

The Voting Booth by Brandy Colbert

From Stonewall Honour-winning author Brandy Colbert comes an all-in-i-24-hour interval love story perfect for fans ofThe Sun is Also A Star.

Marva Sheridan was born ready for this solar 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 do done with this election. He just wants to get voting over with then he can prepare for his band's first paying gig this evening.

Only trouble? Duke can't vote.

When Marva sees Duke turned away from their polling place, she takes it upon herself to make sure his vote is counted. She hasn't spent months doorbelling and registering voters just to see someone denied their right. And that's how their whirlwind day begins, rushing from precinct to precinct, cutting school, waiting in endless lines, turned abroad time and again, trying to do ane simple thing: vote. They may have started out equally strangers, only as Duke and Marva team up to beat out a rigged system (and find Marva'due south missing cat), information technology'due south clear that there's more to their connection than a shared mission for republic.

Romantic and triumphant,The Voting Booth is proof that you tin't sit around waiting for the world to modify?merely some things are just meant to be.

Publication Date:  July 2020

You Telephone call This Commonwealth? How To Ready Our Regime and Deliver Power to the People by Elizabeth Rusch

America is the greatest democracy in the globe . . . isn't information technology? Author Elizabeth Rusch examines some of the more than problematic aspects of our government but, more than importantly, offers ways for young people to prepare them.

The political landscape has never been so tumultuous: issues with the electoral higher, 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 nosotros get here?

The ability to alter lies with the citizens of this bang-up state—specially teens! Rather than pointing fingers at people and political parties,You Call This Republic? looks at flaws in the system—and offers a existent manner out of the mess we are in. Each affiliate breaks down a different problem plaguing American democracy, exploring how it's undemocratic, offer possible solutions (with examples of real-life teens who take already started working toward them), and suggesting means to outcome modify—starting Now!

Publication Date: March 2020

Enough is Plenty: How Students Can Join the Fight for Gun Prophylactic past Michelle Roehm McCann

From laurels-winning author Michelle Roehm McCann comes a young activist'southward handbook to joining the fight against gun violence—both in your community and on a national level—to brand schools safer for everyone.

Immature people are suffering the most from the epidemic of gun violence—equally early equally kindergarten students are crouching behind locked doors during active shooter drills. Teens are galvanizing to speak upwards and fight for their correct to exist safe. They don't simply desire to become involved, they want to change the earth.Enough Is Plenty is a call to action for teens prepare to lend their voices to the gun violence prevention motility. This handbook deftly explains America'south gun violence issues—myths and facts, causes and perpetrators, solutions and change-makers—and provides a route map for constructive activism.

Told in 3 parts,Enough Is Enoughalso explores how America got to this point and the obstacles we must overcome, including historical data about the Second Amendment, the history of guns in America, and an overview of the NRA. Informative chapters include interviews with teens who have survived gun violence and student activists who are launching their own movements across the country. Additionally, the book includes a Q&A with gun owners who support increased gun prophylactic laws.

Publication Date: Oct 2019