Social Justice and Activism for Young Adults

From Black Lives Matter to March for Our Lives, the voices of activists are ringing loud and clear across this country right now. Many of these voices are those of young people, and teens today are more empowered than ever before to create change and make their voices heard. As a result, there has been a remarkable increase in books for, by, and about teens that explore the topics that so profoundly affect them and show how powerful their voices can be. Here are just a few significant titles in this important genre:

Glimmer of Hope: How Tragedy Sparked a Movement by the founders of March for Our Lives
It’s been less than a year since the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland, Florida, but the students who survived the tragedy swiftly moved into action. Within weeks after the shooting, the survivors organized a student-led demonstration in Washington, DC to campaign for stricter gun control laws. This collection of writings from those students shows how powerful youth voice can be.

Anger is a Gift by Mark Oshiro
During his sophomore year in high school, Moss Jeffries still suffers from the panic attacks that started after his father was murdered by Oakland police. Now, his high school feels more like a prison, with random locker searches and ongoing intimidation from the police in the hallways. After student protests result in a tragedy for one of Moss’s friends, tensions reach breaking point.

Monster by Walter Dean Myers 
This New York Times bestselling novel from acclaimed author Walter Dean Myers tells the story of Steve Harmon, a teenage boy in juvenile detention and on trial. Presented as a screenplay of Steve's own imagination, and peppered with journal entries, the book shows how one single decision can change our whole lives.

Just Mercy (Adapted for Young Adults): A True Story of the Fight for Justice by Bryan Stevenson
In this young adult adaptation of the acclaimed bestseller Just Mercy, which the New York Times calls "as compelling as To Kill a Mockingbird, and in some ways more so," Bryan Stevenson delves deep into the broken U.S. justice system, detailing from his personal experience his many challenges and efforts as a lawyer and social advocate, especially on behalf of America's most rejected and marginalized people.