TOP SOCIAL JUSTICE ADVOCACY TITLE
Jesse Katz. The Rent Collectors: Exploitation, Murder, and Redemption in Immigrant LA. July 2024. Published by Astra Publishing House. Hardback $28.00. 224 pages. 978-1662601736 Adults. The Rent Collectors by Jesse Katz is a gripping true crime narrative that explores the brutal world of gang violence, exploitation, and the struggle for redemption. The story centers on Giovanni Macedo, a baby-faced teen desperate to find a sense of belonging within one of Los Angeles’ most notorious gangs, the Columbia Lil Cycos. His initiation task is horrifying: kill an undocumented Mexican street vendor, Francisco Clemente, who refused to pay the gang’s extortion demands. But Giovanni botches the hit, accidentally taking the life of an innocent newborn instead. To appease the gang’s imprisoned leaders, Giovanni is lured across the border, where the gang attempts—and fails—to kill him. Miraculously surviving, Giovanni embarks on an extraordinary journey to atone for his unforgivable crime and dismantle the gang that manipulated him. Through this harrowing story, Katz exposes the harsh realities faced by undocumented street vendors in L.A., caught between the violent demands of gangs and punitive city policies—exploited by two oppressive systems, the true “rent collectors.”
Trigger Warnings: Gang / Prison Violence, Death, Physical Assault, Torture, Exploitation of Undocumented Immigrants
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Sonya Ballantyne. Illustrated by Rhael McGregor and Letterer Toben Racicot. Little by Little You can Change the World. August 2023. Published by Highwater Press, a division of Portage & Main Press. Hardback $18.95. 56 pages. 9781774920985. Ages 9-12. Written by Sonya Ballantyne, Little by Little: You Can Change the World is an inspiring graphic novel based on the real-life story of Michael Redhead Champagne, an Indigenous youth who learns the power of using his voice to advocate for his community. Through perseverance and small acts of kindness, Michael discovers that even small efforts can lead to significant change.
The story follows Michael as he struggles with feeling like an outsider and confronting misrepresentations of Indigenous people. A turning point comes when he attends a youth conference, only to hear inaccurate statements about his community from a speaker on stage. Though initially nervous, Michael finds the courage to speak up, demonstrating the power of standing up for the truth. A key theme of the book is how small, meaningful actions—whether advocating for others, showing kindness, or speaking up against injustice—can have a lasting impact. Michael’s development is also influenced by his teacher, Ms. Holmes, who nurtures his critical thinking and love for reading, highlighting the importance of supportive mentorship, the strength of community and the courage to speak up for what is right.
Trigger Warnings: Harmful Misrepresentations of Indigenous People, Isolation, Self-Dobuy, Confrontation of Injustices.
Ruby Bridges. Illustrated by John Jay Cabuay. Dear Ruby, Hear Our Hearts. January 2024. Orchard Books, an imprint of Hachette Children’s Group, a division of Hachette Book Group. Hardback $18.99. 32 pages. 9781338753912. Ages 5-9. Dear Ruby, Hear Our Hearts is a heartfelt collection of letters from young students across America, sharing their thoughts, fears, and hopes about critical issues such as bullying, climate change, gun violence, and racism. Civil rights icon Ruby Bridges—who, as a child, bravely became the first Black student to integrate an all-white elementary school in New Orleans—responds to each letter with wisdom, empathy, and inspiration. Through these powerful exchanges, Ruby encourages young readers to find their voices, embrace courage, and stand up for what they believe in. Drawing from her own experiences as a lifelong activist and founder of the Ruby Bridges Foundation, she reminds children that their hearts, voices, and actions can spark meaningful change.
Trigger Warnings: Racism, Discrimination, Bullying, Gun Violence, Emotional distress Related to Current Events
Kellie Carter Jackson. We Refuse: A Forceful History of Black Resistance. June 2024. Published by Seal Press, an imprint of Basic Books Group, a division of Hachette. Hardback $30.00. 304 pages. 9781541602908. Ages 16 & Up. In We Refuse, historian Kellie Carter Jackson challenges the simplistic narrative that Black resistance is confined to Martin Luther King Jr.’s nonviolence or Malcolm X’s militant approach. She argues that this binary erases the diverse and often overlooked strategies Black communities—especially Black women—have used to combat white supremacy.
Carter Jackson critiques how Black force is delegitimized while systemic racial violence persists unchecked. She traces the role of force, from the American and Haitian Revolutions to modern-day uprisings, illustrating how tactics such as work stoppages, property destruction, and armed revolt have been essential in the fight for Black freedom. However, resistance is not always physical. We Refuse also highlights nonviolent forms of defiance, including cultural expression, finding joy amidst oppression, and the quiet act of walking away from unjust systems.
Trigger Warnings: Structural Racism, Cross-Atlantic Slave Trade & American Enslavement, Sexual and Racial Violence, and Armed Resistance
Rita Omokha. Resist: How a Century of Young Black Activists Shaped America. November 2024. St. Martin’s Press. Hardback $29.00. 352 pages. 9781250290984. Adults. Resist by award-winning journalist Rita Omokha is a powerful chronicle of the young Black activists who have shaped America’s fight for justice over the past century, from the 1920s to the Trayvon generation. Drawing on historical movements and contemporary struggles, Omokha highlights how young people—often teenagers—have been at the forefront of civil rights activism, leaving an indelible mark on American democracy.
Growing up as a Nigerian immigrant in the South Bronx, Omokha grappled with her own identity as a Black woman in America. In 2020, following the murder of George Floyd, she embarked on a transformative journey across 30 states to examine race relations firsthand. Along the way, she encountered courageous individuals like 17-year-old Darnella Frazier, whose quick thinking captured Floyd’s death on camera, igniting global protests.
Through the stories of figures like Ella Baker, the Bates Seven, and the Black Panther Party, Resist weaves together personal reflection, historical analysis, and the ongoing fight for justice, offering a profound look at how the struggles of the past illuminate the urgent challenges of today.
Trigger Warnings: Police Violence, Racism, Discrimination, Systemic Oppression, Death, Murder, Graphic Descriptions of Violence
Jessica Pryce. Broken: Transforming Child Protective Services. March 2024. Amistad, an imprint of Harper Publisher, a division of HarperCollins Publishers. Hardback $28.99. 304 pages. 9780063036192. Adult. Broken by Dr. Jessica Pryce is a searing, insider examination of the child welfare system, exposing the systemic racism and deep-rooted biases that disproportionately impact Black families. Drawing from her personal and professional experiences as a former caseworker, Pryce provides an unflinching look at how the system—intended to protect children—often causes more harm than good. Through the intimate stories of caseworkers, Black women, and even her own family and friends, Pryce reveals the painful realities of a system that prioritizes separation over support. She reflects on her own role in perpetuating systemic harm, offering a rare, introspective account of how well-intentioned professionals can become part of the problem. More than just a critique, Broken serves as a call to action, urging the child welfare workforce to engage in radical self-reflection and reimagine how to truly support families. Pryce challenges readers to confront their own biases and envision transformative change in child protective services.
Trigger Warnings: Systemic Racism, Child Welfare and Foster Care Trauma, Incarceration, Criminal Justice System, Emotional Abuse, Institutional Bias and Discrimination
Ray Shell. Iced: A Novel. October 2023. Published by Amistad, an imprint of Harper Publisher, a division of HarperCollins Publishers. Paperback $19.99. 336 pages. 9780063335189. Adults. Iced by Ray Shell is a haunting and powerful novel that delves into the devastating descent of Cornelius Washington, a once-promising, upper-middle-class Black man whose experimentation with drugs spirals into a life-shattering crack cocaine addiction. First published in 1994 during the height of the crack epidemic, this “powerhouse” novel (as praised by Maya Angelou) remains strikingly relevant today. Told through immersive, stream-of-consciousness diary entries, Iced captures the raw, unfiltered thoughts of Cornelius as he reflects on his past ambitions, lost potential, and the people who shaped his life—both inspiring and destructive. Trapped in a relentless cycle of addiction, he struggles to reclaim control, facing defeat after defeat, yet still sparks a fragile hope for redemption. More than just a story of addiction, Iced is a profound commentary on race, class, and systemic neglect in America. It exposes the harsh realities faced by marginalized communities, the human cost of political indifference, and the enduring fight for dignity amidst despair.
Trigger Warnings: Substance Abuse, Drug-Related Violence, Mental Health Struggles, Racism and Systemic Oppression, Poverty, Marginalization, Suicidal Ideation, Depression
Katherena Vermette. Illustrated by Scott B. Henderson and colorist Donovan Yaciuk. A Girl Called Echo: Omnibus. October 2023. Published by Highwater Press, a division of Portage & Main Press. Hardback $36.00. 224 pages. 9781774920886. Ages 12-18. In A Girl Called Echo: Omnibus Edition, Métis teenager Echo Desjardins struggles with the challenges of a new school and home. But when a history class unexpectedly transports her through time, Echo embarks on an eye-opening journey through pivotal events in Métis history, discovering the resilience of her people and reflecting on her own identity. This special edition includes all four volumes, along with a foreword by Chantal Fiola, a historical timeline, and an essay on Métis belonging by Brenda Macdougall.
- Pemmican Wars: Echo is transported to the prairies of 1814, where she witnesses the daily life of Métis communities, including bison hunts and fur trade routes. She experiences the growing tensions between the Métis, the Hudson’s Bay Company, and the Red River settlers, leading to the Battle of Seven Oaks.
- Red River Resistance: In 1869, Echo finds herself in the Red River settlement as Canadian surveyors arrive, threatening Métis land rights. She observes the community’s resistance, led by Louis Riel, as Métis families fight to protect their homes and culture.
- Northwest Resistance: Echo travels to 1885, where the Métis face starvation, displacement, and broken promises from the Canadian government. Despite these hardships, hope is reignited with the return of Louis Riel, sparking a final stand for Métis rights and survival.
- Road Allowance Era: Echo returns to the aftermath of the 1885 Resistance, witnessing the trial of Louis Riel and the continued struggles of displaced Métis communities. As her people are forced into makeshift settlements like Rooster Town, Echo learns about the enduring strength and perseverance of the Métis spirit.
Trigger Warnings: Colonial Violence, Land Displacement, Systemic Racism, Starvation, Poverty, War, Historical Trauma, Political Persecution/Execution, Incarceration, Fostering, Cultural Erasure
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