Civic education is essential, but formal civics classes in US schools are surprisingly rare.
Civic Minded: What Everyone Should Know about the US Government by Jeff Fleischer (October 1)
How do different government processes work? Where and how did they originate and where or how might they be changed or altered? Those are just some of the topics explored in this engaging and inviting guide to the history, present, and future of American civics.
One Person, No Vote (YA Edition): How Not All Voters Are Treated Equally by Carol Anderson with Tonya BoldenThe young adult adaptation of Anderson’s book explores the modern-day practices of voter suppression. It released prior to the 2020 election as a way to empower and inform young people that the tactics to suppress votes wasn’t historic—it’s contemporary and ongoing. This message is, unfortunately, more urgent and relevant than ever in 2024. |
Represent: The Unfinished Fight for the Vote by Michael Eric Dyson and Marc Favreau (September 10)Speaking of voting rights, the latest book by the team of Dyson and Favreau explores the history of voting rights in America from its founding until today. Within the book are stories from a wide array of people who fought to establish voting rights for all, including a Lakota Sioux Activist, a Mexican American student, Black World War II Veterans, and more. This sounds like a fantastic book to pair with the just-released Shift Happens by J. Albert Mann, as well as the previous Dyson/Favreau YA nonfiction collaboration, Unequal: A Story of America. |
The Sum of Us (Adapted for Young Readers): How Racism Hurts Everyone by Heather McGheeNot 100% about the democratic process or civics, McGhee’s book is a must-read for anyone who wants to fight for true democracy. It’s a book about the realities of American racial and economic disparity and is a call for taking action to create a more inclusive, equitable country. Racism does not just impact marginalized people. It directly impacts white people, too. |
Understanding Politics and Government by Rosie Hore, Alex Frith, Louie Stowell, and Kellan StoverThis work of graphic nonfiction offers insight and explanation for politics and government (as the title so perfectly suggests) but does it in a way that is extremely approachable, engaging, and accessible. The book highlights how everything is political, the various systems of government that exist, propaganda and fake news, and more. It’s vast but the format makes it one that is easy to browse. This book is aimed at a bit of a younger YA audience, but it will likely appeal to even older YA readers. Check out a sample spread: |
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You Call This Democracy?: How to Fix Our Government and Deliver Power to the People: An Empowering Guide to American Politics for Teens by Elizabeth RuschEach of the chapters in this guide to democracy explores a single problem within the system. Along with clear explanations for the problems, including things like the electoral college, gerrymandering, voter suppression, and more, the book offers not only solutions that young people can work toward in fixing them but actual examples of other people who have taken the effort to try creating that change. |
YA Book News
- Because it’s a show with a largely female audience and the story was written by women, of course the adaptation of My Lady Jane will be canceled after one season.
- But there will be a second season of the Netflix adaptation of My Life with the Walter Boys.
- Check out the rad slate of YA comics up for this year’s Harvey Award.
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Thanks as always for hanging out, and we’ll see you again on Thursday.
Until then, happy reading!
