There was a public outcry when news leaked that Ahmaud Arbery, a young, unarmed, African American jogger, was gunned down in Georgia. When kids ask us about incidents like this what do we say? Civil rights violations, shootings of innocents, and other social justice problems are tough, but important, issues to discuss with youngers. Reading the middle books listed below is a great way to get those sensitive conversations started.
Blended by Sharon Draper – Eleven-year-old Isabella shifts between two worlds on a weekly basis as she moves back and forth between her divorced parent’s homes. Her mother, who calls her Izzy, is white, and her father is black, adding to the young adolescent’s confusion about where she fits in. Izzy and her brother are stopped by the police during an ice cream run and a shocking ending to the story opens the door to many other talking points.
A Good Kind of Trouble by Lisa Moore Ramee – The sweet cover illustration that includes a hot pink backpack covered with an ice cream cone, a peace sign, flower and track team appliques had me thinking this was another simple story about middle school life and friendship. But as I started reading, I looked twice and noticed the sewn on black fist and Black Lives Matter band on the main character’s forearm and realized that A Good Kind of Trouble covers some serious ground. Twelve-year-old Shalya avoids problems at all costs. She has few other black friends and enjoys hanging around her two besties, Julia and Hannah, a.k.a. “The United Nations.” Then a social justice issue comes close to home and the girl who used to stay away from trouble causes some commotion of her own.
Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker Rhodes – Jerome, a twelve-year-old boy from Chicago, is shot and killed after a police officer mistakes his toy gun for a real one. Jerome’s ghost meets the ghost of Emmett Till, another boy wrongfully killed in the past, and helps heal emotional wounds suffered by those left behind. Ghost Boys explores the aftermath of a wrongful shooting from all angles, showing how it affects the boy’s family, the community at large, and even the police officer’s daughter.
From the Desk of Zoe Washington by Janae Marks – In between making yummy cupcakes and arguing with the boy next door, twelve-year-old Zoe Washington learns that her incarcerated father has been wrongfully jailed and researches and contacts the Innocence Project to help him get justice. Though it has a heavy topic this book is very relatable for young readers and a happy, hopeful read.
Clean Getaway by Nic Stone – After an incident in school puts him on lockdown during his spring break, eleven-year-old William “Scoob†Lamar takes a runaway road trip though the South with his unconventional, white grandmother, G’ma, and gets a valuable history lesson about the segregated South.
Betty Before X by Illyasah Shabazz and Rene Watson – This book tells about the growing-up years of Dr. Betty Shabazz, widow of human rights activist and black nationalist Malcolm X. As a child growing up in Detroit, Betty was inspired by leaders like Thurgood Marshall and Paul Robeson, who visited her church, and she volunteered for the Housewives League, a group that supports black-owned businesses.  The book touches on racism, threats, and a teen boy who was murdered by police.
Tonya Duncan Ellis is author of the Amazon Best Selling, Readers’ Favorite “Five Star†rated Sophie Washington children’s book series, geared toward readers ages 8-12 and is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI).
www.tonyaduncanellis.com
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