YA Reads: Antiracist Nonfiction

Posted about 12 hours ago by Genevievre Wood

Posted in Book Reviews, diverse reads, For Teens, nonfiction, Reading Recommendations, reading suggestions, Teens, young adult | Tagged with #bookrecs, #ireadya, #rplrecommends, #yabooks, #yareads, #yatrends, book recommendations, book recs, booksforteens, nonfiction, reading suggestions, teenreads, ya, yanonfiction, yareads

What does it mean to be antiracist? Members of the Black Panther Party coined the term “antiracist” during the 1960s/70s. With many different groups and organizations working similarly to fight injustice, they intended for the term to support solidarity across divides in order to bring together activists of different backgrounds. Antiracism goes beyond the idea of not just being not-racist, but actively working to make changes to racist systems, policies, and practices by identifying racism, challenging racism, and opposing racism.

Young adults encounter conversations on race, racism, and race relations frequently. Conversations like this occur through their schools, social media posts, and in their daily lives. But where do young adults turn when they want to dig deeper into their understanding of both racism and being antiracist? Nonfiction that supports antiracism can be just the place where young adults begin to think critically about topics surrounding racism, inform themselves about historic context, and make decisions about their future actions.

Young adults are ready for nuance and complexity, and providing both historical context and contemporary commentary on these topics helps teens build critical literacy skills. While they learn to analyze and think deeper about systems of power/power structures, they evaluate source materials, think critically about narratives, and learn to distinguish evidence from misinformation.

For young adults of color, seeing historic context and lived experiences they can relate to helps them feel represented. For young white readers, examining their privilege and bias as well as learning about the experiences of others, helps them enhance their empathy, understanding, and acceptance of others.

Grounded in research, written in an accessible and age-appropriate way, and promoting reflection on challenging topics, these books provide needed context. They also encourage lifelong learning for young adults. If you’re looking to lean into inquiry, growth, and intentionality, these books are a good place to start.

THE SWANS OF HARLEM BY KAREN VALBY

A full accounting of five incredibly talented Black ballerinas from the Dance Theater of Harlem illuminates their hard-fought, historic and overlooked contributions to the world of classical dance at a time when racism shut out Black dancers from major companies.

The image shows the cover of the book Unequal: A story of America by New York Times bestselling author, Michael Eric Dyson and Marc Favreau. There is a quote that says "A stunning accomplishment that shows the devastation of racial inequality, while also offering hope and inspiration to those fighting for equality." - Hoy-Ann Reid. There is also a seal from YALSA-ALA, marking it as a finalist for Excellence in Young Adult Nonfiction with an open book and a tree growing out of the book. The background of the cover is black with blue texture, and the text is blue for the word un and goes red to white, to red, to white, to red for the word unequal. It changes back to blue for the subtitle: A Story of America. There are also white stars that start on the word un and cascade down from top left to bottom right.

UNEQUAL: A STORY OF AMERICA BY MICHAEL ERIC DYSON & MARC FAVREAU

Interconnected stories present a picture of racial inequality in America, showing systemic discrimination in all areas of society and showing the unbroken line of Black resistance to this inequality.

The cover of How to Be a (Young) Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi and Nic Stone. It features a bold, graphic, and modern design, including bold typeface. The title is introduced with: Inspired by the #1 New York Times bestseller How to Be an Antiracist. The text is shown in red, black, blue, and green. The word (Young) is highlighted in yellow. The background is black with white and grey people of different races holding protest signs like Love for all of us!, Justice for all!, Together, Stand up, and Resist. The text is also highlighted with a white rectangle with a painted effect covering up part of the protest signs.

HOW TO BE A (YOUNG) ANTIRACIST BY IBRAM X. KENDI & NIC STONE

This young adult edition of the #1 New York Times best-seller empowers teen readers to help create a more just society, encouraging them to think critically & build a more equitable world.

The image shows the cover of ALLIES: REAL TALK ABOUT SHOWING UP, SCREWING UP, AND TRYING AGAIN edited by Shakirah Bourne and Dana Alison Levy. The background is black with very colorful text in text blub shapes. The book cover also lists contributors for the book: I.W. Gregorio, Dana Alison Levy, Sharan Dhawliwal, Marietta B. Zacker, Lizzie Huxley-Jones, Naomi Evans, Natalie Evans, Cam Montgomery, Aida Salazar, Kayla Whaley, A.J. Sass, Brendan Kiely, Adiba Jaigirdar, Shakirah Bourne, Andrea L. Rogers, and Derick Brooks.

ALLIES: REAL TALK ABOUT SHOWING UP, SCREWING UP, AND TRYING AGAIN BY SHAKIRAH BOURNE & DANA ALISON LEVY

As an ally, you use your power to support others. You learn, and try, and mess up, and try harder. This collection of essays explores what being an ally is, needing an ally, and showing up for friends/strangers.

The image shows the cover of American Wings: Chicago's Pioneering Black Aviators and the Race for Equality in the Sky by Sherri L. Smith and Elizabeth Wein. The background is a sepia colored vintage photograph of Black aviators and men in long coats, some wearing hats. They are standing in front of an aircraft hangar and a plane. The text is in dark red and black. There is also a splash of blue across the sky. The book lists the authors as award-winning authors.

AMERICAN WINGS: CHICAGO’S PIONEERING BLACK AVIATORS AND THE RACE FOR EQUALITY IN THE SKY BY SHERRI L. SMITH & ELIZABETH WEIN

A nonfiction account of a group of determined Black Americans who created a flying club and built their own airfield on Chicago’s South Side in the period between World Wars I and II after being denied entry to aviation school.

Cover of "Accountable" by Dashka Slater, featuring a dark teal background with abstract, green, intersecting lines that almost form words, covered with abstract black shapes that vaguely form people. The bold, white text title "ACCOUNTABLE: The True Story of a Racist Social Media Account and the Teenagers Whose Lives It Changed" is displayed prominently in the center. Under the author's name, it lists her as a New York Times-Bestselling Author.

ACCOUNTABLE: THE TRUE STORY OF A RACIST SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNT AND THE TEENAGERS WHOSE LIVES IT CHANGED BY DASHKA SLATER

When a racist social media account run by a teen in Albany, California, is discovered, the community is left asking: Where does accountability end for online speech that harms? And what does accountability for this mean?

THE SUM OF US: HOW RACISM HURTS EVERYONE: ADAPTED FOR YOUNG READERS BY HEATHER MCGHEE

Now adapted for young readers, this doubles as a call to action, examines how damaging racism is to all people and offers hope and real solutions.

CAN POSTERS KILL? ANTISEMITIC PROPAGANDA AND WORLD WAR II BY JERRY FAIVISH

A collection of WWII propaganda posters show how the Nazi party spread antisemitism and justified the murder of Jews in the Holocaust.

EVERYTHING YOU WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT INDIANS BUT WERE AFRAID TO ASK: YOUNG READERS EDITION BY ANTON TREUER

An Ojibwe scholar and cultural preservationist answers the most commonly asked questions about Native Americans, both historical and modern in this young readers edition.

WHITE LIES: HOW THE SOUTH LOST THE CIVIL WAR, THEN REWROTE THE HISTORY BY ANN BAUSUM

This powerful and unflinching examination of racism in America by award-winning historian Ann Bausum deconstructs the warped history of the Civil War for teen readers.

Book cover of "Black Birds in the Sky" by Brandy Colbert. Features profiles of four somber Black individuals above a 1921 Tulsa skyline, adorned with flowers, and a setting sun behind the figures. The cover is an ochre yellow color with black and white font.

BLACK BIRDS IN THE SKY: THE STORY AND LEGACY OF THE 1921 RACE MASSACRE BY BRANDY COLBERT

This searing work of nonfiction recounts the history and legacy of one of the most deadly and destructive acts of racial violence in American history: the Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921.

Cover of "A Most Perilous World" by Kristina R. Gaddy. Red background with black-and-white portraits and script reading "The True Story of the Young Abolitionists and Their Crusade Against Slavery." Bold blue letters spell out the title.

A MOST PERILOUS WORLD: THE TRUE STORY OF THE YOUNG ABOLITIONISTS AND THEIR CRUSADE AGAINST SLAVERY BY KRISTINA R. GADDY

A coming-of-age narrative tells the story of America’s tumultuous years leading up to the Civil War and of the war from the viewpoints of four teenage children of famous abolitionists, including those of Frederick Douglass and William Lloyd Garrison.

Book cover of "Stamped" by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi features a silhouette of a head behind red stripes, with bold blue and white text. The text at the top lists it as The #1 New York Times Bestseller. The authors' names are listed in bold black font.

STAMPED: RACISM, ANTIRACISM, AND YOU BY IBRAM X. KENDI & JASON REYNOLDS

A timely reimagining of Dr. Ibram X. Kendi’s National Book Award-winning Stamped From the Beginning reveals the history of racist ideas in America while explaining their endurance and capacity for being discredited.

The book cover for "The Unboxing of a Black Girl" features a black girl emerging from a box, surrounded by flowers and a cityscape. Two award finalist badges are displayed, including Finalist for Excellence in Young Adult Nonfiction from YALSA-ALA and National Book Award Finalist.

THE UNBOXING OF A BLACK GIRL BY ANGELA SHANTÉ

This book illuminates the places where Black girls are nurtured or boxed in, through stories and poems about expectations, exploitation, love, loss, and self-realization. Her poems center on pivotal moments of Black childhood, using footnotes that encourage you to further contextualize and celebrate Black culture. Between fond memories, Shante also explores dark corners of childhood, showing us the ways adultification, misogynoir, and sexual assault impact girlhood.

Book cover of "The Fourteenth Amendment and the Fight for Equality." Diverse crowd with protest signs marches on a U.S. flag path, conveying activism and unity. The font is in varying shades of blue, red, and white.

WHOSE RIGHT IS IT? THE FOURTEENTH AMENDMENT AND THE FIGHT FOR EQUALITY BY HANA BAJRAMOVIC

Since the ratification of the 14th Amendment, Americans have been guaranteed equal protection under the law. But these protections haven’t always been inclusive. Critical Supreme Court decisions regarding abortion, affirmative action, immigration, and LGBTQ+ rights have been hotly debated, and the roll backs to protections have called into question its usefulness as a tool in the fight for equality. Featuring historical photos and informative graphics, this book shows a new generation of activists what the fight for equality across race, sexuality, gender, and citizenship might look like in the future.

RACIAL BIAS: IS CHANGE POSSIBLE? BY BARBARA DIGGS

Racial bias, particularly implicit racial bias, is an insidious harm affecting people of color in virtually every area of life. This book examines the factors that give rise to implicit racial bias, the damage it causes, whether we can change, and what we can do.

Bold text cover reading, "Everything I Learned About Racism I Learned in School" in alternating black and white on an orange background. Author Tiffany Jewell is listed as the #1 New York Times bestselling author of This Book is Anti-Racist.

EVERYTHING I LEARNED ABOUT RACISM I LEARNED IN SCHOOL BY TIFFANY JEWELL

Following author Tiffany Jewell from early elementary through college, as well as personal stories from other Black and Brown authors, this narrative unpacks the history of systemic racism in the American educational system and provides young folks with the context to think critically about and chart their own course through education.

Illustrated book cover of "Days of Infamy" shows three somber figures, two boys and a girl, near barbed wire. Mountains and birds in a cloudy sky. The font is in white, grey, and red. In the upper left corner is a tan circle with the words "true stories in focus."

DAYS OF INFAMY HOW A CENTURY OF BIGOTRY LED TO JAPANESE AMERICAN INTERNMENT BY LAWRENCE GOLDSTONE

3 years after Pearl Harbor, Executive Order 9066 enabled the mass deportation of 100,000+ Americans to concentration camps. They were torn from their homes, jobs, schools, and communities, and deposited in makeshift housing behind barbed wire. Due to their Japanese descent, they were labeled spies and saboteurs who deserved to have their constitutional rights stripped away.

YA Nonfiction Antiracism

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Genevievre Wood is a Senior Librarian at Richmond Public Library and the Coordinator for Young Adult Programs. She holds an MLIS from Syracuse University and is a former English and Creative Writing teacher, having taught middle school in Henrico County Public Schools. A native Richmonder, Genevievre is passionate about giving back to her community by overseeing clubs for teens, sharing resources, organizing workshops, and developing partnerships with youth organizations across the city. In her free time, Genevievre loves exploring international markets, trying new recipes, traveling, mood reading, collecting vinyl records, spending time outside, and crafting.

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