At a time when fewer books about resistance and protests are being published, it’s vital to remember the books published in the recent past that will help children and teens learn about, understand, and process their own calling to be a part of the resistance. As we say here in Minnesota, “We understand the assignment.”
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The Boy Who Dared
written by Susan Campbell Bartoletti
Scholastic Press, 2008
In this novel, 16-year-old Helmut Hubner listens to the BBC news on an illegal short-wave radio. He quickly discovers Germany is lying to the people. But when he tries to expose the truth with leaflets, he’s tried for treason. Sentenced to death and waiting in a jail cell, Helmut’s story emerges in a series of flashbacks that show his growth from a naïve child caught up in the patriotism of the times, to a sensitive and mature young man who thinks for himself.
Champ:
A Powerful Story
of Resistance and Courage
written by Payam Ebrahimi
illustrated by Reza Dalvand
Greystone Kids, 2024
Written and illustrated by two celebrated Iranian creators, Champ is a book for anyone who marches to the beat of their own drum: for the artists in a science family, or the readers in a sports family. It is a book for those around the world who have resisted and continue to do so, no matter what.
Enough!
20+ Protesters Who Changed America
written by Emily Easton
illustrated by Ziyue Chen
Crown Books for Young Readers, 2018
Updated edition 2021
America has been molded and shaped by those who have taken a stand and said they have had enough, from Samuel Adams to Colin Kaepernick. Readers can stand alongside the nation’s most iconic civil and human rights leaders, whose brave actions rewrote history.
Finish the Fight
written by Veronica Chambers
illustrated by
Versify, 2020
Untold stories of diverse heroines who fought for the 19th amendment — celebrate the historic win for women’s rights and voting rights that changed the fabric of America. We know a few famous names, like Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, but what about so many others from diverse backgrounds — black, Asian, Latinx, Native American, and more — who helped lead the fight for suffrage? On the hundredth anniversary of the historic win for women’s rights, it’s time to celebrate the names and stories of the women whose stories have yet to be told.
Freedom’s Children: Young Civil Rights Activists Tell Their Own Stories
written by Ellen Levine
Penguin Books, 2000
In this inspiring collection of true stories, thirty African-Americans who were children or teenagers in the 1950s and 1960s talk about what it was like for them to fight segregation in the South-to sit in an all-white restaurant and demand to be served, to refuse to give up a seat at the front of the bus, to be among the first to integrate the public schools, and to face violence, arrest, and even death for the cause of freedom.
Girls Resist! A Guide to Activism, Leadership and Starting a Revolution
written by KaeLyn Rich
illustrated by Giulia Sagramola
Quirk Books, 2018
An activism handbook for teen girls ready to fight for change, social justice, and equality. In-depth guides to everything from picking a cause, planning a protest, and raising money to running dispute-free meetings, promoting awareness on social media, and being an effective ally. Veteran feminist organizer KaeLyn Rich shares tons of expertise that’ll inspire you as much as it teaches you the ropes
I am Malala: How One Girl Stood Up for Education and Changed the World
written by Malala Yousafzai
with Patricia McCormick
young readers edition, Little, Brown, 2014
Raised in a once-peaceful area of Pakistan transformed by terrorism, Malala was taught to stand up for what she believes. So she fought for her right to be educated. And on October 9, 2012, she nearly lost her life for the cause: She was shot point-blank while riding the bus on her way home from school. No one expected her to survive. Now Malala is an international symbol of peaceful protest and the youngest ever Nobel Peace Prize winner.
Kid Activists: True Tales of Childhood from Champions of Change
written by Robin Stevenson
illustrated by Allison Steinfeld
Quirk Books, 2019
Every activist started out as a kid — and in some cases they were kids when their activism began! But even the world’s greatest champions of civil liberties had relatable interests and problems — often in the middle of extraordinary circumstances. Include Ruby Bridges, Dolores Huerta, Iqbal Masih, Harvey Milk, Janet Mock, Autumn Peltier, and more.
Kids on Strike: The True Story of Young Activists and Child Labor in 20th Century America
written by Susan Campbell Bartoletti
Clarion Books, 2003
By the early 1900s, nearly two million children were working in the United States. From the coal mines of Pennsylvania to the cotton mills of New England, children worked long hours every day under stunningly inhumane conditions. After years and years of oppression, children began to organize and make demands for better wages, fairer housing costs, and safer working environments. Some strikes led by young people were successful; some were not. Some strike stories are shocking, some are heartbreaking, and many are inspiring — but all are a testimony to the strength of mind and spirit of the children who helped build American industry.
Let the Children March
written by Monica Clark-Robinson
illustrated by Frank Morrison
Clarion Books, 2018
n 1963 Birmingham, Alabama, thousands of African American children volunteered to march for their rights after hearing Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. speak. They protested the laws that kept black people separate from white people. Facing fear, hate, and danger, these children used their voices to change the world.
March: Book One
written by John Lewis, Andrew Aydin
illustrated by Nate Powell
Top Shelf Productions, 2016
March is a vivid first-hand account of John Lewis’ lifelong struggle for civil and human rights, meditating in the modern age on the distance traveled since the days of Jim Crow and segregation. Rooted in Lewis’ personal story, it also reflects on the highs and lows of the broader civil rights movement. This trilogy was bestowed with many awards.
Marika Marches for Equality
written by Salima Alikhan
illustrated by Andrea Rossetto
Smithsonian Historical Fiction
Stone Arch Books, 2021
In 1970 thirteen-year-old Marika dreams of going to Harvard to study economics, but her parents both believe that a woman’s place is in the home; Marika does not understand why they are so attached to “traditional values,” especially since they defied convention when they were married at a time when interracial marriages were illegal in many states – so Marika defies her parents and joins her Black friend, Beth, and her parents and attends the Women’s Strike for Equality without permission.
Never Too Young! 50 Unstoppable Kids Who Made a Difference
written by Aileen Weintraub
illustrated by Laura Horton
Union Square Kids, 2018
From Picasso, who changed the art world forever, to Malala Yousafzai, the brave teen who was shot for advocating education for girls, the 50 kids profiled in Never Too Young! will inspire and empower young readers. Some, like Anne Frank, Ruby Bridges, and Stevie Wonder, are prominent figures, while others are lesser known though their achievements are just as compelling. They come from a variety of historical periods and backgrounds, and have made an impact in politics, sports, the arts, science, and more.
Peaceful Fights for Equal Rights
written by Rob Sanders
illustrated by Jared Andrew Schorr
Simon & Schuster, 2018
Protesting. Standing up for what’s right. Uniting around the common good — kids have questions about all of these things they see and hear about each day. Through sparse and lyrical writing, Rob Sanders introduces abstract concepts like “fighting for what you believe in” and turns them into something actionable.
Putting Peace First: 7 Commitments to Change the World
written by Eric David Dawson
Viking Books for Young Readers, 2018
When he was just eighteen, Eric David Dawson co-founded the non-profit Peace First based on the idea that young people can change the world for the better – not someday, but right now. Twenty-five years later, Peace First has reached millions worldwide, teaching young people how to become peacemakers and create real change. This is the handbook every aspiring peacemaker needs.
Resist: 40 Profiles of
Ordinary People Who Rose Up
Against Tyranny and Injustice
written by Veronica Chambers
foreword by Cory Booker
illustrated by Paul Ryding
HarperCollins, 2018
You may only be one person, but you have the power to change the world. Before they were activists, they were just like you and me. From Frederick Douglass to Malala Yousafzai, Joan of Arc to John Lewis, Susan B. Anthony to Janet Mock — these remarkable figures show us what it means to take a stand and say no to injustice, even when it would be far easier to stay quiet.
Resist! Peaceful Acts
That Changed Our World
written and illustrated by Diane Stanley
Neal Porter Books, 2020
A collection of 21 brief but comprehensive essays accompanied by striking artwork and rich supplementary material by Diane Stanley, reminds us of the activists who came before: the men and women who have used peaceful resistance and non-violent protests to make their voices heard.
Resist
written by Allan Gratz
Scholastic Press, 2025
Samira Zidane lives in Nazi-occupied France during World War II. She and her mother are spies for the underground resistance. They crack codes and trade messages that will help sabotage the Nazis’ plans. When her mother is captured by enemy soldiers, Samira must travel through the war-torn countryside on a desperate and daring rescue mission. And today just happens to be D‑Day. Can she find a way to save her mother before time runs out?
Resistance
written by Jennifer A. Neilsen
Scholastic Press, 2024
Chaya Lindner is a teenager living in Nazi-occupied Poland. Simply being Jewish places her in danger of being killed or sent to the camps. After her little sister is taken away, her younger brother disappears, and her parents all but give up hope, Chaya is determined to make a difference. Using forged papers and her fair features, Chaya becomes a courier and travels between the Jewish ghettos of Poland, smuggling food, papers, and even people. Soon Chaya joins a resistance cell that runs raids on the Nazis’ supplies. Though the Jewish resistance never had much of a chance against the Nazis, they were determined to save as many lives as possible, and to live — or die — with honor.
Resistance: Book 1
written by Carla Jablonski
illustrated by Leland Purvis
First Second, 2010
Paul and Marie’s bucolic French country town is almost untouched by the ravages of WWII, but the siblings still live in the shadow of war. Their father is a Prisoner of War, kept hostage by the Germans. When their friend Henri’s parents disappear and Henri goes into hiding because of his Jewish ancestry, Paul and Marie realize they must take a stand. But how can they convince the French Resistance that even children can help in their fight against injustice?
The Samosa Rebellion
written by Shanthi Sekaran
HarperCollins, 2021
A timely and stunning novel in which a young boy and his friends must rescue his grandmother from a relocation camp after their country’s descent into xenophobia. While devising Paati’s escape, Muki discovers that a secret rebellion is underway, and as he digs deeper, he realizes that rescuing Paati will be the fight of his life.
Sarah Rising
written by Ty Chapman
illustrated by DeAnn Wiley
Beaming Books, 2022
Inspired by the protests that happened during the Minneapolis Uprising after the police killing of George Floyd, Sarah Rising provides a child’s-eye view of a protest and offers an opportunity for children to talk about why people take to the streets to protest racial injustice. Readers will gain a new appreciation for how important it is to be part of a community of people who protect each other.
Separate is Never Equal:
Sylvia Mendez and Her
Family’s Fight for Desegregation
written and illustrated by Duncan Tonatiuh
Harry N. Abrams, 2014
When her family moved to the town of Westminster, California, young Sylvia Mendez was excited about enrolling in her neighborhood school. But she and her brothers were turned away and told they had to attend the Mexican school instead. Sylvia could not understand why — she was an American citizen who spoke perfect English. Why were the children of Mexican families forced to attend a separate school?
Small Shoes, Great Strides:
How Three Brave Girls Opened Doors
to School Equality
written by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson
illustrated by Alex Bostic
Carolrhoda Books, 2023
Escorted by U.S. Marshals and facing swarms of shouting protestors, they became the first children in New Orleans to integrate a previously all-white school, just ten minutes before Ruby Bridges. Like Ruby, the trio faced crowds of protestors fighting against public school desegregation efforts and relied on US Marshals to keep them safe. That day was just the beginning of their journey.
Nelson conducted extensive interviews to bring this little-known story from the Civil Rights Movement to young readers. With vivid illustrations by fine artist Alex Bostic that highlight courage and determination, this book celebrates how three little girls made great strides to ensure all children could receive the education they deserve.
Sometimes People March
written and illustrated by Tessa Allen
Clarion Books, 2020
Sometimes people march
to resist injustice,
to stand in solidarity,
to inspire hope.
Throughout American history, one thing remains true: no
matter how or why people march, they are powerful because they march together.
Until Someone Listens: A Story about Borders, Family, and One Girl’s Mission
Estela Juarez with Lissette Norman
illus by Teresa Martínez
Roaring Brook Press, 2022
For years her family fought for permission for her to stay in the U.S. But no one listened. When Estela was eight, her mother was deported to Mexico.
Estela had to do something. She wrote letters to local newspapers, Congress, the President, and anyone else who could help. She wrote until someone listened. An autobiographical story, Estela Juarez’s letters take her from the local news all the way to the national stage, where she discovers the power in her words and pledges to keep using her voice until her family―and others like hers― are together again.
We Miss You, George Floyd
written by Shannon Gibney
illustrated by Leeya Rose Jackson
University of Minnesota Press, 2024
In this candid and powerful book, a young girl hears about an unfolding tragedy in her neighborhood. It’s on the news, on the radio, and talked about in her community. She learns of the murder of George Floyd — and about who he was. As she tries to reckon with the senseless violence of his killing, she finds solace at George Floyd Square. The space is filled with the art of protest and resistance, and she is moved to create her own signs and drawings, lifting her voice to harmonize with the outpouring: “We miss you, George Floyd.”
We Will Not Be Silent: The White Rose Student Resistance Movement That Defied Adolf Hitler
written by Russell Freedman
Clarion Books, 2016
Austrian-born Hans Scholl and his sister Sophie belonged to Hitler Youth as young children, but they began to doubt the Nazi régime. As older students, the Scholls and a few friends formed the White Rose, a campaign of active resistance to Hitler and the Nazis. Risking imprisonment or even execution, the White Rose members distributed leaflets urging Germans to defy the Nazi government. Their belief that freedom was worth dying for will inspire young readers to stand up for what they believe in.
We Rise, We Resist,
We Raise Our Voices
edited by Wade Hudson
and Cheryl Willis Hudson
Crown Books for Young Readers, 2018
Fifty of the foremost diverse children’s authors and illustrators — including Jason Reynolds, Jacqueline Woodson, and Kwame Alexander — share answers to the question, “In this divisive world, what shall we tell our children?” What do we tell our children when the world seems bleak, and prejudice and racism run rampant? With 96 lavishly designed pages of original art and prose, fifty diverse creators lend voice to young activists.