Raising Activists: 100+ Books to Read in K-12

K-5 Biographies

1. Anaya, R. (2000). Elegy on the Death of Cesar Chavez. Illustrated by G. Enrique. El Paso, TX: Cinco Puntos Press.
2. Brown, Monica. (2009). Side by Side/Lado a Lado: The Story of Dolores Huerta and Cesar Chavez/La Historia de Dolores Huerta y Cesar Chavez.  Illustrated by Joe Cepeda. New York: HarperCollins.
3. Bruchac, Joseph. (2006). Crazy Horse's Vision. Illustrated by S.D. Nelson.  New York: Lee and Low Books. 
4. Bruchac, Joseph. (1998). A Boy Called Slow. Illustrated by Rocco Baviera. New York: Puffin.
5. Capaldi, Gina. (2011).  Red Bird Sings: The Story of Zitkala-Ša, Native American Author, Musician, and Activist. Illustrated by Q.L. Pearce. Minneapolis, MN:  Millbrook Press.  
6. Chin-Lee, Cynthia. (2008). Akira to Zoltan: Twenty-Six Men Who Changed the World. Illustrated by Megan Halsey & Sean Addy. Watertown, MA: Charlesbridge.
7. Chin-Lee, Cynthia. (2006).  Amelia to Zora: Twenty-Six Women Who Changed the World. Illustrated by Megan Halsey & Sean Addy.  Watertown, MA: Charlesbridge.
8. Demi. (2001). Gandhi. New York: Margaret McElderry.
9. Dray, Philip. (2008). Yours for Justice, Ida B. Wells: The Daring Life of a Crusading Journalist. Illustrated by Stephen Alcorn. Atlanta, GA: Peachtree Publishers. 
10. Gandhi, Arun & Bethany Hegedus. (2014). Grandfather Gandhi. Illustrated by Evan Turk. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers.
11. Giovanni, Nikki. (2005). Rosa. Illustrated by Bryan Collier. New York: Henry Holt.
12. Haskins, Jim. (2008). Delivering Justice: W.W. Law and the Fight for Civil Rights. Illustrated by Benny Andrews. New York: Lee & Low Books.
13. Hoose, Philip. (2010). Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice. New York: Square Fish.
14. Johnson, Jen Cullerton. (2010). Seeds of Change: Planting a Path To Peace. Illustrated by Sonia Lynn Sadler. New York: Lee & Low Books.
15. Krakow, Kari. (2002). The Harvey Milk Story. Illustrated by David Gardner. Two Lives Publishing.
16. Krasner, Barbara. (2014). Goldie Takes a Stand: Golda Meir’s First Crusade. Illustrated by Kelsey Garrity-Riley. Minneapolis, MN: Kar-Ben Publishing.
17. Krull, Kathleen. (2003). Harvesting Hope: The Story of Cesar Chavez. Illustrated by Yuyi Morales. New York: HMH Books for Young Readers. 
18. Levinson, Cynthia. (2012).  We've Got a Job: The 1963 Birmingham Children's March. Atlanta, GA: Peachtree Publishers.
19. McGinty, Alice B. (2013). Gandhi: A March to the Sea. Illustrated by Thomas Gonzalez. Two Lions.
20. Myers, Walter Dean. (2012). I've Seen the Promised Land: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Illustrated by Leonard Jenkins. New York: Amistad.
21. Myers, Walter Dean. (2003). Malcolm X: A Fire Burning Brightly. Illustrated by Leonard Jenkins. New York: Amistad.
22. Nelson, Kadir. (2013). Nelson Mandela. New York: Katherine Tegen Books.
23. Nivola, Claire. (2008). Planting the Trees of Kenya: the Story of Wangari Maathai. New York: Frances Foster Books.
24. Pickney, Nekisha & Noah Rattler. (2014).  Noah's Walk: A 1,800 Mile Journey Raising the Awareness of Homelessness. Illustrated by Thaddeus Lavalais. Creative Space.
25. Pinkney, Andrea Davis. (2013). Martin & Mahalia: His Word, Her Songs. Illustrated by Brian Pinkney. New York: Little, Brown.
26. Pinkney, Andrea Davis. (2013). Profiles #6: Peace Warriors. New York: Scholastic. (Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Dalai Lama, Desmond Tutu, Dorothy Day, and Ellen Sirleaf Johnson)
27. Pinkney, Andrea Davis. (2013). Let It Shine: Stories of Black Women Freedom Fighters. Illustrated by Stephan Alcorn. New York: Harcourt.
28. Ransom, C. (1993). Listening to Crickets: A Story About Rachel Carson. Illustrated by S.O. Haas. New York: Scholastic.
29. Rappaport, Doreen. (2009). Eleanor, Quiet No More. Illustrated by Gary Kelley. New York: Hyperion.
30. Ray, Deborah Kogan. (2013). Paiute Princess: The Story of Sarah Winnemucca. New york: Farra, Straus & Giroux.
31. Rochelle, Belinda. (1997). Witnesses to Freedom: Young People Who Fought for Civil Rights. New York: Puffin.
32. Rohmer, Harriet. (2010). Heroes of the Environment: True Stories of People Who Are Helping to Protect Our Planet. Illustrated by Julie McLaughlin. San Francisco, CA Chronicle Books.
33. Stone, Tanya Lee. (2010). Elizabeth Leads the Way: Elizabeth Cady Stanton and the Right to Vote. Illustrated by Rebecca Gibbon. New York: Henry Holt.
34. Sundem, Garth. (2010). Real Kid, Real Stories, Real Change: Courageous Actions Around the World. Minneapolis, MN: Free Spirit Publishing. 
35. Tarfolla, Carmen & Sharyll Teneyuca. (2008). That's Not Fair! / No Es Justo!: Emma Tenayuca's Struggle for Justice/La lucha de Emma Tenayuca por la justicia. Illustrated by Terry Ybanez.  San Antonio, TX: Wings Press.
36. Tonatiuh, Duncan. (2014). Separate Is Never Equal: Sylvia Mendez and Her Family’s Fight for Desegregation. New York: Abrams.
37. Warren, Sarah E. (2012). Dolores Huerta: A Hero to Migrant Workers. Illustrated by Robert Casilla. Tarrytown, NY: Two Lions.
38. Winter, Jeanette. (2014). Malala, A Brave Gril from Pakistan/Iqbal, A Brave Boy from Pakistan. New York: Beach Lane Books.
39. Winter, Jeanette. (2009). Nasreen's Secret School: A True Story from Afghanistan . Orlando, FL: Harcourt.
40. Winter, Jeanette. (2005). The Librarian of Basra. Orlando, FL: Harcourt.
41. Winter, Jonah. (2009). Sonia Sotomayor: A Judge Grows in the Bronx / La juez que crecio en el Bronx. Illustrated by Edel Rodriguez. New York: Atheneum.
42. Wishinsky, Freida. (2012). Profile #4: Freedom Heroines. New York: Scholastic. (Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Ida B. Wells, Alice Paul, Rosa Parks, and Jane Addams.) 
43. Yoo, Paula. (2014). Twenty-two Cents: The Story of Muhammad Yunus. Illustrated by Jamel Akib. New York: Lee & Low Books.

from Yellow Umbrella

People Who Stand Up: Picture Books

1. Brown, Don. (2004). Kid Blink Beats the World. New York Roaring Brook Press.
2. Brun-Cosme, Nadine. (2009). Big Wolf, Little Wolf. Illustrated by Oliver Talec. Brooklyn, NY: Enchanted Lion Books,
3. Cohn, Diana. (2005). ¡Si, Se Puede! / Yes, We Can!: Janitor Strike in L.A. Illustrated by Francisco Delgado. El Paso, TX: Cinco Puntos Press.
4. Cronin, Doreen. (2011). Click Clack Moo: Cows that Type.  Illustrated by Betsy Lewin. New York: Little Simon.
5. Evan, Shane W. (2012). We March. New York: Roaring Brook Press.
6. Hopkins, H. Joseph. (2013). The Tree Lady: The True Story of How One Tree-Loving Woman Changed a City Forever. Illustrated by Jill McElmurry. New York: Beach Lane Books.
7. Kurusa. (2008). The Streets are Free. Illustrated by Monika Doppert. Buffalo, NY: Annick Press.
8. Landowne, Youme. (2004). Selavi, That is Life: A Haitian Story of Hope. El Paso, TX: Cinco Puntos Press.
9. Markel, Michelle. (2013). Brave Girl: Clara and the Shirtwaist Makers' Strike of 1909. Illustrated by Melissa Sweet. New York: Balzer + Bray.
10. McKissick, Patricia. (2008). Stitchin' and Pullin': Gee's Bend Quilt. Illustrated by Cozbi A. Cabrera. New York: Random House Books for Young Readers.
11. Mickenburg, Julia L. & Philip Nel. (Eds.)  (2010). Tales for Little Rebels: A Collection of Radical Children's Literature. New York: New York University Press.
12. Muth, Jon.(2003).  Stone Soup. New York: Scholastic.
13. Pinborough, Jan. (2013). Miss More Thought Otherwise: How Anne Carroll Moore Created Libraries for Children. Illustrated by Debby Atwell. New York: HMH Books for Young Readers.
14. Pinkney, Andrea Davis. (2010). Sit-In: How Four Friends Stood Up by Sitting Down. Illustrated by Brian Pinkney. New York: Little, Brown Books.
15. Rodriguez, Luis J. (2004). It Doesn't Have to Be This Way / No tiene que ser asi: A Barrio Story/Una historia del barrio. Illustrated by Daniel Galvez. New York: Lee & Low Books.
16. Shange, Ntozake. (2012). Freedom's a-Callin Me. Illustrated by Rod Brown. New York: Amistad.
17. Shange, Ntozake. (2009). We Trouble the Waters. Illustrated by Rod Brown. New York: Amistad.
18. Shange, Ntozake. (2004). Ellington was Not a Street. Illustrated by Kadir Nelson. New York: Simon & Schuster.
19. Shapiro, J.H. (2011). Magic Trash: The Story of Tyree Guyton and His Art. Watertown, MA: Charlesbridge. 
20. Skarmeta, Anthony. (2003). The Composition. Illustrated by Alfonnso Ruano. Toronto, ON: Groundwood Books.
21. Waddell, Martin. (1996). Farmer Duck. Illustrated by Helen Ozenbury. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Books.
22. Weatherford, Carole Boston. (2007). Freedom on the Menu: The Greensboro Sit-Ins. Illustrated by Jerome Lagarrigue. New York: Puffin.

Informational Texts About Activism

1. Bolden Tonya. (Ed.). (2002). 33 Things Every Girl Should Know About Women's History: From Suffragettes to Skirt Lengths to the E.R.A. New York: Crown Books for Young Readers
2. Bouler, Olivia. (2011). Olivia's Birds: Saving the Gulf. New York: Sterling.
3. Featherstone, Liz & united Students Against Sweatshops. (2002). Students Against Sweatshops: The Making of a Movement.  New York: Verso.
4. Freedman, Russell. (2014). Because they Marched: The People's Campaign for Voting Rights That Changed America. New York: Holiday House.
5. Heagney, Brian. (2010). ABCs of Anarchy. Open Source.
6. Levine, Elaine. Nagara, Innosanto. (2013). A is for Activist. Seven Stories Press.
7. Lewis, Barbara A. (2008). The Teen Guide to Global Action: How to Connect with Others (Near & Far) to Create Social Change. Minneapolis, MN: Free Spirit Publishing.
8. Lewis, Barbara A. (1998). What Do You Stand For? For Teens: A Guide to Building Character. Minneapolis, MN: Free Spirit Publishing.
9. Martir,Vanessa,  Lublin, Nancy and Julia Steers. (2010). Do Something!: A Handbook for Young Activists.  New York: Workman Books.
10. Schlimm, John. (2013). Stand Up!: 75 Young Activists Who Rock the World and How You Can, Too! Orangevale, CA: Publishing Syndicate.
11. Seven, John & Jana Christy. (2012). A Rule Is To Break: A Child's Guide to Anarchy. North Adams, MA: Auntie Uncle Books.
12. Sluiter, Liesbeth. (2009). Clean Clothes: A Global Movement to End Sweatshops. New York: Pluto Press.
13. Takaki, Ronald. (2012). A Different Mirror for Young People: A History of Multicultural America. (Adapted by Rebecca Stefoff). New York: Seven Stories Press. 
14. Zinn, Howard.  (2009). A Young People's History of the United States: Columbus to the War on Terror.  New York: Seven Stories Press. 

Middle & High School Biographies/Memoir

1. Bernier-Grand, Carmen. (2011). César: ¡Sí Se Puede! Yes We Can!. Illustrated by David Diaz. Two Lions.
2. Bolden Tonya. (2008). W.E. B. DuBois. New York: Viking Juvenile.
3. Hoose,  (2009). Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux.
4. Levine, Ellen. (2000). Freedom's Children: Young Civil Rights Activists Tell Their Own Stories. New York: Puffin. 
5. Marrin, Albert. (2014). A Volcano Beneath the Snow: John Brown's War Against Slavery.  New York: Random House.
6. Myers, Walter Dean.  (2008). Ida B. Wells: Let the Truth Be Told. Illustrated by Bonnie Christensen. New York: Amistad.
7. Myers, Walter Dean. (1994). Malcolm X: By Any Means Necessary. New York: Scholastic.
8. Nelson, D.S. (2010). Black Elk's Vision: A Lakota Story. New York: Abrams.
9. Zenatti, Valerie. (2005). When I Was a Soldier. New York: Bloomsbury.

Characters Who Stand Up: Novels for Intermediate & Middle Grades (4-8)

1. Bondoux, Anne-Laure.  (2010). A Time of Miracles. Translated by Y. Maudet. New York: Delacorte Books.
2. Conkling, Winifred. (2013). Sylvia & Aki. New York: Random House.
3. D'Adamo, Francesco. (2005). Iqbal. New York: Aladdin.
4. de Graaf, Anne. (2012). Son of a Gun. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing.
5. Fitzhugh, Lousie. (2008). Nobody's Family is Gong to Change. New York: Square Fish.
6. French, S. Terrell. (2009). Operation Redwood. New York: Amulet Books/Abrams.
7. Funke, Cornelia. (2002). The Thief Lord. New York: Scholastic.
8. Hiassen, Carl. (2002). Hoot. New York: Knopf
9. Kadohata, Cynthia. (2011). A Million Shades of Gray. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers.
10. Mourlevat, Jean-Claude. (2006) The Pull of the Ocean. New York: Laurel Leaf.
11. Nussbaum, Susan. (2012). Good Kings Bad Kings: A Novel. Chapel Hill:NC: Algonquin Books.
12. Timberlake, Amy. (2006). That Girl Lucy Moon. New York: Hyperion.
13. Voorhoeve, Anne C. (2012). My Family for the War. New York: Dial.

Characters Who Stand Up: Novels &  Novels in Verse for Teens & Adults

1. Brink, Andre. (2013). A Dry White Season. New York: HarperCollins.
2. Cole, Marjorie Kowalski. (2006). Correcting the Landscape: A Novel. New York: Harper Perennial.
3. Danticat, Edwidge. (2003). The Farming of Bones. New York: Soho Press.
4. Lockhart, E. (2009). The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks. New York: Hyperion. 
5. Marquez, Gabriel Garcia. (2006).  The Autumn of the Patriarch. New York: HarperPerennial.
6. Newman, Leslea. (2012). October Mourning: A Song for Matthew Shepard. Somerville, MA: Candlewick. (Grades 7+)
7. Nobacon, Danbert. (2010). 3 Dead Princes: An Anarchist Fairy Tale. Ashland, OR: Exterminating Angel Press. 
8. Spiotta, Dana. (2006).  Eat the Document. New York: Scribner.
9. Steinbeck, John. (2006).  The Grapes of Wrath. New York: Penguin.
10. Steinbeck, John. (2006). In Dubious Battle. New York: Penguin.
11. Warren, Robert Penn. (1963/1996).  All the Kings Men. New York:  Bantam.
12. Winterson, Jeanette. (1987). The Passion. New York: Grove Press.