Join us for a fun, thought provoking, and engaging book club where we meet every two weeks to discuss award winning books of varying genres about contemporary societal issues. I believe that using books to discuss contemporary societal issues allows for hard but necessary conversations to take place. Students will learn what it means to explore issues through the lens of social justice. Exploring books through a social justice lens requires students to apply critical thinking in authentic scenarios and make connections to real-world challenges.I will lead a round-table discussion for each book we read and every student in the class will have an opportunity to share their opinion with their peers. Students in the class will be asked to think about what they read, form an opinion on what they read, and then share that opinion with others. I will foster an environment in which differing opinions are valued and students feel comfortable sharing their ideas.

***Please look up the books prior to enrolling your student to make sure the choices will be a good match for your student and your family. These books address sensitive issues and may contain content and language that some families find inappropriate. I encourage you to read reviews of the books before enrolling. These books are all Young Adult books most appropriate for grades 8 and up.*** 

Book List - This list has been carefully curated to cover a variety of social justice issues and to expand the students' knowledge of social justice, as well expose them to a variety of genres and styles of writing.
***please refer to section/meeting dates to see when each book will be read***
Book 1: The 57 Bus: A True Story of Two Teenagers and the Crime That Changed Their Lives by Dashka Slater (Genre: nonfiction) (Issues: gender identity, race, justice system, and class)
Book 2: Citizen Illegal by José Olivarez (Genre: Poetry) (Issues: race, ethnicity, gender, class, and immigration) 
Book 3: The Disturbed Girl's Dictionary by NoNieqa Ramos (Genre: Fiction) (Issues: incarceration, at-risk youth, mental health, class, race)
Book 4: The Miseducation of Cameron Post by Emily Danforth (Genre: Fiction) (Issues: LGBTQ, religion)
Book 5: A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier by Ishmael Beah (Genre: Nonfiction) (Issues: child soldiers, war)
Book 6: How It Went Down by Kekla Magoon (Genre: Fiction) (Issues: racism, criminal justice system)
Book 7: Watch Us Rise by Renee Watson (Genre: Fiction) (Issue: feminism)
Book 8: American Street by Ibi Zoboi (Genre: Fiction) (Issues: immigration, assimilation, violence)
Book 9: How I Resist: Activism and Hope for a New Generation (Genre: Nonfiction) (Issues: This one has it all!)

Section: Wednesdays at 9pm EST - beginning Sept 9th
Sept 9 - Introduction to Social Justice, Read Aloud Text, Intro to first book
Sept 23 - Book 1
Oct 7 - Book 2
Oct 21 - Book 3
Nov 4 - Book 4
Nov 18 - Book 5
Dec 2 - Book 6
Dec 16 - Book 7
Jan 2 - Book 8
Jan 20 - Book 9

Section: Wednesdays at 9pm EST - beginning Jan 13th
Jan 27 - Introduction to Social Justice, Read Aloud Text, Intro to first book
Feb 10 - Book 1
Feb 24 - Book 2
Mar 10 - Book 3
Mar 24 - Book 4
Apr 7 - Book 5
Apr 21 - Book 6
May 5 - Book 7
May 26 - Book 8
June 9 - Book 9


This class is ongoing and learners may enroll at anytime. Students will have two weeks to read each book (unless you join late). If you need to skip a class it is up to the learner's parent to pause the subscription.