Book Recommendations for Activists

Hi! I’m Sidney Briggs, a junior at Westchester Country Day School. This is my first blog post, so I thought I’d tell you a little bit about myself. I’m a rower with Triad United Rowing Association, a political activist, a swimmer, and the leader of multiple clubs. Based on the fact that I am making this blog post, it can be deduced that I am an avid reader on top of all of this and a member of the Teen Advisory Council for Bookmarks. If asked what my favorite genre is, I probably wouldn’t be able to respond. I read a hodgepodge of different authors and genres including Stephen King, Agatha Christie, and Jane Austen. I also really enjoy political non-fiction books. Like many, my love for reading was spawned by reading Harry Potter starting in 1st grade (although I do not support the author anymore), followed by the Percy Jackson series, then the Hunger Games. My family and I (I’m the oldest of four) all enjoy reading, and we try to find time to do it as much as possible given our busy schedules.

As mentioned before, I am passionate about activism and my bookshelf reflects this. One of the best ways to start helping others is to educate yourself on different issues, so here are a few books that I recommend if you want to educate yourself to help make our world a better place:

1) The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

I read this book in 8th grade before the Black Lives Matter movement got a lot of attention, or if it did, I didn’t really understand what was going on, even if I should have. The Hate U Give opened up my eyes to the issue of police brutality and does a great job of helping one understand this part of America, especially if you’ve never experienced it firsthand. Full disclosure, there is a lot of profanity and suggestive content, but it is worth it to educate yourself.

2) I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou

In order to fix the future, we must first understand the past. Maya Angelou’s I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings describes the racism of the 30’s in the South with detail that really helps to convey what it felt like for a child during this time. Another profanity and suggestive content warning here, but,once again, it is worth it.

3) Parkland: Birth of a Movement by Dave Cullen

For activists looking to find a way to get started, Dave Cullen’s Parkland: Birth of a Movement is a great place to look. Dave Cullen has written other books about school shootings, but this book follows the journey of the activists that built a movement after this shooting. I personally was very inspired by the actions of these teenagers, and this book shows the ups and downs of being an activist. Along with this, it also sheds light on the issue of gun violence in America. Profanity warning here, but the only suggestive content is about the musical Spring Awakening.

4) My Beloved World by Sonia Sotomayor

My Beloved World is Sonia Sotomayor’s autobiography about her journey in becoming a Supreme Court Justice. It highlights the struggles of being a woman, Hispanic, and Latina in America’s institutions and also teaches about the process of becoming a Supreme Court Justice. The only warning for this book is that some of the court cases she describes are disturbing, but that is part of being a lawyer.

5) Refugee by Alan Gratz

Refugee has a really interesting dynamic of connecting three different stories of refugees across history. Although this piece of historical fiction is relatively short, Alan Gratz captivatingly provokes thought and empathy towards refugees moving for a better life. Immigration is a very hot topic, and this book is a good way of sparking an interest in helping immigrants.

I hope this book list sparks your interest in learning more about activism and issues that everyone should care about. As long as someone is being oppressed, everyone should be willing to help them. Thank you for your time, and keep reading!