Kid Activists: True Tales of Childhood from Champions of Change

Gr 4-7–The latest installment in the “Kid Legends” series continues to make the stories of important figures accessible to a new audience. Stevenson highlights many figures for whom there are few youth resources available, including Janet Mock, James Baldwin, and Autumn Peltier, as well as names that often appear on juvenile biography shelves, like Alexander Hamilton and Rosa Parks. Stevenson does not shy away from topics such as racism, homophobia, or transphobia and uses plain language and simple descriptions to examine the oppression and discrimination the activists faced in their youth. Steinfeld’s illustrations on nearly every page complement each chapter, making this an excellent choice for fans of illustrated series like Julie Falatko’s “Two Dogs in a Trench Coat” or Jeff Kinney’s “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” who may not otherwise have interest in nonfiction.