Know Your Rights and Claim Them: A Guide for Youth

Gr 7 Up–This book uses the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, a document outlining children’s rights, as a launching point for educating young activists. Readers will learn about the history of children’s rights, the articles of the UN’s Convention, and how to claim specific rights. The second and largest section of the book explains the articles of the UN’s Convention through the actual text, interpretations of each article in various regions of the world, and personal stories of renowned young activists. These stories will surely inspire young people to advocate for their own passions. The third section of the book lays out practical steps that youth can follow to make progress toward their cause. The short subsections and easy-to-follow writing style make this an engaging book that will excite readers to take action. Black-and-white photos put a face to the personal stories and connect readers to reformists around the world. Defined terms, a list of useful organizations, and source notes provide paths for further research. This is an excellent book for teens and socially conscious educators and club leaders.