Parents' Guide to

Love Is a Revolution

By Barbara Saunders, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 13+

Charming story of teen trying on new identities.

Book Renée Watson Family Life 2021
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A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

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age 12+

Based on 1 parent review

Jeanne W.
Jeanne W. Parent of 11 and 13-year-old
April 14, 2022
age 12+

Charming coming of age

This book felt charming and true to life as it avoids some of the cliches you'd expect in a YA romance and veers more towards coming of age. It focuses on the evolving relationships in 17 year old Nala's life as she navigates the summer. It showcases Nala's changing relationship with her self, her family, her social world, and a romantic interest. She's a fully 3D character, with failings, strengths, agency, and her own point of view. I recommended it to my 13 year old. An 18 year old male who was listening to the audiobook in the car with me even showed interest! There's nothing objectionable here for a 12 year old, but my kids aren't interested in romance/coming of age stories yet at that age.

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
See all 1 parent review

What's the Story?

When LOVE IS A REVOLUTION begins, 17-year-old Nala and her cousin and best friend Imani are headed out for one of the first parties of the summer. Nala lives with Imani and her parents after a falling out with Nala's mother. Lately, Imani and Nala have drifted apart. Imani has a boyfriend, and she's deeply involved with her circle of friends from Inspire Harlem, a youth group Nala has no interest in joining. Nala's goal for the summer is to find love, and she finds it with Tye. To impress him she lies about being involved in community service work and even pretends to be a vegetarian. Over the course of the summer, Nala's relationships evolve -- with her cousin, her boyfriend, her family, and most important, herself.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: (1):
Kids say: Not yet rated

This charming book is a good match for teens whose interests straddle the YA and middle grade worlds. Renée Watson's Love Is a Revolution places a girl with a young teen mentality into an older teen setting (activism, parties). Though the main character gets the boyfriend she wants, she's mostly preoccupied with her changing relationship with the cousin whose family she lives with, her difficult relationship with her mother after she left home, and absorbing the wisdom of her 80-something grandma.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the theme of being yourself in Love Is a Revolution. Have you ever pretended to be something you're not to win someone's love or approval?

  • Do you work for any causes? What are they?

  • Is there a family member you have an especially close relationship with? How do you connect?

Book Details

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