We Rise, We Resist, We Raise Our Voices
By Jan Carr,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Inspiring advice from diverse authors and illustrators.
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What's the Story?
WE RISE, WE RESIST, WE RAISE OUR VOICES is a compilation of 30 pieces created by authors and illustrators of different backgrounds, each offering advice, guidance, and reassurance for kids living in turbulent times.
Is It Any Good?
This encouraging treasury of pieces by diverse writers and illustrators offers concrete advice to kids living in difficult times. Some of the pieces in We Rise, We Resist, We Raise Our Voices focus on very specific issues. Eleanora E. Tate talks about having dark brown skin, and how to rise above people who belittle you. Hena Khan discusses what to do if you're Muslim and people call you a terrorist. One story's narrated by a kid whose father is seized and deported by ICE. Some writers tie events today to historical ones, like slavery or Jim Crow laws, making the point that troubling times have long existed, and others have found ways to resist and usher in positive change.
Some of the most effective pieces address kids directly, as if writer and reader are in cozy conversation. Sharon G. Flake writes a letter to kids and signs it, "Your fan and cheerleader." Tonya Bolden urges kids to make small, manageable changes, like "compliment someone on an outfit or hairdo, congratulate a friend on a victory," acts that are easily within a kid's grasp. The message to readers is that they're not alone; the book connects them to larger communities, to elders with experience and good counsel. And it offers hope. As poet Marilyn Nelson tells kids, "Today's acts of good will change tomorrow ... good is in control, and good will win."
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the advice in We Rise, We Resist, We Raise Our Voices. Do any of the pieces address issues you've been worried about? What advice or observations do you think might be most helpful?
Have you ever read a book before that has separate contributions by different authors and illustrators? Did you read the pieces in order, or did you dip into different parts that struck you as interesting? Do you think you'll go back and read any again?
If you had the opportunity to give advice and support to others, what would you want to tell them? Can you write a letter or poem or story that might help or inspire others?
Book Details
- Authors: Wade Hudson , Cheryl Willis Hudson
- Genre: Advice
- Topics: Activism , Great Boy Role Models , Great Girl Role Models , History
- Book type: Non-Fiction
- Publisher: Crown Books for Young Readers
- Publication date: September 4, 2018
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 8 - 12
- Number of pages: 96
- Available on: Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Last updated: February 10, 2020
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