Contemporary Books on Social Justice

Social justice is the pursuit of fairness in society based on the belief that all people deserve equal opportunities and rights. We curated the following study guide collection (including books for middle-grade and young adult readers) to help readers get the most out of books that cover contemporary issues and topics in social justice.

Confessions of the Fox

by Jordy Rosenberg

Publication year 2018

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Gender Identity, Sexual Identity, Social Class, Colonialism, Community

Tags Historical Fiction, Coming of Age, LGBTQ+, Social Class, Incarceration, Gender & Feminism, Love & Sexuality, Social Justice, Colonialism & Postcolonialism, World History

... Read Confessions of the Fox Summary

Count Me In

by Varsha Bajaj

Publication year 2019

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Fear, Shame & Pride, Race, Childhood & Youth, Objects & Materials, Friendship, Grandparents, Self Discovery, Community, Immigration, Art, Safety & Danger

Tags Children`s Literature, Social Justice, Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Arts & Culture

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Courtroom 302

by Steve Bogira

Publication year 2005

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Tags Politics & Government, Crime & Law, Mystery & Crime Fiction, Journalism, Sociology, World History, Social Justice

Steve Bogira’s nonfiction work Courtroom 302: A Year Behind the Scenes in an American Criminal Courthouse was published in 2005. Bogira, as a Chicago native and long-time writer for the Chicago Reader, is a social justice advocate and focuses much of his work on poverty and segregation. The work addresses themes of The Injustices of the US Justice System, The Prison-Industrial Complex, and The Influences of Corruption and Politics on Criminal Courts.Content Warning: The source... Read Courtroom 302 Summary

Crossed

by Ally Condie

Publication year 2011

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Perseverance, Hope, Love, Memory, Coming of Age, Death, Self Discovery, War, Art, Justice, Literature, Safety & Danger, Trust & Doubt, Truth & Lies, Science & Technology

Tags Science Fiction, Romance, Fantasy, Action & Adventure, Arts & Culture, Love & Sexuality, Science & Nature, Social Justice

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Custer Died for Your Sins: An Indian Manifesto

by Vine Deloria Jr.

Publication year 1969

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Indigenous Identity, Colonialism, Nation, Politics & Government

Tags Anthropology, Anthropology, World History, US History, Politics & Government, Race & Racism, Social Justice

Custer Died for Your Sins: An Indian Manifesto was written in 1969 by Vine Deloria Jr., a historian, theologian, activist, and member of the Standing Rock Sioux tribe. The work explores the oppression and exploitation of Native people in the United States, outlines the history of Indian resistance, and recommends a course of action for modern Indigenous people. Extremely influential in the 1960s and 1970s Native American Movement, Custer Died for Your Sins: An Indian Manifesto remains... Read Custer Died for Your Sins: An Indian Manifesto Summary

Dead Man Walking

by Helen Prejean

Publication year 1993

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Justice, Religion & Spirituality, Death, Politics & Government

Tags Social Justice, Crime & Law, Incarceration, Mystery & Crime Fiction, World History, Religion & Spirituality, Politics & Government, Biography

Dead Man Walking: An Eyewitness Account of the Death Penalty in the United States is a memoir originally published in 1993 by Sister Helen Prejean. In the book, Prejean, a Catholic nun with the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Medaille (now the Congregation of Saint Joseph), describes her ministry to death-row inmates Elmo Patrick Sonnier and Robert Lee Willie in Louisiana in the early 1980s. Her experience with Sonnier, who was ultimately put to death... Read Dead Man Walking Summary

Dear America

by Jose Antonio Vargas

Publication year 2018

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Tags Immigration & Refugeeism, Race & Racism, LGBTQ+, Social Justice, Politics & Government, Biography

Dear America—Notes of an Undocumented Citizen is a collection of essays written by Jose Antonio Vargas, published in 2018. The book relates the author’s struggle of coming to the United States from the Philippines in an illegal manner and growing up in America without the full documentation that would have made him a legal immigrant.As a 12-year-old boy in the Philippines, the author is surprised by his mother one morning. She rushes him to the... Read Dear America Summary

Dear Martin

by Nic Stone

Publication year 2017

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Race

Tags Realistic Fiction, Race & Racism, Social Justice, Modern Classic Fiction

Dear Martin by Nic Stone was originally published in 2017. It is a work of realistic fiction that provides a frank depiction of identity, racism, and adolescence in contemporary America. The New York Times bestseller also gained attention when it was named as a finalist for the William C. Morris Award. Stone's other well-known works include Dear Justyce (2020) and Fast Pitch (2021).This guide uses the paperback version of the novel, published by the Ember... Read Dear Martin Summary

Declaration

by Tracy K. Smith

Publication year 2018

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Perseverance, Politics & Government, Loyalty & Betrayal, Safety & Danger, Memory, Grief, Justice

Tags Race & Racism, Social Justice, Trauma & Abuse

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Discovering Wes Moore

by Wes Moore

Publication year 2012

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Perseverance, Coming of Age, Race, Childhood & Youth, Hate & Anger

Tags Inspirational, Coming of Age, Race & Racism, Social Class, Poverty, Incarceration, Social Justice, Trauma & Abuse, Children`s Literature, Education, Education, Biography

... Read Discovering Wes Moore Summary