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.
Publication year 1964
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Tags History: U.S., Civil Rights / Jim Crow, Race / Racism, Black Lives Matter, History: World, Philosophy, Philosophy, Social Justice, Classic Fiction, Politics / Government, Biography
Why We Can’t Wait is Martin Luther King, Jr.’s history of the Birmingham protests that took place in 1963 and his effort to explain the aims and goals of the Civil Rights Movement to a national audience. King explores the background of the protests in Birmingham, the importance of nonviolence as the primary approach to protest, how this approach played out in Birmingham, and the aftermath of the protests in an introduction and eight chapters... Read Why We Can't Wait Summary
Publication year 2020
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Identity: Race, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, History: World, History: U.S., Race / Racism, Politics / Government, Crime / Legal, Social Justice
Publication year 2018
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Society: Economics, Values/Ideas: Equality, Society: Class, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Win & Lose
Tags Politics / Government, Business / Economics, Social Justice, Civil Rights / Jim Crow, Class, Sociology, History: World
Publication year 1975
Genre Novella, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Equality, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Society: Politics & Government, Society: Education, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Fate, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed
Tags Gender / Feminism, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, African Literature, Social Justice, Education, Finance / Money / Wealth, History: Middle Eastern, Love / Sexuality, Politics / Government, Incarceration, Crime / Legal, Women's Studies (Nonfiction), Education, Classic Fiction
Woman at Point Zero, also titled Firdaus, is a 1975 novella by Nawal El Saadawi based on the true account of a woman named Firdaus who was convicted of murder and sentenced to death in 1974. Saadawi was a prolific Egyptian feminist and physician, and she worked with Egyptian women who experienced various mental conditions that Saadawi saw largely as resulting from living in a patriarchal society. She had the privilege of meeting Firdaus on... Read Woman at Point Zero Summary
Publication year 1981
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Identity: Race, Society: Class, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice
Tags Gender / Feminism, Race / Racism, History: U.S., Politics / Government, Social Justice, Women's Studies (Nonfiction), Sociology, History: World, Philosophy, Philosophy
Publication year 2019
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Identity: Language, Identity: Femininity, Identity: Sexuality, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed
Tags Gender / Feminism, History: World, Women's Studies (Nonfiction), Social Justice, Sociology
Publication year 2021
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Power & Greed
Tags Historical Fiction, American Civil War, Race / Racism, Social Justice, Relationships, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Military / War, History: World
Publication year 2021
Genre Essay Collection, Nonfiction
Themes Identity: Mental Health
Tags Race / Racism, Social Justice, Psychology, Self Help, Psychology, Mental Illness