literaryk's review against another edition

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4.0

Not the worst commentary on activism and social justice from an assumedly cisgender, non-BIPOC. Covers a lot of topics on the surface level--just enough to get the gist of the issues. Some parts were a bit cringe, and I did roll my eyes a few times. However, there were a lot of voices brought in for each topic she addressed. She included a little how-to in the second half that could be helpful for budding SJW and activists. Overall, good allyship is presented here.

fictionista's review against another edition

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This was a fine book for young adults looking for answers about social justice and activism.

It was just too age innapropriate and very much entry level into the topic that I couldn't finish it.

If you are a teen, or very new to activism, it would probably be a great book.

avabudavari's review against another edition

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4.0

3.5/4

deannareadsbooks's review

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4.0

Fairly good resource. This book is mostly aimed at teens or beginners and does it's job well in that arena.

lucys_bookshelf's review against another edition

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2.0

This book was interesting. However, I feel that the author was extremely biased. She was constantly saying things against our current president and conservative republicans. I think she could have reached a wider audience if she didn’t put her personal opinion in so often.

chief_cook_and_librarian's review against another edition

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4.0

If you’re looking for a good book for your budding teen activist, this is a great place to start.

Author Alexandra Styron has created this amazing primer on activism, what it is, how to go about it, what issues we’re facing, and although it’s aimed at teens, it has some excellent advice for anyone looking to make a bigger impact on social change.

Subtitled “a handbook for resistance, persistence, and fixing (almost) everything, the books takes a jack-of-all-trades approach to activism, giving a little information on a wide range of issues, rather than doing a deep dive on one particular issue.

The book is organized into four major sections: The Why, The Who, The What, and The How. They Why gives an overview as to what the impetus was for the book. The Who gives short bios on various activists throughout American history, starting with the Boston Tea Party and moving up through present day with the DAPL protests at Standing Rock. The What is probably the meatiest part of the book, going into detail on what exactly activism is and spotlighting six major issues activists are fighting for today. Finally, The How covers exactly what actions you can take to facilitate change both in your local community and on a national level.

The What was probably my favorite part of the book. I really enjoyed the way Styron weaves comics, helpful hints on interviews, and facts together to give comprehensive overviews of 6 major issues that activists face today: climate change, immigration, LGBTQIA+ rights, racial injustice, religious understanding, and women’s rights. Styron even includes information on intersectionality and its importance in activism.

The How is the beautiful and logical conclusion to this activists’ primer, with myriad ways in which readers can take all this newfound information and put it into practice: contacting members of congress (there’s a script!), types of protests to participate in, how to write petitions, etc. There is even information on how to talk to family members on these issues and how to keep your sensitive info private on social media while still using it as a tool for activism.

Readers who are hoping for a deeper dive into some of the issues mentioned will not be disappointed, as a list of books, documentaries, and organizations is included for those desiring future research.

All in all, I think this book will be an excellent addition to the TBR piles of anyone looking to take on activism rolls both big and small, loud and quiet.
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