Adrienne Kisner's Reading List

"If you only have the bandwidth for one activism-related narrative, you should read March . This should be required reading in every school. John Lewis takes readers through the experience of fighting for civil rights alongside Martin Luther King Jr. and other prominent figures in the movement. It’s a graphic novel , so it’s a quick read that never bogs the reader down with tragedy. It shows that ordinary people can do extraordinary things when powered by belief in their cause."

"I love stories of unlikely people who inadvertently start a revolution not because they want to but because they just can’t live with the status quo any longer. Even in the age of the #MeToo movement it can feel impossible to confront sexual harassment. Systems of power and oppression long in place make it seem like that is the way life is and should always be. But sometimes all it takes is one fed up one high school junior to shake up the world. This book is about a girl confronting the accepted sexism in her school is poignant, funny, and sneaks in rebellious inspiration where you least expect it. When we read fiction, we are that character. We have all the potential that the heroine does. We leave that story cognitively changed, if only on the micro-level. Fiction plants seeds of what is possible. Someone once said to me that you “can’t teach passion.” Maybe. But you can inspire it. Fiction inspires the imagination, which can encourage real world action."

"Malala’s story of triumph is a battle cry for girls—and boys—everywhere. Education can set you free and fighting for education for all should be a top priority. Malala says: “I tell my story not because it is unique, but because it is the story of many girls.” Malala’s story isn’t pretty. Speaking out in the face of injustice often makes you a target, like it did her, and sometimes you don’t escape. But even if you don’t escape, you can survive. Survival is often revolutionary in and of itself; it is enough—you are enough—if that is all you can do."

"This book is not out yet, but I am smitten by what I know of it. The art is as fun as it is gorgeous, and teens I know have already been drawn to it by the graphic component alone. The resistance needs a good how-to guide, because it is easy to feel powerless and overwhelmed when trying to find ways in which you can be involved. This helps teens find a place to start, and a road map of where to go after that. If you are “mad as heck about the way the world is going”—and who isn’t these days?—this book wants to make you an “effective leader who gets stuff done.”"

"This is a book for younger readers, but how many of us citizens really understand the US Constitution ? I mean really, truly understand it? This is particularly important because the Supreme Court figures prominently in the news, and to understand the Supreme Court is to understand its link to the founding document of the United States. The book includes pictures and short snippets of explanation and narrative—but this does not rob it its message of nuance. This is a great one for kids (of all ages) and parents to reach and discuss together. Media Literacy Now is a great place to find a lot of resources to help teens navigate the deluge of information out there. Teen Vogue is a great, accessible source for political news. But I would most encourage parents to subscribe to their local paper, or the national paper of their choice, and read with their teen. The free press is one of the guardians of liberty—support it. Read it at the library if need be. Most papers and periodicals (online and print) are written at a level that high schoolers can understand. Let us all shove long form journalism into their hands and heads as often as possible. Sign up here for our newsletter featuring the best children’s and young adult books, as recommended by authors, teachers, librarians and, of course, kids."