Lifting Diverse Voices: A Q&A with Authors Inspiring Discussion and Action with YA Nonfiction

Lifting Diverse Voices

On October 5th, we hosted the Lifting Diverse Voices webinar moderated by #ReadWoke founder and 2020 School Library Journal Librarian of the Year Cicely Lewis and featuring experts Talia Aikens-Nuñez, Lars Ortiz, and Dr. Artika Tyner. These three authors have all recently released Young Adult Nonfiction books that focus on prejudice, racism, and the ways that we can address the discrimination that has occurred in the past and continues to plague our society today.

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History in Pictures: The New Series Bringing History to Life

In the new History in Pictures series, readers will take a close look at the past. These books go beyond the basics and inform readers how historical events relate to social justice issues today. As part of the Read Woke™ Books collection, these titles were created in partnership with the Read Woke librarian, Cicely Lewis. Lewis created a Read Woke challenge at her school to engage students with what was happening in the world around them. Read Woke Books challenge social norms, give voice to the silenced, and share the perspective from underrepresented groups. Learn more and find free teaching guides here and get an inside look at the History in Pictures series below.

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Classified: an Interview with Author Traci Sorell

In Classified: The Secret Career of Mary Golda Ross, Cherokee Aerospace Engineer, Cherokee author Traci Sorell and Métis illustrator Natasha Donovan trace Ross’s journey from being the only girl in a high school math class to becoming a teacher. Ross continued onward to earn an engineering degree, join the top-secret Skunk Works division of Lockheed, and become a mentor for Native Americans and young women interested in engineering. Find out how Ross’s passion for math and the Cherokee values she was raised with shaped her life and work.

Today author Traci Sorell shares her experience writing Classified and why the story of Mary Golda Ross is so important.

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