Synergy: Protest Art

Protest Art includes the wide range of creative works produced by activists. Designed to inform, educator, and persuade, these works of art are intended to stir emotions and promote action in citizens as part of social movements.

Read the recently published work of nonfiction for youth then learn more at the website.

THE ART OF PROTEST: Creating, Discovering, and Activating Art for your Revolution by De Nichols is designed to inspire youth to explore art from around the world and create their own. Using colorful illustrations and well-known examples from throughout history, the author explains the importance of art in social movements, the creation or protest art, the power of youth leadership, and the future of this art form.

THE 25 MOST INFLUENTIAL WORKS OF AMERICAN PROTEST ART SINCE WORLD WAR II is an article from the New York Times discussing the impact of protest art through specific examples.

To read the article, go to https://nyti.ms/33mEIaK 

ARC courtesy of Big Picture Press, an imprint of Candlewick Press.

Synergy: Kent State Shootings

On May 4, 1970, four unarmed college students were killed and nine injured during a peaceful rally. National Guard soldiers fired on participants at the anti-Vietnam War gathering. The massacre trigger public outrage causing the largest student strike in history with millions of students participating. Although a Commission report concluded that the shootings were unjustified, no one was convicted in the shootings.

Read the recently published young adult books, then learn more at the website:

KENT STATE by Deborah Wiles is a work of historical fiction telling the story of the May 4, 1970 incident through multiple voices and vantage points.

KENT STATE: FOUR DEAD IN OHIO by Derf Backderf is a graphic history exploring the lives of the four young people who died and the events leading up to the May 4th tragedy.

KENT STATE SHOOTINGS is a digital collection from Kent State University’s Special Collections and Archives. The May 4 Collection includes an array of primary sources related to the tragedy and its aftermath including an oral history project, digital archive, and information packet.

To visit the digital collection, go to https://bit.ly/3ngaHO7.

ARC courtesy of Scholastic and Abrams.

Synergy: Gwynn Oak Amusement Park Civil Rights Protest

In the summer of 1963, non-violent protests were held at the Gywnn Oak Amusement Park in Baltimore, Maryland to condemn the park’s segregation policy. On August 28, 1963, the park was desegregated and eleven-month-old Sharon Langley was the first African American child to ride the park’s merry-go-around.

Read the recently published picture book and middle grade book on this topic, then learn more by watching the documentary:

A RIDE TO REMEMBER: A CIVIL RIGHTS STORY by Sharon Langley and Amy Nathan tells the story of the Gywnn Oak Amusement Park protests and young Sharon Langley’s experience riding the merry-go-round. This beautifully illustrated picture book concludes with historical information and a timeline.

Amy Nathan also wrote the middle and high school nonfiction text ROUND AND ROUND TOGETHER: TAKING A MERRY-GO-ROUND INTO THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT.

ALL THE KING’S HORSES: THE STORY OF GWYNN OAK AMUSEMENT PARK is a video documentary chronicling the efforts to desegregate the park. Told through eyewitness accounts and personal narrative, the video presents all sides of the issue.

ALL THE KING’S HORSES https://youtu.be/IPRMQH9PxFQ

ARC courtesy of Abrams Books for All Readers.

Book Review: The Way Home Looks Now

THE WAY HOME LOOKS NOW by Wendy Wan-Long Shang follows Peter Lee as he struggles with the accidental death of his brother, his mother’s overwhelming grief, and his traditional Chinese father’s role as Little League baseball coach. Set in 1972, this outstanding work of realistic fiction masterfully addresses key societal issues of the times including Vietnam War protests, political connections with Taiwan, and the Women’s Movement from a child’s perspective.

Realistic fiction for middle-grades tends to be polarized between humorous school stories and deadly serious issues tomes. Shang masterfully balances the popular topic of baseball with a compassionate examination of family grief and social issues of the 1970s. Few books effectively address the impact of the women’s movement on everyday life in America. Shang is successful in weaving this theme throughout the work without being preachy.

With a Lexile measure of 650L but an interest level through middle school, the author provides a easy-to-read book that can be enjoyed over many grade levels. Librarians can look forward to a broad audience for this book. Baseball lovers will be attracted to the action sequences, while history fans will enjoy the references to life in the 1970s. Teachers will enjoy using this book as part of a shared class experience.

Shang was awarded the Asian Pacific American Literature award for The Great Wall of Lucy Wu. Look for THE WAY HOME LOOKS NOW to be on the short list for this year’s award.

To learn more about the author, go to http://www.wendyshang.com/.

Published by Scholastic on April 28, 2015.