Great Reads from Great Places: Young Readers

Great Reads from Great Places

Each year Massachusetts selects a special youth title to represent the Commonwealth in the “Great Reads from Great Places” program. The affiliated centers for the book promote their selections at the Roadmap to Reading section of National Book Festival. To read more about it and see the books suggested by other Centers for the Book, visit Great Reads from Great Places at the Library of Congress.

Rise Up!: Powerful Protests in American History

by Rachel C. Katz, illustrated by Sophie Bass

Throughout our long history, when something's unfair
When rights need expanding, or wrongs need repair
Americans argue. We march and we cheer.
We write songs and speeches. We go volunteer.

From the Boston Tea Party to the Capitol Crawl, inspire young activists in this bold nonfiction picture book that explores 25 moments of protest, resistance and revolution throughout American history. In a powerful celebration of the United States' 250th birthday, teach kids how we campaign and vote. We challenge tradition. Protest is American by definition!

PURCHASE BOOK

DISCUSSION GUIDE

Editorial Reviews

"As the country commemorates Lexington and Concord and the American Revolution, author Rachel Katz and illustrator Sophie Bass's fact-filled and delightfully rendered picture book shows how 25 moments of protest, resistance, and revolution led to victories won by the same kind of grit and risk-taking of the Minutemen 250 years ago—emancipation from slavery, women's rights, safe foods, environmental protection, and minority voting rights."
-Ray Anthony Shepard

"A moving historical protest primer that invites even the youngest readers to rise up and fight for what's right.” -Kirkus Reviews

"...a book that is VERY much a book we need for our times right now. 25 protests...showing kids how to get into some good trouble. Don't think that it's all the same stories you've seen before, though. There are bound to be a couple in here that surprise you. With vibrant art, the book's backmatter includes info boxes, educational endnotes, a timeline, and more to encourage kids to consider the changes they want to make in the world. Rise up!" -Betsy Bird, A Fuse 8 Production, School Library Journal

Meet the Author

Rachel C. Katz is a curriculum consultant and a writer who loves making American history accessible to young readers. She holds an MFA from Hamline University’s Writing for Children and Young Adults program. RISE UP!: POWERFUL PROTESTS IN AMERICAN HISTORY is her debut picture book. In addition to writing both serious and silly picture books, Rachel also writes graphic novels and nonfiction for older readers.

When she’s not writing, Rachel loves making art, doing crossword puzzles, and spending time with her family. She probably didn’t hear what you just said because she’s busy reading. She lives in Massachusetts.

AUTHOR WEBSITE

Meet the Illustrator

JOEL CHRISTIAN GILL is a cartoonist and historian who speaks nationally on the importance of sharing stories. He is the author of the acclaimed memoir Fights: One Boy's Triumph Over Violence cited as one of the best graphic novels of 2020 by The New York Times and for which he was awarded the 2021 Cartoonist Studio Prize. He wrote the words and drew the pictures for Fast Enough: Bessie Stringfield’s First Ride and the award-winning graphic novel series Strange Fruit: Uncelebrated Narratives from Black History, as well as 3 volumes of Tales of The Talented Tenth, which tell the stories of Bass Reeves, Bessie Stringfield, and Robert Smalls.

Gill has dedicated his life to creating stories to build connections with readers through empathy, compassion, and, ultimately, humanity. He received his MFA from Boston University and his BA from Roanoke College.

ILLUSTRATOR WEBSITE

Previous Massachusetts Great Reads: Young Readers

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