WATCH US RISE

A manifesto for budding feminists.

At the core of this engaging novel
are besties Chelsea, who is Irish- and Italian-American and into fashion and
beauty, and Jasmine, who is African-American, loves the theater, and pushes
back against bias around size (“I don’t need your fake compliments, your pity.
I know I’m beautiful. Inside and out”). They and their sidekicks, half-Japanese/half-Lebanese
Nadine and Puerto Rican Isaac, grow into first-class activists—simultaneously educating
their peers and readers. The year gets off to a rocky start at their progressive,
social justice–oriented New York City high school: Along with the usual angst
many students experience, Jasmine’s father is terminally ill with cancer, and
after things go badly in both their clubs, Jasmine and Chelsea form a women’s
rights club which becomes the catalyst for their growth as they explore gender
inequality and opportunities for change. This is an inspiring look at two strong-willed
teens growing into even stronger young women ready to use their voices and take
on the world, imploring budding feminists everywhere to “join the revolution.”
The book offers a poetic balance of dialogue among the main characters,
their peers, and the adults in their lives. The
exquisite pacing, which intersperses everyday teen conflicts with weightier
issues, demonstrates how teens long to be heard and taken seriously.

A book that seamlessly brings readers
along on a journey of impact and empowerment. (resources for young activists,
endnotes) (Fiction. 12-18)