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!
-Rachel C. Katz in Rise Up! Powerful Protests in American History
Happy Poetry Friday and 4th of July! Mary Lee has the round up today at A(nother) Year of Reading.
Last week Mary Lee invited us to join her and the other Inklings in writing poems of protest this week in celebration of Independence Day. Instead of an original poem, I’m joining in with a review of Rise Up! Powerful Protests in American History! by Rachel C. Katz and Sophie Bass, published by Barefoot Books.
In this powerful, nonfiction picture book told in rhyming verse, Katz focuses on the many ways in which Americans protest. She includes twenty-five moments of resistance and revolution in which protesters act alone or together, sing, write, make art, show up or go away. Each page of rhyming text is accompanied by a text box with a brief description of the event. Some of the events, like the Boston Tea Party or Ruby Bridges’s first day of school, are well-known. Others, like the Capitol Crawl which led to the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act, offer information on important, lesser-known protests.
Sometimes the reader is directed to turn to the back matter where information on each event is expanded. There are a whopping fourteen pages of back matter including a timeline and a map. In the timeline as well as in her author’s note, Katz reminds us that American history did not begin in 1776, acknowledging the Native Nations that lived on the land before us.
This book can be accessed on many levels – to read and learn, for research, or perhaps simply for inspiration. Katz reminds us that the work is not done. We need to continue to redefine equality and justice in the plan begun by our forefathers and refined through the decades. The book concludes with this challenge:
Use your brain, use your voice, find your personal mission.
Join hands! Join a cause! Join a long, proud tradition!
To point out injustice and make hopes come true,
Protest is needed from people like you!
Thanks for reading!
Imagine the Possibilities 
I will have to get this on my TBR list. Thank you Rose!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Drat! I left a comment but wasn’t signed in…so it evaporated. I think I wrote something along the lines of, I love this response to Mary Lee’s prompt! It’s fabulous. And, if I don’t have this book in my school library, I will make sure to soon. Thank you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s really a wonderful book, Linda. I think you’ll like it.
LikeLike
Talk about a book for These Times! I’m just back from the library app where I put it on reserve. Thanks for the heads up! Perfect addition to today’s roundup!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well, bless Barefoot Books for this one. This timely book is going to be a favorite for sure. Thanks for the heads up.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow, Rose, thank you very much for highlighting this book. It is new to me and sounds marvelous!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sounds like a Must-Read! The Capitol Crawl was so important and inspiring, I’m glad it’s in there. Thanks, Rose!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Rose, thank you for this review. I’m adding this title to my list for social studies and can’t wait to read and share it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Rose! Such. An. Important. Book! I should have known about the Capitol Crawl, but I didn’t. I appreciate this post so very very much.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Rose–I’m going to check this book out!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for sharing this book with us, Rose. It looks fabulous and I like that it has many uses – it’s my kind of book when it has that much back matter! Lol.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Okay, another immediate add to the TBR list! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Okay, another immediate add to the TBR list! 🙂
LikeLike
Arrgh, WordPress is giving me fits today. 🙂 Okay, adding this one to my TBR — thanks!
LikeLike
Okay, another immediate add to the TBR list! 🙂
LikeLike
Looks like a powerfully charged and timely book Rose, I look forward to spending time with it, thanks for sharing!
LikeLiked by 1 person