Girls resist! A guide to activism, leadership, and starting a revolution

Review by Booklist Review

Amid the new crop of books coming out this year that are directly inspired by the 2016 election, this pocket-size activism guide provides practical steps for young women looking to put their words into action. Rich, the assistant advocacy director of the New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU) has assembled a step-by-step handbook to usher in the next generation of progressive, feminist activists. Well-organized chapters with bold graphics and inspirational quotes walk readers through planning a campaign, managing media, fund-raising, and more. The conversational, chipper tone is both rousing and truthful. Whether she's delineating the power structures that have come to define American society or providing five tips for a damn good phone bank, Rich is real with readers in a way that's refreshing. There's even a chapter on self-care for when the fight feels overwhelming. This is a guide you can dip into for what you need on a given day, or read cover to cover. A helpful index and glossary, as well as a short reading list, are appended. A smart tool to fight inequity.--Jennifer Barnes Copyright 2018 Booklist

From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.

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Review by Publisher's Weekly Review

Rich, an activist and assistant advocacy director for the New York Civil Liberties Union, presents an inspiring and practical handbook for meaningful resistance. Rich lays the groundwork for grassroots organizing, first establishing a common language with readers and exploring topics such as power, privilege, inequity, intersectionality, and patriarchy. There are a lot of reasons for girls and women to be mad, she suggests, using the examples of gender stereotypes, the gender wage gap, and societal hypersexualization of girls. Rich encourages readers to home in on the causes that most inspire them to act, and to set clear goals. She details specific steps readers can take to plan rallies, circulate petitions, and raise community awareness about pertinent issues. This pertinent and bold guide-featuring Sagramola's warm illustrations rendered in blue and orange tones-is likely to become a go-to resource for young activists. Ages 14-up. (Aug.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

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Review by School Library Journal Review

Gr 7 Up-A immensely valuable guidebook for young women seeking to make a difference. Rich effortlessly breaks down complex strategies and concepts into practical know-how. The first chapter, titled "Power Up the Girl Resistance," lays out the groundwork and explains the history of feminism, including defining key terms. The text then succinctly moves through choosing a cause, spreading awareness, and being a catalyst for change. Rich addresses the importance of intersectionality and early on invites readers to check their privilege and determine their biases. Rich also provides a great number of templates, from a budget and expenses table to a sample press release, that readers could easily adapt for their own uses. The book's design, along with Sagramola's confident cartoon girls, is fresh looking and nicely favors muted colors. VERDICT With references to pop culture, social media, and timely example scenarios, this book is highly recommened for YA collections.-Kat Paiva, Rye Public Library, NH © Copyright 2018. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

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This book is for girls. This book is for girls who have something to say, for girls who have something to get off their chests, for girls who are ready to use their voices to slash through injustice. This book is for girls who want to live boldly, who have a red-hot fire deep down in their gut, who are smart enough to be mad and bold enough to demand change. This book is for girls who have had enough of inequity, who believe in a world where all people are treated fairly, who care deeply about their own rights and the rights of others. This book is for girls who are loud, who are quiet, who are shy, who are outgoing, who are book-smart, who are street-smart, who are funny, who are serious, and who are a little bit of all of the above. I wrote this book for girls--for you --because I was once a girl, because I'm the parent of a girl, because I truly believe girls can change the world, and because girl activists have changed the world. The girl revolution began long ago and continues today.      Girls Resist! is a guidebook, a launching pad, if you're ready to start taking action right now. You'll find everything from starting a campaign and organizing an online petition to fundraising for a cause and talking to the press. You'll find stories of real girl activists who have altered the course of history or are doing so today. You'll find a roadmap to making change happen, whether you choose to start with your hometown, your school, your country, or the whole world.      Girls' activism matters because girls are often told they don't matter. But this harmful judgment is not always so visible as someone saying: You don't matter . It can be much more subtle and hidden.       Yes, girls are doing a lot better now compared to decades past. More than ever, girls are participating in every sport and excelling in STEAM fields (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics), though girls are still way underrepresented compared to boys. More young women than men are enrolling in medical and law schools and graduating from college. So why do I think that girls are told they don't matter?      Because I remember feeling like I had to look pretty, thin, and white. I remember thinking that being attractive (to boys) was the most important thing. I remember being in the closet about my bisexuality, being a Korean girl in a mostly white school, being fat, and being afraid to be myself. I remember feeling powerless to stand up to the things that made me feel small and all the things that seemed unfair about my world.      I also remember when I realized that I had a voice I could use to speak up for others and for myself. I remember when I came to understand that I could be beautiful without changing a thing about myself. I remember knowing in my gut when something was wrong and wanting to change it for the better. I remember turning my early passions for volunteering and helping people into a crusade for social justice. I am still that girl. I am that woman today.     There have been a lot of changes, but girls today are still up against a lot of biases and misperceptions. From a young age, girls are taught through popular media and toys that their worth is linked to their appearance and what others think of them. By contrast, boys are taught that their worth is based on their accomplishments and abilities. Society makes girls feel like they have to change themselves to be accepted, that the surface is more important than the depth.      These messed-up notions are part of a chain reaction of inequity that results in girls and women being more likely to experience depression and loss of confidence. Girls and women also more likely to earn less money and live in poverty. We have fewer powerful female role models to look up to, less access to resources, and reduced rights under the law. That's just wrong .      When girls choose to speak out, we're demanding to be taken seriously. When girls care about issues, we show that we are vital members of society. When girls fight back against discrimination and harassment, we send the message that we'll stand up for ourselves no matter the consequences. When girls fight on behalf of others, we make it clear that we won't stand for injustice anywhere. The world needs girls' voices rising in protest. It needs girls organizing the girl resistance. The world needs you! Excerpted from Girls Resist!: A Guide to Activism, Leadership, and Starting a Revolution by KaeLyn Rich All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.

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