Social justice is the pursuit of fairness in society based on the belief that all people deserve equal opportunities and rights. We curated the following study guide collection (including books for middle-grade and young adult readers) to help readers get the most out of books that cover contemporary issues and topics in social justice.
Publication year 2010
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Identity: Mental Health, Identity: Race, Natural World: Environment, Self Discovery, Society: Community, Society: Nation
Tags Anthropology, Psychology, Health / Medicine, Education, Education, Anthropology, Social Science, Psychology, Social Justice
Publication year 2018
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Society: Class, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Equality, Identity: Race
Tags Business / Economics, Sociology, Psychology, Self Help, Psychology, Race / Racism, Social Justice
Publication year 2014
Genre Biography, Nonfiction
Themes Society: War
Tags Military / War, Social Justice, WWII / World War II, Children's Literature, History: U.S., History: World, Arts / Culture
In The Port Chicago 50: Disaster, Mutiny, and the Fight for Civil Rights, historian Steve Sheinkin traces the story of the Port Chicago 50, a group of African-American sailors charged with mutiny for disobeying orders during World War II. Sheinkin’s history opens, however, with the story of Dorie Miller, a black mess attendant stationed at Pearl Harbor when the Japanese attack in 1942. Though not trained for battle, Miller courageously begins fighting with an anti-aircraft... Read The Port Chicago 50 Summary
Publication year 1998
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Identity: Gender, Identity: Race, Society: Politics & Government
Tags Race / Racism, Social Justice, Sociology, History: U.S., Politics / Government, Education, Education, History: World, Philosophy, Philosophy, Arts / Culture
Publication year 2017
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Society: Economics, Identity: Race, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice
Tags History: U.S., Race / Racism, Social Justice, Politics / Government, Business / Economics, History: World, Health / Medicine
Publication year 2012
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Society: Economics, Society: Community
Tags Business / Economics, Sociology, History: World, Social Justice, Politics / Government
In 2007 the United States experienced an economic downturn that caused the standard for living for millions of Americans to plummet. While the share of national income dropped for 99 percent of Americans, the top 1 percent of Americans saw their wealth increase, in some cases considerably. Joseph E. Stiglitz published The Price of Inequality: How Today’s Divided Society Endangers Our Future in 2012 to explain this income gap and offer some hope that it... Read The Price of Inequality Summary
Publication year 2019
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Society: Education, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Society: Class
Tags Education, Business / Economics, Social Justice, Politics / Government, Education, Class, Sociology, Race / Racism
Publication year 2021
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Race, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Society: Colonialism
Tags Drama / Tragedy, Historical Fiction, History: African , Social Justice, Race / Racism, African Literature, Modern Classic Fiction, History: World
Publication year 2020
Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction
Themes Identity: Race, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Society: Community
Tags Politics / Government, Race / Racism, Social Justice, Black Lives Matter, German Literature, Gender / Feminism, History: World
Publication year 1997
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Identity: Race, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Society: Politics & Government
Tags Philosophy, Race / Racism, Politics / Government, Sociology, Social Justice, Education, Education, History: World, Philosophy
Publication year 2013
Genre Biography, Nonfiction
Themes Identity: Race, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice
Tags History: U.S., Race / Racism, Politics / Government, Gender / Feminism, Social Justice, History: World, Biography
Publication year 2023
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Identity: Indigenous, Society: Colonialism, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Equality
Tags History: U.S., Race / Racism, Politics / Government, Social Justice, Indian Literature, History: The Americas, History: World
Publication year 1895
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Identity: Race, Society: Community, Society: Education, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice
Tags Race / Racism, History: U.S., Social Justice, African American Literature
Publication year 2021
Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction
Themes Society: Class, Society: Economics, Society: Education, Society: Politics & Government, Society: Nation, Society: Community
Tags Politics / Government, History: U.S., Poverty, Social Justice, Class, Education, Russian Literature, Business / Economics, History: World, Biography
Publication year 1971
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Society: War, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Music, Society: Community
Tags Lyric Poem, Race / Racism, Social Justice, Music, African American Literature
Publication year 2018
Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction
Themes Identity: Race, Society: Community, Society: Class
Tags Race / Racism, Social Justice, Class, Gender / Feminism, Women's Studies (Nonfiction), LGBTQ, Biography
Publication year 1937
Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Society: Class, Society: Community
Tags Social Justice, Class, History: European, British Literature, Journalism, Business / Economics, Sociology, History: World, Classic Fiction, Politics / Government, Biography
The Road to Wigan Pier is a 1937 nonfiction book by George Orwell. The book describes Orwell’s firsthand experiences of life in Great Britain’s working-class communities in the early 20th century and advocates for the adoption of socialism. SummaryThe Road to Wigan Pier begins in a small lodging house in Northern England. The impoverished, rundown house rents crowded rooms to people who work in the nearby mines. The landlord, Mr. Brooker, was once a miner... Read The Road to Wigan Pier Summary
Publication year 1999
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Society: Class, Identity: Race, Society: Politics & Government, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance
Tags Allegory / Fable / Parable, Auto/Biographical Fiction, Race / Racism, Relationships, African American Literature, Music, Biography, Social Justice
Publication year 1973
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Identity: Gender
Tags Lyric Poem, Gender / Feminism, Social Justice, American Literature
Publication year 2022
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Identity: Race, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Mothers, Relationships: Siblings, Society: Education, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags Realistic Fiction, Children's Literature, Race / Racism, Social Justice, Bullying