Contemporary Books on Social Justice

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 1933

Genre Short Story, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Fate, Relationships: Mothers, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride

Tags Race / Racism, Social Justice


Publication year 2016

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice

Tags Race / Racism, Relationships, African American Literature, Education, Education, Social Justice, Politics / Government


Publication year 2019

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Identity: Race, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Natural World: Objects, Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Grandparents, Self Discovery, Society: Community, Society: Immigration, Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger

Tags Children's Literature, Social Justice, Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Arts / Culture


Publication year 2005

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Tags Politics / Government, Crime / Legal, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Journalism, Sociology, History: World, Social Justice

Steve Bogira’s nonfiction work Courtroom 302: A Year Behind the Scenes in an American Criminal Courthouse was published in 2005. Bogira, as a Chicago native and long-time writer for the Chicago Reader, is a social justice advocate and focuses much of his work on poverty and segregation. The work addresses themes of The Injustices of the US Justice System, The Prison-Industrial Complex, and The Influences of Corruption and Politics on Criminal Courts.Content Warning: The source... Read Courtroom 302 Summary


Publication year 2016

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Identity: Race, Society: Class, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice

Tags Race / Racism, Education, Education, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Sociology, Social Justice, Politics / Government


Publication year 2011

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Self Discovery, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Literature, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology

Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Romance, Fantasy, Action / Adventure, Arts / Culture, Love / Sexuality, Science / Nature, Social Justice


Publication year 2014

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Identity: Race, Society: Education

Tags Social Justice, Race / Racism, Education


Publication year 1969

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Identity: Indigenous, Society: Colonialism, Society: Nation, Society: Politics & Government

Tags Anthropology, Anthropology, History: World, History: U.S., Politics / Government, Race / Racism, Social Justice

Custer Died for Your Sins: An Indian Manifesto was written in 1969 by Vine Deloria Jr., a historian, theologian, activist, and member of the Standing Rock Sioux tribe. The work explores the oppression and exploitation of Native people in the United States, outlines the history of Indian resistance, and recommends a course of action for modern Indigenous people. Extremely influential in the 1960s and 1970s Native American Movement, Custer Died for Your Sins: An Indian Manifesto remains... Read Custer Died for Your Sins: An Indian Manifesto Summary


Publication year 1993

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Society: Politics & Government

Tags Social Justice, Crime / Legal, Incarceration, Mystery / Crime Fiction, History: World, Religion / Spirituality, Politics / Government, Biography

Dead Man Walking: An Eyewitness Account of the Death Penalty in the United States is a memoir originally published in 1993 by Sister Helen Prejean. In the book, Prejean, a Catholic nun with the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Medaille (now the Congregation of Saint Joseph), describes her ministry to death-row inmates Elmo Patrick Sonnier and Robert Lee Willie in Louisiana in the early 1980s. Her experience with Sonnier, who was ultimately put to death... Read Dead Man Walking Summary


Publication year 2018

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Tags Immigration / Refugee, Race / Racism, LGBTQ, Social Justice, Politics / Government, Biography

Dear America—Notes of an Undocumented Citizen is a collection of essays written by Jose Antonio Vargas, published in 2018. The book relates the author’s struggle of coming to the United States from the Philippines in an illegal manner and growing up in America without the full documentation that would have made him a legal immigrant.As a 12-year-old boy in the Philippines, the author is surprised by his mother one morning. She rushes him to the... Read Dear America Summary


Publication year 2017

Genre Essay / Speech, Nonfiction

Themes Relationships: Mothers, Identity: Femininity, Values/Ideas: Equality, Identity: Gender

Tags Gender / Feminism, Parenting, Social Justice, Women's Studies (Nonfiction)


Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Race, Society: Education, Society: Class

Tags Realistic Fiction, Social Justice, Race / Racism, Modern Classic Fiction


Publication year 2017

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Race

Tags Realistic Fiction, Race / Racism, Social Justice, Modern Classic Fiction

Dear Martin by Nic Stone was originally published in 2017. It is a work of realistic fiction that provides a frank depiction of identity, racism, and adolescence in contemporary America. The New York Times bestseller also gained attention when it was named as a finalist for the William C. Morris Award. Stone's other well-known works include Dear Justyce (2020) and Fast Pitch (2021).This guide uses the paperback version of the novel, published by the Ember... Read Dear Martin Summary


Publication year 2018

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice

Tags Race / Racism, Social Justice, Trauma / Abuse / Violence


Publication year 2023

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Society: Nation

Tags History: U.S., Politics / Government, American Literature, History: World, Social Justice


Publication year 2020

Genre Anthology/Varied Collection, Nonfiction

Tags Disability, Social Justice, Diversity


Publication year 1957

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Natural World: Space & The Universe, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology

Tags Science / Nature, Gender / Feminism, Politics / Government, Social Justice, Women's Studies (Nonfiction), History: World, Philosophy, Philosophy, Classic Fiction, Biography


Publication year 2012

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Identity: Race, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger

Tags Inspirational, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Race / Racism, Class, Poverty, Incarceration, Social Justice, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Children's Literature, Education, Education, Biography


Publication year 2005

Genre Play, Fiction

Tags Play: Drama, Allegory / Fable / Parable, Social Justice, Education, Education, History: World, Drama / Tragedy, Historical Fiction, Classic Fiction, Religion / Spirituality

Doubt: A Parable is a 2005 play by John Patrick Shanley that analyzes an instance of doubt and suspicion in a Catholic school in the Bronx in the 1960s. In nine scenes, the play tells the story of principal Sister Aloysius’s suspicions about an inappropriate relationship between a priest, Father Flynn, and a young male student.The play opens with Father Flynn giving a sermon, utilizing a parable about a young sailor whose ship sinks and... Read Doubt: A Parable Summary


Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Friendship, Values/Ideas: Equality, Relationships: Family, Identity: Femininity, Emotions/Behavior: Courage

Tags Realistic Fiction, Gender / Feminism, Social Justice, Children's Literature, Education, Education, Modern Classic Fiction