WHAT CAN the Black PantherS’ LEGACY TEACH us about 2022?

Last month, Jetta Grace Martin and Nick Thomas talked at Politics & Prose about her book, Freedom! The Story of the Black Panther Party. Many readers will be surprised about how young some Black Panthers were. Many party members where young adults—teenagers. Over 60% of party members were women. Jetta made it a point to highlight some of the lesser known members of the party and the everyday people who showed up to make change. As we continue the national conversation around book bans and censorship, page-turning books like Freedom! are more relevant than ever. Jetta’s book is a reminder that young people have always been at the forefront of social change.

IS HISTORY MANKIND'S GREAT TEACHER?

Author Jean-Claude van Rijckeghem sees history as “mankind’s greatest teacher,” and brought this approach to his latest young adult novel, Ironhead, or, Once a Young Lady. The novel follows Stance, a headstrong young woman frustrated by the restrictions of her time, as she assumes life as a man in order to join Napoleon’s army and escape her dire circumstances. He talked with Foreword Reviews about his research and his process.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A CHILD IS HAUNTED BY HER PAST?

In Mari Lowe’s mystical middle-grade debut, a young pre-teen is haunted by a dybbuk—while at the same time her mother struggles with loss and trauma. The past haunts them both. She and Barbara Bietz traded emails on the inspiration behind the book and the meaning of community. And if this book cover looks familiar, that’s because it will be the cover of BookLinks next month.

THREE LQ titles are Golden Kite Award Finalists

The Golden Kite Awards are given out annually by the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) and recognize excellence in children’s literature. This year, LQ has three finalists. Congratulations to Anton, Sundee, and Amanda!

Golden Kite Finalist for Nonfiction Text for Older Readers: Everything You Wanted to Know About Indians But Were Afraid to Ask: YRE by Anton Treuer
Golden Kite Finalist for Middle Grade: Mighty Inside by Sundee T. Frazier
Golden Kite Finalist for Illustrated Book for Older Readers: The Sea Ringed World, illustrated by Amanda Mijangos, written by María García Esperón, translated by David Bowles