Social justice, current events, and thoughtful examinations of history are well represented in this year’s best series, but explorations of art, geology, and neighborhood locales can also be found. All series were reviewed in Booklist between April 1, 2021, and March 15, 2022. —Julia Smith
CORE Library Guide to Racism in Modern America (ABDO; 6 titles)
Gr. 5–8. Hot-button topics, ranging from police violence to civil unrest, are presented in these fact-based and evenhanded volumes. Statistics, graphs, large photos, and primarysource quotes boost this series’ value.
I, Witness (Norton; 4 titles)
Gr. 6–9. This compellingly written #OwnVoices series offers a fantastic way of connecting teens with activism and current events. Firsthand accounts of young people’s experiences escaping the Taliban, surviving Hurricane Maria, and more bring these stories home.
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