Parents' Guide to

How I Resist: Activism and Hope for a New Generation

By Darienne Stewart, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 13+

30 creative voices inspire teens to shape a better world.

Book Maureen Johnson Advice 2018
How I Resist: Activism and Hope for a New Generation Poster Image

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What you will—and won't—find in this book.

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What's the Story?

HOW I RESIST features 30 diverse voices talking about how teens can influence the world around them, from just being decent people to creating art, calling political representatives, and lobbying for change. The pieces include essays, interviews, poetry, artwork, and music, each with a brief bio. Some pieces are concrete and specific, such as Rock the Vote president Carolyn DeWitt's five suggestions for ways teens can be politically active before they can vote. Others explore how activists find their voices and learn to use them, such as Dylan Marrow (of the podcast Conversations with People Who Hate Me) and actor Jesse Tyler Ferguson, or offer heartfelt perspective and support, such as writers Rebecca Roanhorse and Alex Gino (Melissa).

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: Not yet rated
Kids say: Not yet rated

There's no one right way to engage in democracy, and this passionate collection celebrates the many forms political activism can take -- from being authentic in your relationships to leading a march. How I Resist is an unabashedly liberal bundle of inspiring ideas. Edited by Maureen Johnson (Truly Devious), it offers refreshing creative breadth: Javier Muñoz discusses his experience performing in Hamilton, Jason Reynolds talks about how he finds hope, Karuna Riazi (The Gauntlet) writes poetically about caring for yourself so you can care for others. Other contributors teens may recognize include Rosie O'Donnell, actor Ali Stroker (Glee), and writers Sabaa Tahir, Jennifer Weiner, and Jodi Picoult.

Conservative readers may struggle to connect with some themes, but there's something for everyone. The mix of to-do lists, academic explorations, music, artwork, personal essays steeped in memory, and advice offers teens diverse ways to explore their political power.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the many forms of resistance in How I Resist. Did any surprise you? Has your understanding of resistance or political participation changed?

  • Which voices in this collection resonated most with you? Which could you relate to? Which inspired you?

  • What do you want to change in the world? How are you helping to make that change?

Book Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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