The books below are found in our middle schools' Learning Commons collections, as well as in Libby, the digital platform of the Scott County Library.
To see where all copies of a print book can be accessed in our schools' Learning Commons, follow these steps. Teachers may request books from other schools' Learning Commons by contacting the school's Media Assistant (Contact List).
After the Shot Drops by
When Bunny takes a scholarship to a prestigious prep school with a championship basketball team, his relationship with his best friend Nasir is ruined. When Nasir learns that his cousin, Wallace, and his grandmother are being evicted, he tries to get over Bunny's betrayal. But as Wallace's situation becomes desperate, both Bunny and Nasir will have to face bigger and bigger consequences and decide just how much they're willing to risk.
Anger Is a Gift by
Sixteen-year-old gay African-American student Moss Jeffries feels stuck in his run-down West Oakland High School. Still mourning the death of his father, shot by police years earlier, a violent incident at his school prompts Moss to channel his simmering anger into community activism against a corrupt authority system.
Black Brother, Black Brother by
Twelve-year-old Donte is the darker-skinned brother of Trey, which in his racist, mostly-white school has earned him the nickname Black Brother. When the captain of the school fencing team successfully frames him for something he didn't do, Donte is arrested and suspended from school. Joining a local youth center, Donte meets former Olympic fencer Arden Jones and begins training to defeat his school bully and find courage to confront the racist system that got him arrested.
The Black Friend: on Being a Better White Person by
Chronicles the reflections of Frederick Joseph, award-winning marketing professional and writer, and other prominent African American artists, writers, and activists on their experiences with racism and white supremacy. Discusses ways for white people to be anti-racist through their behavior and knowledge.
Black Lives Matter by
What is the Black Lives Matter movement? How have people been protesting the ongoing violence against the Black community? From its inception as a social media hashtag in 2013 to a movement with supporters around the world, Black Lives Matter has become much more than a slogan. It has changed the way people protest using social media as well as the public discourse around police brutality. Learn about how Black Lives Matter has roots in America’s long struggle for racial justice and how the movement will change the future.
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Black Lives Matter by
What started as a hashtag in 2013 quickly grew into the Black Lives Matter movement. Black Lives Matter examines the police shootings that fueled the movement, the events that led up to racial tensions in the United States, and the goals the movement has set for the future.
Blended by
Isabella is only eleven, but she is already so used to hearing about how "exotic" and unusual she is due to her black father and white mother that she is sick of her biracial identity. Now that her parents are divorced and fighting over her worse than ever, Isabella needs a way to define her identity so she can feel not like two halves, but a whole.
Class Act by
African American eighth grader Drew Ellis is used to working hard, but he's starting to realize that even if he works ten times as hard as his classmates at the privileged Riverdale Academy Day School, he still won't be given the same opportunities as they are. To make things worse, Drew begins to feel that his good friend Liam is one of those privileged kids, especially after a visit to Liam's giant house. Drew wants to pretend like everything's fine, but it's hard not to treat Liam differently and their mutual friend Jordan doesn't know how to keep their group together.
From the Desk of Zoe Washington by
On her birthday, twelve-year-old aspiring baker Zoe Washington receives a letter from her biological father, who is in prison for murder, telling her he is actually innocent. Determined to discover the truth, Zoe tries to investigate herself, perform well in her baking internship, and achieve her dream of auditioning for the Food Network's Kids Bake Challenge.
For Black Girls Like Me by
Eleven-year-old Makeda June Kirkland struggles to find her place in her new school after her family moves from Maryland to New Mexico. Makeda, who is of African American decent and has been adopted into an all white family, finds herself wondering how life might be different if she were part of a family that looks like her. In the midst of it all, she must deal with her mother's recent mental health diagnosis and mood swings that come with her being bipolar.
Ghost Boys by
Seventh-grader Jerome is mistakenly shot by a white police officer, and as a ghost, observes the turmoil in his community as a result of his death. He then meets the ghost of Emmett Till who helps Jerome understand how systemic racism led to his death, but also understand how far the effects of his death really go by introducing him to the grieving daughter of the police officer who struggles with her father's actions.
Colin Kaepernick by
This graphic biography shows readers the moments that have defined Colin Kaepernick’s life as a quarterback and an activist. His talent and determination made him a college football success and brought him to the National Football League. As a quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers, he led his team to multiple playoffs and even competed in the Super Bowl. When outrage over violence against African Americans became a national movement, Kaepernick joined the protests. His decision cost him his career in football, but he gained a voice heard worldwide.
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A Good Kind of Trouble by
All twelve-year-old Shayla wants to do is follow the rules, but when she starts seventh grade, the rules have changed. Her two best friends seem to be going their own ways and some people at school are saying that she's not black enough. After a ruling in a controversial court case involving the shooting of a black man by a white police officer, Shayla decides to join the Black Lives Matter movement and begins passing out black armbands at school. As the unrest in both Los Angeles and her school spreads, Shayla must figure out if some things are worth breaking the rules.
The Hate U Give by
Sixteen-year-old Starr Carter moves between two worlds: the poor neighborhood where she lives and the fancy suburban prep school she attends. The uneasy balance between these worlds is shattered when Starr witnesses the fatal shooting of her childhood best friend Khalil at the hands of a police officer. Khalil was unarmed. Soon afterward, his death is a national headline. Some are calling him a thug, maybe even a drug dealer and a gangbanger. Protesters are taking to the streets in Khalil's name. Some cops and the local drug lord try to intimidate Starr and her family. What everyone wants to know is: what really went down that night? And the only person alive who can answer that is Starr. But what Starr does-or does not-say could upend her community. It could also endanger her life.
The Invincible Summer of Juniper Jones by
In 1955, biracial Ethan, who was raised in Washington state, is sent to live with his grandparents in Alabama for the summer. Ethan's eyes are opened to blatant racism for the first time, but also to kindness, when a young red-head named Juniper Jones befriends him and they spend the summer exploring the town and having adventures. Their friendship becomes a lifeline for Ethan when the town's ugliness turns deadly.
Justice for George Floyd by
On May 25, 2020, George Floyd died while in the custody of four officers of Minnesota’s Minneapolis Police Department. One of the officers had knelt on Floyd’s neck for nearly ten minutes. Floyd’s death caused a wave of protests across the United States and around the world calling for an end to police violence. Justice for George Floyd explores who George Floyd was, what happened the day he died, and the protests that followed. Easy-to-read text, vivid images, and helpful back matter give readers a clear look at this subject. Features include a table of contents, infographics, a glossary, additional resources, and an index. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. Core Library is an imprint of Abdo Publishing, a division of ABDO.
New Kid by
"Seventh grader Jordan Banks loves nothing more than drawing cartoons about his life. But instead of sending him to the art school of his dreams, his parents enroll him in a prestigious private school known for its academics, where Jordan is one of the few kids of color in his entire grade. As he makes the daily trip from his Washington Heights apartment to the upscale Riverdale Academy Day School, Jordan soon finds himself torn between two worlds--and not really fitting into either one. Can Jordan learn to navigate his new school culture while keeping his friends and staying true to himself?"--Provided by publisher.
Not My Idea by
A young white child watches a news report of a white police officer shooting and killing a black man. The child's family refuses to answer the child's questions, so the child goes to the library to research racism in America and learns that racism is a white person's problem and about the evils of white supremacy.
The Parker Inheritance by
When Candice finds the letter addressed to her grandmother inside a box in the attic, she's not sure she should read it. But curiosity pulls Candice into a mystery generations before her time. And with the help of her neighbor, Brandon, she is determined to find the truth even if it means revealing her own deep secrets in the process.
Slay by
An honors student at Jefferson Academy and one of the only black kids there, seventeen-year-old Keira enjoys playing "Slay," a secret, multiplayer online role-playing game celebrating black culture that she secretly developed, until the two worlds collide after a Kansas City teen is murdered over a dispute in the game. Keira's previously safe space is now labeled racist, exclusionist, and violent. Now she sets out to defend her game while keeping her identity hidden.
Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by
This adaptation of Ibram X. Kendi's "Stamped from the beginning" explores the history of racist ideas in America by examining the lives of notable historical figures, from Cotton Mather and Thomas Jefferson to W.E.B. Du Bois and Angela Davis. Discusses how racist ideas spread and how they are also discredited.
This Book Is Anti-Racist by
Offers young people twenty illustrated lessons with activities for standing up to racism. Provides information on understanding your own identity, personal and institutional racism, the history of prejudice, and ways to take action against racism. Features extensive backmatter including a glossary of terms, notes on the text, and resources for further information.
It's Trevor Noah: Born A Crime by
This fascinating memoir blends drama, comedy, and tragedy to depict the day-to-day trials that turned a boy into a young man. In a country where racism barred blacks from social, educational, and economic opportunity, Trevor surmounted staggering obstacles and created a promising future for himself, thanks to his mom's unwavering love and indomitable will.It's Trevor Noah: Born a Crime not only provides a fascinating and honest perspective on South Africa's racial history, but it will also astound and inspire young readers looking to improve their own lives.
When They Call You a Terrorist by
Championing human rights in the face of violent racism, Patrisse is a survivor. She transformed her personal pain into political power, giving voice to a people suffering in equality and a movement fueled by her strength and love to tell the country—and the world—that Black Lives Matter.
