The most important thing about this book is that it doesn’t only talk about change, but it makes the reader do some heart work. It is broken down into categories so that the terms are understood, there is contextual history, self-work and reflection, tools, and setting goals. The chapters are also short and each chapter is followed with an activity. This isn’t just a work of nonfiction - this book is a resource. It will make you think, and then take action.

I appreciated the author including her own personal accounts because it made this even more real. You are learning someone else’s experience, and she was honest and vulnerable, and that helps readers learn, and do some growing.

I would love to see adults pick up this book along with their preteen and YA kids so that understanding and change can truly start on the home.

Even though the demographic targeted for this book is teen/YA, everyone needs to read this book.

Not the first book Sophie read this month but by far the most important was This Book is Anti-Racist: 20 Lessons on How to Wake Up, Take Action, and Do the Work by Black author Tiffany Jewell. This book is an introduction to systemic racism as it is today, the history that has allowed it to thrive, and also to hands-on activism. It is aimed at teens, helping give them the tools and the language they need to help them stand up to the racist individuals and systems they encounter around them, but it will also be hugely valuable to adults and it is filled with illustrations by Black illustrator Aurélia Durand that are bold, bright, and powerful.

The book is divided into four sections. It begins with “Waking Up”: this introduces broad concepts like social identities, the differences between race and ethnicity, and what exactly racism is (and isn’t). The next section – “Opening the Window” – looks at the history of racism across the west, touching on important stories from the USA, UK, France and elsewhere in easy to understand language. Section three – “Choosing My Path” – introduces ideas for fighting back including disruption, interruption, and solidarity, and the final section – “Holding the Door Open” – looks at privilege, allyship, and building relationships.

Throughout the book are twenty activities to help you learn about yourself and how you fit into or stand outside the dominant culture through things like race, gender, sexuality, and economic class. From the very beginning you are encouraged to grab a notebook and write down thoughts and ideas to help you understand yourself, and also see where you hold privilege and power that you can use to fight systemic racism. In fact, Sophie considered this book to have one of the best explanations of privilege she has ever come across.

Sophie came away from This Book is Anti-Racist feeling not only more informed about racism but also with concrete ideas of things she can do right now to help combat it. She highly recommends this book to anyone trying to “educate themselves” and consistently do more in their lives to help the #BlackLivesMatter movement.

Overall, I love this book! The information is relatable and understandable for younger readers, such as middle school age. There are activities after each topic that encourage the reader to think about their identity. They are a little repetitive at first, but interesting throughout. It covers very important topics that might be difficult to explain concisely, so this is a great resource.

Similar to the author, I grew up with light skin with my white mother around her white family. Many of the questions she asks are ones I contemplated. Why was I in the gifted and talented program with all white classmates? Why could I question my teacher but the other People of Color in my class were considered disrespectful? Why did none of my teachers look like me or my classmates?

The chapters are thoughtfully placed and paced. Children will learn definitions to words they probably have heard often and new words they will use moving forward. Some of the most powerful stories they will hear will be the historic events. While the focus is on America, tragic unjust events happened around the globe and many were due to government laws.

After every short chapter there is an activity. The suggested activities will allow children to self reflect while connecting to their family. These are perfect times to pause. I'm a crier,
sometimes I cry for me, my family, or the world. This is not an easy topic to face head on which is why I couldn't advocate for this book if you are going to skip the activities.

This is such a relevant book that everyone should read. I will be adding this to my classroom library for all students to read as a tool to become anti-racism. I highly recommend. Thank you to the publisher for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest opinions.

I loved this book, I found much more than I expected to find in it. It is very didactic and direct, the author present her ideas clearly and efficiently, she explores the theme gradually showing a little about history, making us understand what racism is and how it dominates society, how we should position and that this is not a job to be done alone but always together.

Another thing that I liked in the book is that it is a possible indication to anyone, no matter the color of their, because the author was careful to make the book effective for anyone, always indicating positions that any person would have depending of your color. This is a great educational book for children and teachers alike.

The book has several activities to be carried out after the completion of each chapter and I think this interesting because it reinforces what was read. This is not a book to be read one time, it needs to be visited frequently because we always need to review our positions and ideas.

This book is absolutely fabulous, though I wish we didn't need it so much. Jewell did an amazing job explaining a number of really challenging topics so that kids of a variety of ages could get something out of it. This is one of those books that should be in every school across the country.

This is a book that some people may find confronting, as (I would hope) most readers would look at this book, thinking they are not racist.
It is a 'no holds barred' look at what racism means. It's the kind of book that makes you think, and that's what we need, now more than ever.
Most people would read this, with the belief that they are not racist. After reading this, you will have a close look at the things you say and do, and how that may be construed, and questions your behaviour and actions.
It also looks at how we deal with the behaviour and attitude of others. Reminding us that it's not OK to turn a blind eye to racism in any form, and that by turning a blind eye, we are just as guilty.
Perfect for our school market, great to use with students, but equally valuable to use with teachers

A good resource for understanding current topics and modern history of racism and racist thought mainly in an American context. It is a thoroughly realized book that would definitely inspire important, necessary conversations with young adult readers. I appreciate the author's honesty and perspective. I look forward to seeing companies publish more books about relevant topics like this in the future. That said, I thought the book was at times a little overwhleming. It would have benefitted from a heavier copyedit to minimize repetition and improve a few areas of confusing prose. A fresher, cleaner looking layout might have made the book easier to follow visually, and the illustrations leave a lot to be desired. Overall, the content is great, but the book could be more polished.

A powerful, no-nonsense look at racism, what it is, WHY it exists, and some highly practical advice around what to do about it. A timely and sadly much-needed book that starts important conversations - conversations many people might struggle to have because...where do you even begin? This cuts right to the point. No holding back. I think as a society we need to be able to have these kinds of discussions from an early age (I'm part of an ethnic minority though so that's essentially a given - we don't have the luxury of "waiting until they're older" - but to be clear, this is a book for *everyone*.) It's not okay to say you don't "see colour" or "see race". As the book says, it's not enough NOT to be racist. We have to be "anti-racist". This book explains how.

Required reading.

This book is perfectly designed for a lot of different reasons, but the one that really stands out for me is that it could be a reading/processing/accountability group so easily. Everyone has a notebook .Everyone does the exercises, either together or separately and then discuss together. Done! Curriculum all in the book.

I especially liked the explanations of intersectionality and the glossary.

This belongs on everyone’s bookshelf! It’s a great opportunity to learn and reflect on these topics. Even I, as an adult, learned a few new things and found some things to work on. It should definitely be on every older child’s reading list. It’s simple, easy to understand. Great definitions throughout. There are vibrant pictures and colors on every page. I loved that there were exercises throughout the book for you to answer as well. This was incredibly well done. Highly recommend to all!

* ARC provided by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!

I wanted to read this book to educate myself and from the first few chapters, I was overwhelmed. There is a lot of information in this book and worse, there's a lot of information I don't know - and I should.

This is definitely something I will need to return to. I like how the book was clearly broken up and gave so many relatable examples and even activities with things to think about. I work with kids and this is a great tool for discussing anti-racism and being an ally.

I'm going to try and get hold of a physical copy because every inch of the page was filled with text or images and it was a lot to take in as an electronic copy.

Lastly, I mistakenly thought this was a children's picture book, and although it IS a picture book (and I love the pictures and the colours), it is very much something for older readers or adults.

This Book is Anti-Racist is an excellent and eye opening read. Ten copies belong on every library shelf! This book should be made as available as possible for all teens.

This is a FABULOUS resource for everyone interested in anti-racist materials. Highly recommend for everyone of all ages.

I was gifted a copy of this book from @netgalley and @QuartoPublishingGroup in exchange for an honest review. This book is out now ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ This is a must have book for any middle grade and up classroom. The book is beautiful to look at and has much needed information. It is bright and colorful, which I think would be appealing to kids, and the information is presented in an easy to understand way without being overwhelming. I like that there are acitivies placed throughout the book to get the reader thinking about their own actions. I also loved thr positive affirmations throughout the book like, "You have the ability to create a new history." Aduots could greatly benefit from reading this book as well. It is by no means just a children's book.
#ThisBookIsAntiRacist #netgalley #quartopublishinggroup

If you're looking for a book that not only informs but brings to light some very important topics, Tiffany Jewell's book is where it's at.

This book goes over racism, personal growth, identity, and general lessons on how to be a good person. It's the kind of positive book I needed when I was younger and I'm sure people today need to read. We're all different and differences can make us stronger. Why destroy others for their differences?

I could easily see classrooms and educational groups picking this book up. It makes learning about the topics of gender and racial differences very simple and makes understanding so easy.

My only negative about this book is the illustrations are kind of weird. Some of them sat strangely with me and I felt they creeped me out more than fit with the story. The colour is bright and amazing though. Otherwise, this book is a gem!

Four out of five stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group - Frances Lincoln Children's Books for providing me a free copy of this book in exchange of an honest review.

I am so thankful I had the opportunity to review This Book is Anti-Racist by Tiffany Jewell through NetGalley. #ThisBookIsAntiRacist #NetGalley
I have been trying to listen, learn, and grow, and this was an excellent resource. This book is fantastic for teen/ya and I loved the included activities and journal prompts for personal growth. It was thought provoking and gave space to challenge yourself, racism in general, and personal prejudices. I do think that since this is aimed at the teen/ya audience there should have been more caution applied in the scenario of witnessing a police interaction, but maybe that is rooted in my own discomfort and privilege.
The only other thing I wish the book had included in the vocabulary or otherwise explained was the term folx and the "need" for it in place of folks.

I am very impressed with how Tiffany Jewell took such an important topic and broke it down for everyone to understand and relate to. The book is divided into 4 sections and 20 chapters to navigate the reader into understanding identity, making sense of the world, taking action against racism, and working in solidarity against racism. The different activities provided help the reader delve deeper into the topic. I would recommend this title to middle school students to adults. This is such an important and powerful book.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for providing this text in exchange for an honest review.

This books is incredible and a staple for every household. It educated me and my eldest son and will be sharing it with my youngest as he grows too.