“It is not our differences that divide us. It is our inability to recognize, accept and celebrate those differences.” - Audre Lorde

“I’m NOT too young to read about this” - Literature: A Vehicle for Anti-Racism

Monica Bullock, Charlotte Latin School, NC�Sonja Hayes, Greenhill School, TX

Lizz Melendez, Viewpoint School, CA

Books Beyond Borders (Project Description)

• Read one (1) book per month (6-7 books per school year) about characters or settings that allows you to explore a variety of lived experiences that are different than your own
• Use a variety of identifiers including race/ethnicity, gender spectrum, religion, geographical borders, ability, language, culture, and socio-economic
• Write a reflection
• Have conversations about what you read with teachers, peers, and parents

Inspired by Rita Platt and her article: https://www.middleweb.com/37035/books-without-borders-a-reading-challenge-idea/

Top 10 Reasons To Try This Project

10. Skills Building in History

9. Skills Building in English

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8. Benefits of Independent Reading

7. SEL Skills Building

6. Open Dialogue

5. Teacher-Student Connections

4. Exposure: Celebration of Diversity

3. Allyship & Activism

2. Identity Development

1. Anti-Racism Work

“Reading this book and some others that I found through the project, I realized that being LGBTQ+ is okay...”

Sharroky Hollie “Steps to Authenticity”

Toolkit

Resources to get you started:

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1. Websites that include lists of diverse books
2. Resources for evaluating books
3. ALA Award Lists
4. Accountability Sheets and Student Reflection Forms
5. Book Recommendation Forms for Students
6. and more...

Contact Information:

Monica Bullock

Charlotte Latin School, NC

monica.bullock@charlottelatin.org

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Sonja Hayes

Greenhill School, TX

hayess@greenhill.org

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Lizz Melendez

Viewpoint School, CA

lizzbeth.melendez@viewpoint.org

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“You have to act as if it were possible to radically transform the world. And you have to do it all the time.” - Angela Davis