Marley Dias Gets It Done: And So Can You!

Thirteen-year-old Dias--who launched the #1000blackgirlbooks book drive campaign when she was in sixth grade--offers an insightful and uplifting guide to becoming an activist. "If black girls' stories are missing, then the implication is that they don't matter," she writes, explaining why she started the book drive. "I didn't like it so I had to do something." With humor and sensitivity, Dias speaks to issues of race beyond representation in books; one section uses Disney princesses to introduce the concept of being "woke." Acknowledging the invaluable encouragement of her parents, Dias advocates for her peers to follow their passions and instincts--even if the impact starts small. Color photos of Dias appear throughout, and a list of 500 books featuring black girls is included. Ages 10-up. (Jan.)

Copyright 2018 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

Gr 5 Up—Dias pens an eminently readable and nuanced personal narrative of her #1000BlackGirlsBooks campaign and her tips, tools, and strategies for effecting positive change in the representation of Black girls in children's literature and beyond. The work opens with Dias's poignant recollection of how Jacqueline Woodson's Brown Girl Dreaming raised questions about why the award-winning title, and other selections by Black authors, weren't a part of her school's assigned reading. Dias's effervescent personality and style shine as she discusses her family, love of sushi, trip to Ghana, relationship to social media, and more—never underestimating the audience ("For the record, just this once, let me say: Hard things come and go, but it seems like racism always stays. There, I said it. And I'm doing all I can to change it."). The text encourages readers to find and pursue their interests, provides valuable advice on activism (including how charity and activism are not the same thing), and strongly recommends reading for knowledge and pleasure. Dias's beloved list of 1,000 books is included at the end. The eye-catching photos, empowering pull quotes, and bright pastel page borders make for a thoughtful design and will have readers returning to the book again and again. VERDICT An invaluable selection for any public and school library collection.—Jess Gafkowitz, Brooklyn Public Library

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

* Dias' magnetic personality, outlook on life, and passion for change enliven every page, making this both a fun read and an irresistible call to action for people of all ages and backgrounds. — Kirkus Reviews, starred review

* An invaluable selection for any public and school library collection. — School Library Journal, starred review

Praise for Marley Dias:

I love [Marley's] 'Black Girl Books' project so much. Keep striving for your goals, and remember that it's good to be ambitious. There's nothing wrong with knowing what you want and going after it... [Marley] is proof of that. - Hillary Clinton

[Marley] is already making a mark on the world. — Ellen DeGeneres

It's not hard to imagine that one day soon Marley. . . will be the protagonist of one of the books she fought so hard to have represented in her classroom. — Teen Vogue

If you are standing near [Marley], you better roll up your sleeves, because she will make sure you help, too. That is Marley. — Melissa Harris-Perry

Dias will make for a savvy magazine editor, obviously. But we think there's a good case to be made for her future in politics. — Elle.com

She is a force to be reckoned with. — Fox 29

Seriously, folks, Marley Dias is the coolest... — Bustle

Talk about black girl magic in a huge, huge way! Oh Marley Dias, we wanna be just like you! — Hello Giggles