Our Future: How Kids are Taking Action

by Janet Wilson

This book profiles ten young activists who are taking on the key issues of our time. These young people from across the globe are raising awareness about what matters to them most. An eleven-year-old boy in Texas kneels with his football teammates during the national anthem to protest racial injustice. A thirteen-year-old girl from the Tla'amin First Nation in British Columbia speaks at the United Nations to raise awareness of water pollution. These activists don't let their youth stop them from being heard on issues ranging from racism and cyberbullying to gun violence and animal protection.

Genres: Nonfiction, Middle Grade, Activism, Picture Books, Childrens, Biography Memoir, Social Justice

32 pages, Hardcover

Published September 10, 2019

Reviews

[La Coccinelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great picture book about activism for middle graders. (Yes, a picture book for middle graders. The recommended ages on the back are 7-12, and that sounds about right. It's very text-intensive, and younger readers will likely get bogged down before finishing.)

Ten (well, eleven; two are sisters) kids and teens are profiled in the book. Each spread talks about what their form of activism is, and is accompanied by a beautiful illustration. There are also smaller sidebars on each page that talk about kids who are doing related activism in their own communities. At the back of the book, there are even more mini-profiles. Photographs are included throughout.

While I really like the premise of this book and think it's important, reading it just made me sad. How have we gotten to the point where kids feel the need to step up and do something because adults have completely dropped the ball? Kids should be able to be kids. They shouldn't have to fight for clean water or against forced marriage or take a stand against gun violence. It makes me really sad that adults have done such a poor job of protecting our world and the people in it that kids feel that they have to pick up the slack.

And, call me jaded, but I can't help but wonder how many of these kids will still be as engaged once they become adults themselves. My generation wanted to save the planet, too. Then we grew up, bought gas-guzzling cars, filled our landfills with our babies' disposable diapers, ignored the environment as long as jobs were being created, and passed the problems on to the next generation. I really hope that this generation of kids is going to be the one to buck the trend.

Aside from a few little technical issues with the writing, this is a really strong non-fiction title that shows kids that there are people their own age who are making a difference. Hopefully, this book (and others like it) will have an impact and inspire more kids to be agents of change.

Thank you to NetGalley and Second Story Press for providing a digital ARC.

[Alicia Bayer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a beautifully illustrated, inspiring book for kids that tells the stories of kids around the world who are doing things to improve the world. Some of the issues include the environment, gun violence, police brutality, bullying, poaching, transgender kids, clean water and immigration. Each two-page spread includes a beautiful multi-media portrait of the child, a summary of the issue and what the child did to bring about change, and a small profile of one or two other kids around the world who also helped bring about change on that issue. The stories are very inspiring and show that kids really can make a difference. In several cases, judges and lawmakers enacted laws in response to the children's protests, often pretty big ones (like banning all plastic bags in Bali).

The book ends with ways for kids to make their own differences. This is a great book to show kids that they have more power than they think and to remind us all that just because adults aren't changing things doesn't mean they can't be changed.

My rating system:
1 = hated it
2 = it was okay
3 = liked it
4 = really liked it
5 = love it, plan to purchase, and/or would buy it again if it was lost

I read a temporary digital ARC of the book for the purpose of review.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kids get it. We forget, as we get older, and futher away, how we too got it when we were younger. That we knew what the future held, and we needed to do something about it. These kids, featured in this book, are aware as well.

Ten kids who have taken a stand, who have done something, in some case very small, in other cases quite large. Ten kids from around the world. Ten kids, plus other kids, who are mentioned in smaller notes, beside the larger profiles.

Some kids you may have heard others, others, you will meat for the first time.







And at the end of the book there is a seciton that explains that you too can make a difference, and how to go about it.

Good book about social activism. Highly recommended.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.

[Steff Fox · Rating 5 out of 5]

| Reader Fox Blog |


The number one thing that I can say about Our Future by Janet Wilson is that it is an incredibly uplifting book to read. If you ever feel as though you are in a situation where you feel hopeless for the world, this is a good book to pick up. Whereas often the news can make you hate humanity, Our Future features a number of children who have taken strides toward building a better world for not only themselves and their friends, family, and communities but for others in the world who will come after them. And to see that there are children out there who are deeply aware of the issues of the world and making efforts to resolve them is a truly heartwarming thing. It genuinely makes me feel as though there might still be hope for the people on this earth, especially with how down I've been about it of late.

From a little girl who wants to make drinking water safe in her community to a young teen boy who speaks out against gun violence, the stories in this book will make you feel hope for the future and wish that you'd been as knowledgeable as they were when you were young so that you, too, could make a difference. There's even a story about a six year old who wrote a letter to the president about saving children who have been hurt in Syria, saving refugees, and even offered to share his bike with other children. And to think there are so many adults out there who cannot bring themselves to be as kind as a child this young.

I am so glad to have gotten a chance to read this book. I wish that I had been more like these children when I was young, but alas such amazing children sometimes need parents who are aware of the issues and encourage their children not only to learn about them, but to really take efforts to make the world a better place. I would encourage having this book on your shelf both for yourself and for any children in your life.

I was provided a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

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[Isabelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Their strengths are passion, imagination, and hope."

This was such a good read! Our Future by Janet Wilson is an inspiring read about kids around the world taking action to solve the world's problems. It is proof that your age does not matter when it comes to activism and wanting to make the world a better place. There are so many different examples about what kids from many different countries have done already or are doing now. The illustrations are absolutely breathtaking. I can't wait to read this with children and show them examples of strong role models. I want to use this book to help them feel empowered and like they can tackle any issue in the world.

[Wunderdrugged · Rating 3 out of 5]

This title is nominated for the 2021 Hackmatack Award in the English non-fiction category. Author and illustrator Janet Wilson profiles young people from around the world who are speaking out to bring awareness to issues that matter to them, from protecting the environment to stopping gun violence and much more. The kids who are profiled are pretty much regular kids who saw something they didn't like and spoke up about it. I really like the message that kids have power to influence change, but it makes me sad that the adults have failed them - it doesn't feel like that long ago (30 years, for the record) that I was a keen elementary student fired up about saving the environment & thought by the time I grew up we'd be driving cars that run on water. I hope that all of these inspiring young people continue to advocate for positive change & use their voices to speak out against injustice.
The book is visually interesting, with lots of photographs and striking illustrations. I like that there is a section at the end that encourages the readers to 'take action' and provides examples of things they can do to enact change. I would recommend it for any student grade four and up (ages 9+), especially those who are particularly empathetic.

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am always surprised at people who discount children with opinions and views and a voice as being puppets for others, or as being manipulated by parents or powers that be. Do those people not remember what it was like to be a child - you have a brain and it wants to soak up knowledge. It's only logical that there are kids around the world who learn about and understand issues and then have the tenacity to be activists.

This excellent book highlights ten instances of children around the world fighting for different aspects of our future - the environment, equal rights, bullying, gun violence etc.

A quote from the coach of a football team of young men who knelt during the national anthem put it best, "Our kids are waking up and when that happens, change happens."

The last few pages highlight different kids taking action on a variety of issues from creating art to pushing boundaries of dress codes, from creating a successful chocolate bar to protesting outside Swedish parliament. There are also suggestions for what youth can do to make a difference in their community, country or world.

[Marika Gillis · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Our generation does not see activism as just an obligation, but a beautiful opportunity to invent the unexpected and to spread our optimism to make a better world." -Ta'Kaiya Blaney, age 11

This beautiful book profiles children all over the world who have taken action to make the world a better place. The children featured in this book have fought to save our environment, have stood up for transgender rights, protested police brutality, fought climate change, advocated for refugees, taken legal action against bullying, raised awareness about the effects of bullying on mental health, and protested against gun violence.

This book is empowering and gives me hope for our future.

[Lely Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

These children are doing amazing things and are role models to other children as well as adults looking to make a change! I loved that each section was written from the children's viewpoint, so this book will be easily understood by young readers. The artwork was beautiful as well. Such a wonderful book to introduce children to making changes that are important to them. No voice is too small.

Thank you to NetGalley and Second Story Press for providing me with an ARC.

[Elizabeth Seibel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you #netgalley for giving me a copy of #OurFuture to review. I can't love this book enough. This will be a great addition to my classroom library. This book tells the story of numerous children and the impact they are making in their communities and the world. This book is empowering and shows children com all over the world making a difference. This is the type of positive example children need to see.

[Barbra · Rating 4 out of 5]

An insightful look at children around the world working to help make it a better place to live. From helping the environment, to bullying, wildlife protection, mental illness and protecting children and their right to a good life. Bright photos and additional information at the back of kids who are making a difference, will entice young readers to do the same.

[Kimberly Tierney · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are some fantastic stories in this book that can inspire and motivate kids to do great things. This is a great resource for any elementary and/or middle school. I think all libraries and schools should have this on their shelves. Definitely needs to be added into social studies readings.

[Andréa]

Note: I received a digital review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.

[Sam Bloom · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars; lots of good things happening here, many amazing young people profiled, but how can you have a book subtitled “how kids are taking action” and NOT include Mari Copeny?

[Gail · Rating 2 out of 5]

For a "kid's" book, this was mighty wordy! It was an okay, not great, book "about the future," which I might use for the 10-to-Try reading challenge for 2021.

[Cait · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read an advanced copy of this book. Full disclosure, I work for the publisher.

Kids today are taking action, and in this day and age it's a necessity. This book highlights 10 kids across the world who are stepping up for different causes.

It's a great read to get kids interested in activism, and to help them realize that it doesn't matter how old you are. You can make a difference.

[Helena#bookdreamer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you netgalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I thought this would be a children's book but it reads more like an anthology. A collection of stories from kids around the world who have spoken up against Injustice and environmental harm. Profound and has beautifully illustrated pictures.

[Kate Church · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is well written and the characters are described well. This is a very moving and inspiring. God bless the kids in this book. I highly recommend it to anyone and everyone