Whose Right Is It? The Fourteenth Amendment and the Fight for Equality

by Hana Bajramovic

Discover the truth about the Fourteenth Amendment, civil rights, and the United States’ continued fight for equality in this singular nonfiction book for young readers.

Since the ratification of the Fourteenth Amendment in 1868, Americans have been guaranteed equal protection under the law. But these protections haven’t always been inclusive.

In 2022, we saw the Supreme Court overturn Roe v. Wade–a decision made in 1973 that guaranteed abortion as a fundamental right. Other critical Supreme Court decisions regarding affirmative action, immigration, and LGBTQ+ rights have been hotly debated as culture has shifted over the last several years. With the Supreme Court’s narrow interpretations of the “equality amendment”–disregarding what the drafters of the amendment said it was meant to do–the Fourteenth Amendment has shaped the conversation and legislation of civil rights and liberties in America for decades.

Hana Bajramovic’s Whose Right Is It? The Fourteenth Amendment and the Fight for Equality explores how one amendment became the focus for many of today’s most important constitutional debates. Featuring historical photos and informative graphics, this book shows a new generation of aspiring activists what the fight for equality across race, sexuality, gender, and citizenship looks like.

Genres: Nonfiction, Historical, History

219 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 25, 2024

Reviews

[Silly lil goose · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s an accessible book that really covered important legal cases/terms/government-related topics. I really enjoyed it!! Highly recommend.

[Lisa Davidson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whose Right Is It? The Fourteenth Amendment was passed to help black people because they should have been equal all along. Since the Fourteenth Amendment was passed, though, it has been used to protect the rights of many other groups of people.
This is such an important, timely topic, but it can be complicated. I loved this book because it made the subject easy to understand. Each new topic was presented in a way that was interesting and compelling. Even though I knew the stories were about real people, the writing was exciting and suspenseful.
It's hard to believe that it's taking this long to get closer to equality, and we get to learn about all the conflicts and reasons this is such a struggle. Of course, this short book breaks the ideas down to make them simple, and this is just an introduction. But I highly recommend this for young readers, starting at around the age of 12, but also for adults who want an easy-to-understand explanation.
Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this dynamic book.

[Stacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is an interesting look at the history of the fourth amendment. Included are sections that explain important terms like amendment, and discuss the Bill of Rights, etc.

Very informative and seems appropriate for the high school audience it is intended for.

The book seems very well suited for high school civics and government classes and perfect for teenagers interested in the law, government, or public service.

Read as part of the Cybils book awards in the first round in the category of high school non-fiction.

[Alicia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I haven't read any others in the series but I would definitely read more of them because it showcases just one amendment at a time, taking it apart to look at the components including the groups of people who wrote it (for what reason), the legislation before and after regarding it, cases brought to court, definitions about the legalese, and more in easy to understand, easy to learn about chapters.

It feels comprehensive for the intended teen audience.

[Lesli · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is an interesting book, though at times, it skips around, and asks rhetorical questions that it doesn’t answer for pages and pages, and while targeting kids, it is really for adults.

[Hoover Public Library Kids and Teens · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Clear eyed, even handed, and incredibly well documented, this ideal classroom pick accessibly introduces an essential and increasingly consequential part of the U.S. Constitution." [Booklist]

[Maddie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this book is intended for younger audiences. It explaining legal vocabulary in a way for younger people. It was good, but I already knew a lot of what this book covered. Eh.