America the Beautiful: 8 Books That Open Your Heart and Mind

Written in the form of letters to his son, Coates’s powerful memoir is both the story of his life and an intimate dissection of race in America. He takes us from the past to the present, showing how race is a social construct that exploits the most vulnerable, a systematic assault that often falls most heavily on black men and women. Blending personal narrative with larger social commentary, Coates paints a clear and moving picture of what it truly means to be a person of color in America.

Vuong’s gorgeously moving poetry collection won the 2016 Whiting Prize – and we can certainly see why. Lyrical while also telling the powerful story of his life, Vuong takes us across continents and cultures, showing the lasting violence of war, the complicated constructions of race and gender, and so much more.

If you haven’t yet read Wiesel’s classic holocaust narrative, now is the time. With haunting and clear prose, Wiesel takes readers through his experiences as a teenager in a Nazi concentration camp. It’s a devastating portrait of what happens when hate wins, and the kind of narrative that will stay with you long after you read it.

De la Cruz’s semi-autobiographical young adult novel tells the story of high-achieving teen Jasmine de los Santos, whose Filipino family has been living in America for most of her life. But when she learns that she’s actually undocumented, her carefully laid plans for the future disappear. Something in Between hits a lot of the sweet and uplifting beats of a novel for teens, but at its heart is a complicated and emotional story of what it means to be an immigrant in America.

Levi’s work has always tackled tough subjects – and as a survivor of the holocaust, he understands exactly what’s at stake when we turn a blind eye to hate and fear. If Not Now, When? is about a group of Jewish rebels who travel across Europe fighting the Nazis and risking everything in the name of freedom. It’s a motivating and emotional story, and one that’s bound to inspire your own call to activism.

If you’re struggling with how to inform your kids about what’s going on politically (or if you simply prefer a picture book), then we recommend this Newbery Honoree by Curtis. In 1963, 10-year-old Kenny and his family head to Birmingham to visit his grandfather and become caught up in the bombing of the 16th Avenue Baptist Church – a pivotal moment in the Civil Rights Movement. Blending hilarious family drama with the realities of being African American in the South during a time of violence and turmoil, this is a story that will appeal to readers of any age.

To understand how political rhetoric had a hand in shaping the Charlottesville march, then pick up a copy of Dog Whistle Politics. López dissects how politicians use coded racist phrases (or “dog whistles”) as a way to rally and unite white voters. This powerful and insightful nonfiction book will open your eyes to how veiled racism, the declining middle class, and the current language of the Republican Party are all dangerously interconnected.

For a slightly lighter read that may still give you a new cultural perspective, try Malik’s contemporary romance that’s often referred to as the “Muslim Bridget Jones.” After finding herself single again, Sofia Khan agrees to write a book about what it means to date as a modern Muslim woman. Along the way she discovers more about herself, her family, and her faith.