#ACTIVISM Reading Recommendations for Jewish Book Month 2024
Jewish Book Month takes place during the 30 days leading up to Hanukkah. This year, the celebration was held November 24-December 24, 2024.
Last year I posted daily #JewishJoy reading recommendations. While joy is still extremely important, this year my focus is #ACTIVISM. These books all feature real or fictional people who are great role models for taking action to make the world a better place.
Each title is linked to a past interview on The Book of Life or a book review on The Sydney Taylor Shmooze.
November 24, 2024
NOT NOTHING by Gayle Forman, a middle grade novel about rising to the occasion of your own life.
ABZUGLUTELY: BATTLING, BELLOWING BELLA ABZUG, a picture book biography of the Jewish feminist activist and Congresswoman.
November 26, 2024
THE DO MORE CLUB by Dana Kramaroff, a middle grade novel about a Jewish kid creating an activist club at school to spread kindness.
November 27, 2024
ONE SMALL SPARK: A TIKKUN OLAM STORY by Ruth Spiro, a picture book about pitching in to repair the world.
November 28, 2024
CHUTZPAH GIRLS: 100 TALES OF DARING JEWISH WOMEN by Julie Esther Silverstein, a middle grade collective biography about activist and heroic women throughout Jewish history.
November 29, 2024
THE ASSIGNMENT by Liza Wiemer, a young adult novel about teens who take a stand against an antisemitic school activity.
November 30, 2024
BOB MARSHALL, DEFENDER OF THE WILDERNESS by Linda Elovitz Marshall, a picture book biography of the Jewish founder of The Wilderness Society who saved millions of acres of American wild lands.
December 1, 2024
MAX IN THE HOUSE OF SPIES: A TALE OF WWII by Adam Gidwitz, a middle grade historical fantasy about a boy who becomes a spy in order to fight the Nazis.
December 2, 2024
BRAVE VOLODYMYR: THE STORY OF VOLODYMYR ZELENSKY AND THE FIGHT FOR UKRAINE by Linda Elovitz Marshall, a picture book biography of the Jewish President of Ukraine and how he's been standing up against tyranny.
December 3, 2024
BANNED BOOKS, CROP TOPS, AND OTHER BAD INFLUENCES by Brigit Young, a middle grade novel about two Jewish girls who form a banned book club at school.
December 4, 2024
A QUEEN TO THE RESCUE: THE STORY OF HENRIETTA SZOLD, FOUNDER OF HADASSAH by Nancy Churnin, a picture book biography of a Jewish woman who founded a social justice organization that is still thriving today.
December 5, 2024
THE BOOK OF ELSIE by Joanne Levy, a middle grade novel about a Jewish girl taking action in her community to fight antisemitism and support her synagogue.
December 6, 2024
THE TOWER OF LIFE: HOW YAFFA ELIACH REBUILT HER TOWN IN STORIES AND PHOTOGRAPHS by Chana Stiefel, a picture book biography of the Jewish scholar who founded the Center for Holocaust Studies.
December 7, 2024
SHARING SHALOM by Danielle Sharkan, a picture book about a community coming together in allyship after antisemitic vandalism desecrates the local synagogue.
December 8, 2024
THE BOOK RESCUER: HOW A MENSCH FROM MASSACHUSETTS SAVED YIDDISH LITERTURE FOR GENERATIONS TO COME by Sue Macy, a picture book biography of Aaron Lansky, founder of the Yiddish Book Center.
December 9, 2024
YES NO MAYBE SO by Becky Albertalli & Aisha Saeed, a young adult novel about a Jewish boy and a Muslim girl who fall in love while doing political canvassing.
December 10, 2024
HEROES WITH CHUTZPAH: 101 TRUE TALES OF JEWISH TRAILBLAZERS, CHANGEMAKERS, AND REBELS by Kerry Olitzky & Deborah Bodin Cohen, a middle grade collective biography of Jewish activists.
December 11, 2024
WAYWARD CREATURES by Dayna Lorentz, a middle grade novel about the power of restorative justice.
December 12, 2024
AS GOOD AS ANYBODY: MARTIN LUTHER KING JR AND ABRAHAM JOSHUA HESCHEL'S AMAZING MARCH TOWARD FREEDOM by Richard Michelson, a picture book joint biography of two incredible American activists.
December 13, 2024
THE RENEGADE REPORTERS by Elissa Brent Weissman, a middle grade novel about a Jewish girl and her friends standing up for truth in journalism.
December 14, 2024
DEAR MR. DICKENS by Nancy Churnin, a picture book biography about the power of the written word.
December 15, 2024
OUT AND ABOUT: A TALE OF GIVING by Liza Wiemer, a picture book about homegrown activism and acts of tzedakah.
December 16, 2024
2 books with the same name: SHE'S A MENSCH! One is by Anne Dublin, the other is by Rachelle Burk & Alana Barouch, and both are collective biographies of amazing Jewish women.
December 17, 2024
THE NEW QUEER CONSCIENCE by Adam Eli, a young adult manifesto outlining how Jewish traditions can lend structure to LGBTQ+ activism.
December 18, 2024
I DISSENT: RUTH BADER GINSBURG MAKES HER MARK by Debbie Levy, a picture book biography of the changemaking Jewish Supreme Court Justice.
December 19, 2024
LINKED by Gordon Korman, a middle grade novel about students taking Holocaust education into their own hands after swastikas appear at their school.
December 20, 2024
RUTH FIRST NEVER BACKED DOWN by Danielle Joseph, a picture book biography of a Jewish South African activist who protested apartheid.
December 21, 2024
OY, SANTA! OR, THERE'S A LATKE TO LEARN ABOUT HANUKKAH by Joyce Schriebman, a humorous picture book about a Jewish boy who takes the time to educate Santa about the Jewish holiday.
December 22, 2024
RED AND GREEN AND BLUE AND WHITE by Lee Wind, a picture book about a community standing up for its Jewish members after an attack, based on a true story.
December 23, 2024
THE CHRISTMAS MITZVAH by Jeff Gottesfeld, a picture book based on the life of Al Rosen, a Jewish man who volunteered to cover the jobs of Christian neighbors every Christmas.
December 24, 2025
MRS. MACCABEE'S MIRACLE by Elka Weber, a picture book about the OG Jewish activists, the Maccabees, who fought to preserve Judaism in the face of Greek supression in the 2nd centure BCE.
December 25, 2024: HAPPY HANUKKAH!
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