School Library Journal Review
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. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
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 PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Kirkus Review
Teen social justice activist Dias shares her passion for changing the world.When Dias was in sixth grade, she was "sooo sick and tired of reading books about white boys and their dogs!" She wondered why her school's required-reading list didn't include any books by black authors. In particular, she longed for books that featured black girls like her as the main characters. That wish became a hashtag#1000BlackGirlBooksand then a campaign to collect 1,000 children's books featuring black girl protagonists. The campaign made headlines and has taken social media-savvy Dias across the country and beyond. Now a teenager, Dias shares her journey and her commitment to making the world a better place. And, as the book's title suggests, she seeks to inspire and empower others to do their part. Part memoir, part history lesson, part social activism 101, Dias' story draws readers into her world. The book reads like a lively, nonstop conversation with Dias, covering everything from social media safety tips and "stay-strong" activist strategies to her love of fashionand how she doesn't always agree with her parents. Dias wants readers to know the difference between charity and activism, which Disney princess is the most woke, and what it was like to visit a landmark along what was once the trans-Atlantic slave trade route. In a chapter on her personal style, she takes pride in her "crown" of black-girl hair. Dias understands that the personal is political and that one person has the power to make a difference.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. (Nonfiction. 10-16) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
Teen Marley Dias, founder of the #1000BlackGirlBooks campaign to promote titles with black women and girls as protagonists, has created a lifestyle guide to inspire her generation to get woke, do great things, and read. With a colorful, photo-heavy layout and a you-can-do-it conversational tone, she shares personal stories of growing up and volunteering, primarily with her mother's GrassROOTS Community Foundation. The young Dias believes that activism, regardless of age, can make a difference, such as bolstering family understanding, increasing diversity on school reading lists, and improving health in Africa, and, age appropriately, she swings from fashion tips to advice on using social media to calling out companies for carbon emissions. She includes a bibliography of 500 middle-grade and YA titles with general booktalking advice and gives shout-outs to famous librarians Augusta Baker and Carla Hayden while deeming the American Library Association the coolest club ever. Among the many things readers learn is that one of Dias' favorite words is dynamic, and both she and her book are certainly that.--Medlar, Andrew Copyright 2018 Booklist
