Call and Response: The Story of Black Lives Matter by Veronica Chambers
Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Versify on August 17, 2021
ISBN: 0358573416
Pages: 152
Format: Nonfiction
Goodreads

A timely resource of the history of Black Lives Matter. Featuring in-depth reporting,  a wide range of powerful photographs, insightful quotes from a wide range of people,  timelines and engaging graphics, this book is an important book for young readers and adults today. It provides the background stories of the activists and organizers and how they are working to build momentum to make meaningful, much needed changes in the world.

The back pages include  an “In their own words” section that highlights  interesting conversations with black lives matter leaders in a Q& A format. Also included are  a resource section for further reading,  acknowledgements, photo credits, a selected bibliography and a comprehensive index.

This book is an excellent resource to get solid, well researched information that includes topics such how a hashtag became a worldwide movement, after years of effort by ordinary people.  Readers can explore timelines of Civil rights, black power and black lives matter for a deeper perspective to see the movement is part of a long legacy of protest.  And , they can read solid, well-researched Information that is presented in straightforward text that digs deeper than the surface of complex situations.

The authors noted there was no easy way to end the book. That the violence continues and the story is far from over. Readers may be inspired to try and find their own way to make a difference and find a path to activism in this movement and perhaps create a more positive story in the future.

Four stars

An important book for both public and school libraries. Reviewed by Terri Bauld, Louis T. Graves Memorial Public Library, Kennebunkport, ME