Woke: A Young Poet’s Call to Justice

Following an introduction that defines what it means to be woke, these poems combine clear declarations with easy-to-grasp metaphors to convey progressive values. Privilege is compared to a toolbox (“We can choose/ to use it to help people who don’t have what we do”) and gender to a rainbow (“There are so many shades between boy and girl”). Each poem’s intended value appears next to its page number—including individuality (“Teeth Dance With Silver”), body positivity (“The Good Body”), and ableism (“The Ability to Be”). The text’s direct style is matched by Taylor’s clear illustrations, notable for their bold lines and bright colors. With its references to figures such as Janet Mock and Trayvon Martin, it’s a useful conversation-starter on the topic. Ages 8–12. [em](Mar.) [/em]