If you’re looking for a good book for your budding teen activist, this is a great place to start.

Author Alexandra Styron has created this amazing primer on activism, what it is, how to go about it, what issues we’re facing, and although it’s aimed at teens, it has some excellent advice for anyone looking to make a bigger impact on social change.

Subtitled “a handbook for resistance, persistence, and fixing (almost) everything, the books takes a jack-of-all-trades approach to activism, giving a little information on a wide range of issues, rather than doing a deep dive on one particular issue.

The book is organized into four major sections: The Why, The Who, The What, and The How. They Why gives an overview as to what the impetus was for the book. The Who gives short bios on various activists throughout American history, starting with the Boston Tea Party and moving up through present day with the DAPL protests at Standing Rock. The What is probably the meatiest part of the book, going into detail on what exactly activism is and spotlighting six major issues activists are fighting for today. Finally, The How covers exactly what actions you can take to facilitate change both in your local community and on a national level.

The What was probably my favorite part of the book. I really enjoyed the way Styron weaves comics, helpful hints on interviews, and facts together to give comprehensive overviews of 6 major issues that activists face today: climate change, immigration, LGBTQIA+ rights, racial injustice, religious understanding, and women’s rights. Styron even includes information on intersectionality and its importance in activism.

The How is the beautiful and logical conclusion to this activists’ primer, with myriad ways in which readers can take all this newfound information and put it into practice: contacting members of congress (there’s a script!), types of protests to participate in, how to write petitions, etc. There is even information on how to talk to family members on these issues and how to keep your sensitive info private on social media while still using it as a tool for activism.

Readers who are hoping for a deeper dive into some of the issues mentioned will not be disappointed, as a list of books, documentaries, and organizations is included for those desiring future research.

All in all, I think this book will be an excellent addition to the TBR piles of anyone looking to take on activism rolls both big and small, loud and quiet.

STEAL THIS COUNTRY by Alexandra Styron is subtitled "A Handbook for Resistance, Persistence, and Fixing Almost Everything." I thought it would be a much more positive book than it was. Like professional reviewer Meghan Cox Gurdon, I was turned off by the second sentence in this book where Styron refers to feeling like she "might barf" due to results of a democratic election. Many Americans did cry and were certainly surprised on that November night in 2016, but is it not more appropriate to teach those for whom this book was written (older children and teens), the value of our civic institutions? And how about encouraging listening or promoting the recognition of our essential unity and the sustaining values as expressed at the memorial service for John McCain? Styron does include essays and examples of activism related to important progressive topics like climate change, immigration, LGBTQ, race, religion, women's rights, intersectionality, and disability. And she does an excellent job of providing useful information for readers by including a glossary of terms and a list of books, documentaries and organizations related to those issues. However, she could have done more. Another social activism resource-filled title worth investigating is KEEP MARCHING by Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner (published in May, 2018).