Marley Dias

I loved this book for many different reasons. One of the things that I love about this book is that it pushes readers to think of the broader and tougher issues. For example, the book begins with the author, Marley Dias, discussing how she wants to see more books representing black women as the main characters and protagonists of books at school. Another example is that the author has various quotes throughout the book that causes readers to think about the important issues that emphasize and summarize information in the text on that page.

Another thing that I love about this book is the point of view. Being an autobiography, this book is written in the point of view of the author about herself and the issues that are important to her. Additionally, since this book is an autobiography, the readers will get to know her immensely throughout this book and will be able to see through her eyes and be in her shoes. For example, Marley discusses in the beginning her struggles of not seeing her being represented in the books, allowing the readers to feel empathy for her and opening their minds to other perspectives. Another example is that Marley describes her experience being in school and reading classics that involved other races, making her feel left out and unrepresented. This description also allows readers to feel empathy for Marley and understand more what it’s like to be in her shoes. The main lesson of this story is that you need to stand up and take action for the issues that matter and are important to you.… (mehr)

I also enjoyed reading this book because it offered 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.… (mehr)