Books About Racial Injustice

The Best Racial Injustice Books for Kids

By the Bookroo Editors

Looking for excellent children's books about racial injustice? This collection brings together Bookroo's highest-rated and most useful picks in one place.

Start with our editorial favorites, then browse recommendations organized by reading stage to find the right book for your reader.

The Shortlist

Our 10 Favorite Books About Racial Injustice

To Kill a Mockingbird
Sale price
$1900
Chapter Book · Ages 12–18 · 1960

To Kill a Mockingbird

By Harper Lee · Book #1 in the To Kill a Mockingbird series

A lawyer defends an innocent man in a town gripped by prejudice.

323 pages· 99,820 words· Est. 9.5 hour read
7.0/7 Bookroo·4.3/5 Goodreads · 7,131,471 ratings
$20.00Save 5%
Paperback
Summary: In a Southern town seething with prejudice, a young girl witnesses her father's courageous stand as he defends a black man falsely accused of a heinous crime. As tensions rise, will justice prevail, or will hatred triumph? This poignant tale explores the depths of human morality and the innocence of youth amidst societal turmoil.
A Wreath for Emmett Till
Sale price
$1615
Picture Book · Ages 12–18 · 2005

A Wreath for Emmett Till

By Marilyn Nelson, Philippe Lardy (Illustrator)

A boy's tragic fate ignites a movement against injustice.

Boston Globe–Horn Book Honor (2005)Coretta Scott King Honor (2006)Michael L. Printz Honor (2006)
48 pages· 1,527 words· Est. 12 min read-aloud
4.2 Goodreads · 2,511 ratings
$17.00Save 5%
Hardcover
Summary: In 1955, Emmett Till, a 14-year-old African American, was brutally murdered, sparking national outrage. His story, told through poignant poetry, challenges us to confront and speak out against ongoing injustices. How can one boy's tragic end inspire a fight for change?
The Parker Inheritance
Sale price
$858
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2018

The Parker Inheritance

By Varian Johnson

A hidden letter reveals a mystery and a fortune. Can Candice and Brandon solve it before it's lost forever?

Coretta Scott King Honor (2019)Boston Globe–Horn Book Honor (2018)Cybils Award (2018)Odyssey Honor (2019)
368 pages· 84,464 words· Est. 11.5 hour read
4.2 Goodreads · 9,389 ratings
Paperback
Summary: Candice stumbles upon a mysterious letter in her grandmother's attic in Lambert, South Carolina. It hints at a long-buried injustice and a hidden fortune. With Brandon, the boy next door, she embarks on a quest to unravel the town's dark past. As they delve into history, they uncover secrets that could change their lives. Will they solve the puzzle before time erases the truth?
Rosa
Sale price
$858
Picture Book · Ages 4–8 · 2005

Rosa

By Nikki Giovanni, Bryan Collier (Illustrator)

A woman's quiet defiance ignites a movement for justice.

Coretta Scott King Award (2006)Caldecott Honor (2006)
40 pages· 1,603 words· Est. 13 min read-aloud
4.3 Goodreads · 6,889 ratings
$8.99Save 5%
Paperback
Summary: Rosa Parks, a seamstress in Montgomery, Alabama, faces a pivotal moment when she refuses to surrender her bus seat. Her quiet defiance sparks a powerful movement, challenging racial injustice and inspiring change. As the civil rights movement unfolds, her courageous stand becomes a symbol of resistance and hope. What will her legacy inspire next?
Who Was Ida B. Wells?
Sale price
$674
Chapter Book · Ages 8–11 · 2020

Who Was Ida B. Wells?

By Sarah Fabiny, Who HQ, Ted Hammond (Illustrator) · Who Was . . . ? series

A former slave becomes a pioneering journalist and civil rights leader.

112 pages· 8,156 words· Est. 1 hour read
4.2 Goodreads · 286 ratings
$6.99Save 4%
Paperback
Summary: Born into slavery, Ida B. Wells rises to challenge injustice as a fearless journalist and activist. Freed by the Emancipation Proclamation, she confronts racial prejudice and fights for equality. As she co-owns a newspaper and helps found the NAACP, Ida's relentless pursuit of justice shapes the civil rights movement. Will her efforts secure a future of equality and rights for all?
Memphis, Martin, and the Mountaintop
Sale price
$1697
Picture Book · Ages 9–12 · 2018

Memphis, Martin, and the Mountaintop

By Alice Faye Duncan, R Gregory Christie (Illustrator)

A young girl witnesses a pivotal civil rights protest and Dr. King's final stand.

Coretta Scott King Honor (2019)
40 pages· 2,974 words· Est. 23 min read-aloud
4.3 Goodreads · 776 ratings
$17.99Save 6%
Hardcover
Summary: In 1968 Memphis, nine-year-old Lorraine sees her father join a historic sanitation strike. As Dr. King arrives to support the cause, Lorraine's world changes forever. Will justice prevail before tragedy strikes?
Dreamland Burning
Sale price
$1049
Chapter Book · Ages 14–99 · 2017

Dreamland Burning

By Jennifer Latham

A skeleton unearths secrets of a century-old racial conflict, challenging two teens across time.

400 pages· 79,594 words· Est. 7.5 hour read
4.2 Goodreads · 13,210 ratings
$10.99Save 5%
Paperback
Summary: Rowan Chase stumbles upon a skeleton on her family's land, unraveling a century-old murder mystery that echoes into her present. Meanwhile, in 1921, Will Tillman faces a racial inferno in Tulsa, confronting his own prejudices and the violent segregation of his time. As their stories intertwine, both teens must navigate a landscape of racial tension and personal discovery. Can Rowan uncover the truth without losing herself? Will Will find redemption amidst chaos? This gripping narrative explores the enduring complexities of race relations, bridging past and present in a powerful tale of justice and identity.
Rosa Parks: My Story
Sale price
$858
Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 1948

Rosa Parks: My Story

By Rosa Parks, Jim Haskins

A single act of defiance ignites a movement, revealing a deeper story of courage.

188 pages· 41,406 words· Est. 6 hour read
4.2 Goodreads · 2,830 ratings
$8.99Save 5%
Paperback
Summary: Rosa Parks' refusal to surrender her bus seat sparked a pivotal boycott, but her autobiography unveils a deeper journey. Discover her candid insights into the civil rights movement and her unwavering dedication. What challenges did she face beyond that iconic moment? Her voice, simple yet powerful, invites you to explore the untold facets of her courageous life. As you delve into her story, you'll find inspiration in her relentless fight for justice and equality. What more lies behind the woman who became a symbol of resistance?
A Picture Book of Rosa Parks
Sale price
$1697
Picture Book · Ages 6–9 · 1993

A Picture Book of Rosa Parks

By David A. Adler, Robert Casilla (Illustrator)

A defiant act on a bus ignites a movement for justice and equality.

32 pages· 1,278 words· Est. 10 min read-aloud
4.1 Goodreads · 200 ratings
$17.95Save 5%
Library Binding
Summary: In 1955 Montgomery, a woman's simple act of defiance on a bus sparks a citywide boycott and ignites the civil rights movement. Discover how her courage challenged an unjust system and inspired a nation.
The Split History of the Civil Rights Movement
Sale price
$958
Chapter Book · Ages 10–14 · 2014

The Split History of the Civil Rights Movement

By Nadia Higgins

Civil rights activists clash with segregationists in a battle for equality and justice in the 1950s South.

64 pages· 4,254 words· Est. 29 min read
3.8 Goodreads · 22 ratings
$9.99Save 4%
Paperback
Summary: In 19th-century New York, a group of determined women challenge societal norms, demanding the right to vote. Their struggle spans decades, facing ridicule and resistance from both men and women. Will their relentless pursuit of equality prevail against the tide of opposition?
The Bookroo Book Club

Great books, picked for their age.

Books worth reading again and again, delivered to your door.

Find their book club
Keep exploring
Books about prejudice and racismBooks about buried treasureBooks about family historyBooks about father-daughter relationshipsBooks about race relationsBooks about segregationBooks about trials and hardshipsBooks about violence