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Volume 3 in the acclaimed Fighting for Justice Series for young readers: the story of a Native teenager's history-making fight for equal education.
"Alice Piper Speaks Up is a necessary, accessible, and fascinating book that shines bright light on a history and a people that all who call California—and America!—home should know." —Kate Schatz, New York Times–bestselling author of Rad American Women A–Z
Alice Piper just wanted to go to public school. The year was 1923, and Alice, a Native Nuwuvi (Paiute) teenager in California, dreamed about learning from teachers, making new friends, and being respected for who she was. So when the school board refused to let her and six other Native students attend, she decided to speak up, and she sued for her right to an equal education. Alice Piper Speaks Up, the first book dedicated to this major champion of civil rights, features new research into Alice's life and court case. Each chapter begins with lyrical verse and full-color illustrations that invite readers into Alice’s story. Paired with the poems are visually engaging sections filled with keyword definitions, historical context, timelines, primary sources, and questions that help readers relate Alice’s experience to their own lives. The text connects Alice's case to larger themes about education, Native rights, and movements for school desegregation across the United States. The third book in Heyday's widely acclaimed Fighting for Justice series, Alice Piper Speaks Up shows how one teen's action resonates throughout America’s history, even now.
Praise for Alice Piper Speaks Up:
"Alice's story is told through poems, illustrations, photos, facts, historical context, timelines, keyword definitions, and more to help young readers understand Alice's journey and the importance of her fight for justice. This great new addition to the Fighting for Justice series shows kids how they too can make a difference." —Kids Bookshelf
"The portions of the book that tell Alice's story are in verse, and accompanied by Thompson's vibrant illustrations that show what it was like for Alice to live in her community and fight for her rights. The nonfiction sections have photographs, reproductions of documents and newspaper articles, and helpful sidebars with important vocabulary." —YA (and Kids) Books Central
"The perfect book for a unit on civil rights or on equal education. It shares so much of the culture of the Numu People as well as the history of how white people treated Natives. The details are wonderful." —Crafty Moms Share
"The authors' use of verse and 'traditional' text offers readers both a close-up view of Alice's experience and a broader view of the surrounding circumstances. It’s a format that’s accessible and informative, giving Alice’s story a personalized touch. A lesser-known story of desegregation that holds interest from beginning to end." —Cracking the Cover
"Alice Piper Speaks Up is a necessary, accessible, and fascinating book that shines bright light on a history and a people that all who call California—and America!—home should know. First-time Indigenous authors Sage Andrew Romero and Loralee Sepsey come from the same tribal community (Big Pine Paiute) as Alice Piper, the young girl at the center of the true story, and they bring her journey to light with exquisite care, respect, and dignified detail. Informational sidebars give readers context for historical, social, and political aspects, and keep the poetic narrative grounded in impactful ways. An important addition to Heyday's Fighting for Justice series, this book will engage readers of all ages who believe in equity and education for all." —Kate Schatz, New York Times–bestselling author of Rad American Women A–Z
"Alice Piper Speaks Up is an important story that should be readily adopted and used in classrooms." —William J. Bauer Jr., coauthor of We Are the Land: A History of Native California
"Alice Piper Speaks Up combines beautiful illustrations by Morgan Thompson with emotive prose written from Piper's perspective. The book—the third in Heyday's Fighting for Justice series for children—is particularly successful in portraying Piper's story in ways that are relatable for all ages. [...] The book's handy juxtaposition of kid-friendly storytelling and educational content makes Alice Piper Speaks Up an essential purchase for any parents looking for accessible ways to teach their kids about civil rights." —Rae Alexandra, author of Unsung Heroines: 35 Women Who Changed the Bay Area
Awards and Acclaim for Fred Korematsu Speaks Up, published by Heyday in the Fighting for Justice Series:
- Winner, Carter G. Woodson Book Award
- Winner, New-York Historical Society Children’s Book Prize
- Winner, Social Justice Literature Award
- Honor Title, Jane Addams Children’s Book Award
- Finalist, 2017 Cybils Awards
- Nominee, Georgia Children’s Book Award
- Nominee, Rebecca Caudill Young Readers’ Book Award
- Nominee, South Carolina Junior Book Award
- A Kirkus Best Book of the Year
- An Association of Children's Librarians of Northern California Outstanding Title
"An invaluable profile of a civil rights hero whose story deserves greater attention. Middle schoolers will take to the superb writing and original format." —School Library Journal, starred review
"Atkins and Yogi raise good questions … that will inspire a new generation of activists. This first book in the Fighting for Justice series is a must-read for all civics classrooms." —Kirkus Reviews, starred review
"This story should be in every classroom." —Rethinking Schools
"Korematsu's is an important story and should be part of our national educational curriculum." —Los Angeles Review of Books
"This timely history … describes the case and much more, serving admirably as a tutorial on civil rights, an introductory civics lesson, and a clarion call to action." —San Francisco Chronicle
"Its appeal and user-friendly presentation are undeniable. … Honors the legacy of an oft-forgotten champion of human rights in America."—Booklist
Awards and Acclaim for Biddy Mason Speaks Up, published by Heyday in the Fighting for Justice Series:
- Winner of the Nautilus Book Award
- Winner of the 2021 FOCAL Award
- Silver Award Winner, 2020 Independent Publisher Book Awards
- Winner of the Book Award for Young People’s Literature, 2020 Maine Literary Awards
- A Great Kid Books Best New Book
"Difficult but necessary, inclusive and respectful, this book does a beautiful job of telling truths about our history and how we construct it." —Kirkus Reviews, starred review
"A first purchase for biography, history, and general nonfiction collections alike." —School Library Journal, starred review
“Wonderful.” —Los Angeles Review of Books
"Moving and enlightening." —Public Books
Sage Andrew Romero is from the Tovowahamatu Numu (Big Pine Paiute) and Tuah-Tahi (Taos Pueblo) tribes. The founder and director of the AkaMya Culture Group, a nonprofit dedicated to cultural revitalization, he lives in Big Pine, California.
Loralee Sepsey is a writer and a member of the Big Pine Paiute Tribe of the Owens Valley. Based in Santa Ana, California, she lives with her husband and their two cats.
Morgan Thompson is a Cherokee (Cherokee Nation) artist with a love for Indigenous stories. When she’s not working, she enjoys a bit of stomp dancing or some beading on the side.
- Preparing Tüba
- Changing Names
- Going to Town
- A Day at the Day School
- New School, New Opportunities
- Applied and Denied
- Joining Forces
- June 2, 1924
- Alice’s First Day
- Ready to Learn
- Alice Piper Day
- Speaking Up for What's Right: From Alice's Day to Ours
- Acknowledgments
- Source Notes
- Bibliography
- Credits and Permissions
- Index
- About the Authors
- About the Illustrator