Summer of Kings, A

Reach for this book when your teenager is beginning to question social hierarchies, or when they feel a disconnect between their comfortable life and the injustices they see in the world. Set during the pivotal summer of 1963, the story follows Esther, a privileged white girl whose family takes in King-Roy Johnson, a Black teen fleeing racial violence in Alabama. This is a sophisticated look at how personal growth and social activism are deeply intertwined. It explores the tension between Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X through the eyes of two young people trying to find their place in a changing America. It is best suited for mature middle schoolers and high schoolers who are ready to grapple with complex themes of guilt, responsibility, and the courage required to stand up for others.