Kids on the March is an excellent opportunity for students to discover a lesser known legacy of activism among children and teens. The book delves back to the beginning of the 20th century and ends with the more recent George Floyd protest of 2020. Through an inquiry-based approach an educator can lay the foundation for students to research and read about previous generations and what they fought for and why they marched. This book provides a sense of empowerment to young adults engaged in activism and gives them context on why marches occur. While I was familiar with some of the marches, as a non-historian, I learned about many that I had never even heard of before. I thought the piece at the end of the book on Tips for Marching really spoke to the social activist audience that would be reading this book. It addresses the audience by acknowledging that if you are a teen that is reading this book then you are likely thinking about participating in a march or protest. The tips ask probing questions, provide suggestions for safety and advice for organizers. I loved that this was included, when I know there are a lot of high school activists that can use the advice to act wisely and be better prepared during their activism.

This book was an excellent overview of children’s contribution to social change movements. There was a lot of information I never knew about how long kids have been involved in marches and protests. This would be a great book to use with students if you are studying social change, protest, and even the bill of rights because it shows kids that they, too, have a voice, and that they are allowed to use it. Excellent book written in a way that kids will be able to understand.

I love history, especially when it is well-written and not just a list of factual events. Dr. Michael G. Long not only educates us, but makes it entertaining and a very easy read.

Some of the backstories I was familiar with such as the mill conditions which inspired the first march written about, “The March of the Mill Children.” My great-grandparents immigrated here and worked in the mills in New Bedford, Massachusetts - a hop and a skip from Fall River. Their children worked in the mills there and in Detroit. Then my mother worked in the mills in Fall River. Children no longer worked in the sweatshops by the time my Mom was in them, but her family had stories.

Dr. Long shares with us the back-story of what inspired “The March of the Mill Children”. There was more than one march and one lasted 97 miles only to be ignored. As Dr. Long points out not every march was successful, but their stories will live on in my memory for me to share and repeat. It is inspiring. Dr. Long says in his introduction that “kids...have sought to establish peace, justice, and freedom for all.” (Loc79). Dr. Long goes on to prove this statement throughout Kids On The March.

Quote: “You, too, can march...You can stand up. You can straighten your shoulders. You can throw back your chin. And you can shout what young people have been shouting for decades, “Let’s march!”” (Loc. 83)

Kids On The March is a fascinating look at history through the next generation’s eyes. This is a great book for teachers to introduce history to their students and parents to their children. There are pictures that show that children's voices should be heard as Black and white children march together for civil rights. Kids don’t have to be the ringleaders, but their voices can still be heard. This is what everyone should be talking about around the dinner table. Real stories. Real voices. Kids - we are listening.

I received an ARC of this book and I am writing a review without prejudice and voluntarily.

Kids on the March is a nonfiction book spotlighting 15 marches in the United States in which children participated and sometimes even organised. Fifteen marches from the 1900s to the Black Lives Matter march for George Floyd in 2020 are explained so well with a few children explaining why they marched. Michael Long did such a good job explaining topics some adults might now even fully grasp or know how to explain to their children. The book was very informative and I enjoyed learning about the marches. The author also spotlighted marches from various communities which I found important. At the back of the book are some very useful tips for what to do, bring and how to organise a march. I hope Kids on the March will inspire a new generation to stand up for their rights.

Kids On The March
By Michael Long

Kids on the March: 15 Stories of Speaking Out, Protesting, and Fighting for Justice By Michael Long

This book was simply amazing! I loved how powerful and truly impactful this read is, where Michael Long deftly tells the stories of how children's voices do make a difference in the world we live in. The stories include marches in Washington to Black Lives Matter and other kid-led activism stories and protests against injustices in the world.

Through inspirational stories that span from the early 1900's to the current, we learn about the changes and impact kids have done through activism and having their voices heard. There are so many social issues and social justice topics on-going now such as the increasing violence and hate against Asians that this book will really inspire and motivate children and adults alike today.

I found the writing and the organization of the book easy to read for young readers. The fifteen stories mentioned were wonderfully curated that shares the themes of civil rights, immigration, gun violence, climate issues and a whole slew of other important topics. This should be a required reading for adults and children alike.

Thank you Algonquin Young Readers and Michael Long for this advanced readers copy. My reviews and opinions are my own.

For over a century, kids have led protests in America. This book tells 15 of those powerful stories, starting in 1903 and ending in 2020. As activists, children have spoken up, walked out, gone on strike, and marched for racial justice, climate protection, gun control, world peace, and more.  Readers learn more about their bravery, tenacity, solidarity, and passion via this book.
I appreciated the clear, cohesive writing that includes plenty of facts and statistics but also deeply personal stories of real kids. I laughed, cried and felt inspired by the stories. Author Michael Long even includes tips at the end for hosting a successful march.
Children’s protests have reshaped our nation. We owe it to ourselves, our children and future generations to read these stories carefully and let their impact move us to protest for the causes we believe in.

This book covers kids’ activism from the early 20th century to the protests following the murder of George Floyd by the police last year. It highlights how there have always been young activists who speak out and march for a better world. The book is easy to read and provides timelines of these events and their outcomes which was very helpful. The stories are clearly written and illustrated with many voices present. I think this would be a great book for libraries in particular.

Disclaimer: I received this arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Book: Kids on the March

Author: Michael Young

Book Series: Standalone

Rating: 5/5

Recommended For...: Activists and every young reader

Genre: Non- Fiction

Publication Date: March 23, 2021

Publisher: Algonquin Young Readers

Pages: 304

Recommended Age: 10+ (slight violence mentioned, racism, sexism)

Synopsis: From the March on Washington to March for Our Lives to Black Lives Matter, the powerful stories of kid-led protest in America. 
  
Kids have always been activists. They have even launched movements. Long before they could vote, kids have spoken up, walked out, gone on strike, and marched for racial justice, climate protection, gun control, world peace, and more.  
 
Kids on the March tells the stories of these protests, from the March of the Mill Children, who walked out of factories in 1903 for a shorter work week, to 1951’s Strike for a Better School, which helped build the case for Brown v. Board of Education, to the twenty-first century’s most iconic movements, including March for Our Lives, the Climate Strike, and the recent Black Lives Matter protests reshaping our nation. 
  
Powerfully told and inspiring, Kids on the March shows how standing up, speaking out, and marching for what you believe in can advance the causes of justice, and that no one is too small or too young to make a difference.

Review: I really like this book and it's premise. I think that in today's world we should be teaching our children about speaking up for what they believe in and getting them involved in activism and politics early on. the issues that we debate in Congress are issues that will affect them when they are older, so why don't they have a voice? I also think that children, as cliche as it is, are the future and they need to be heard first and foremost. I also like the books commentary on racism and sexism and things that we have improved on and things that we still need to improve on. The book shows our progress, but also reminds us that we still have so far to go.

Verdict: Highly recommend!

The future is hopeful. And it's being led by our youngest generation.

Walk in the steps of those who protested in 1903 in the March of the Mill Children and see where the fight continues on in those who participated in the George Floyd protests... as well as all of the ones that came between. 15 powerful stories. 1 nation.

Organization of stories: ★★★★★
Resonance: ★★★★★
Enjoyment: ★★★★★

When you think of a line of protesters, who do you picture? How old are they?

If you're like me, the group of people attending a social protest is a varied group in my imagination but, in general, they have one thing in common—they're adults. Adults tend to have louder voices, more ability to self-advocate, and more experience to draw from in an organized space. Right?

In Kids on the March, you'd be wrong.

Delving into 15 stories of kid-led and kid-focused protests for social justice, this slim volume packs a very memorable punch. When the youngest of us know what is right, and what is wrong, and they decide to speak up... their voices are loud enough to be heard. And they have a right to their space.

I devoured this collection. There's no other word for it. Author Michael B Long is on to something when he pulls us along on a journey through the twentieth century's most active youth-led protests—and the changes they demanded. From young children desperate for more ethical work hours in 1903 to the 1951 Strike for a Better School that led to the Brown v. Board of Education titan of social justice to the more modern March for Our Lives and the Black Lives Matter protests.... this is a powerful body of work. And an inspiring one.

"Let us pray with our legs. Let us march in unison to the rhythm of justice, because I say enough is enough." -Demetri Hoth, Senior at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School (2018)

I recommend this to all, especially my fellow Americans.

Many thanks to Algonquin for Young Readers for my copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Algonquin Young Readers for a review copy of this book!

This was an incredible account of children’s involvement in some of our greatest social movements of the past century. This book covers fifteen different monumental protests that changed the fabric of American history, but this book did something a little different than other publications- it put the younger revolutionaries in the spotlight.

From child labor marches of the early twentieth century to the climate strikes that have become a worldwide movement, this book highlights the children at the forefront of the cause. It is an eye opening look at how even the smallest kids can make a huge difference. While I knew some of the children led protests that were most prominent (the children from Parkland who founded the March for our Lives movement, and Greta Thunberg’s involvement in the climate crisis protests), it was wonderful to see the accounts from children at the Civil Rights Movement and anti-war demonstrations.

It gives me a sense of hope that our future generations are going to be proactive in making some real changes, but at the same time it really sheds a light on the responsibilities that we adults owe these young people so that they can have normal childhoods without having to fight for their lives and livelihoods.

The role of young people in movements for change has become more visible as social media usage has increased. This is not a new phenomenon, though. Children and teens have historically been involved in social movements for change, even if their roles were eclipsed by those of adults with greater individual power. In Kids on the March, by Michael G. Long, we are introduced to some of the activists from this century and the last. I would like to thank NetGalley and Algonquin Young Readers for the opportunity to read and review this book prior to its release.

This chronologically sequenced look back on the history of young people’s marches begins with Mother Jones’ “textile army” in 1903, which marched from Philadelphia all the way to Theodore Roosevelt’s summer home in New York. The children in this march were advocating for their own rights to safe working conditions and better access to educational opportunities. Safety and education are frequent advocacy goals of the youth in Kids on the March, including the strike at Robert Russa Moton High School in 1951 and the “March for Our Lives” in 2018.

Many other marches were for the common good of all people. Some were organized by young people themselves, such as the “School Strike 4 Climate,” and young people served as one part of a larger movement in protests like the “Bonus March” of 1932. Long does a remarkable job of providing factual details about each march, helping readers to visualize what it might have been like to be there. He personalizes many of the events by using photographs and statements from participants, giving readers an idea of the experiences that led to these movements for change.

Regardless of the size of the role they played in organizing the marches, the presence of young people always stood out to those standing on the sidelines, not quite sure if they were ready to participate themselves. That is the reason why books like Kids on the March are so important. Advocacy is not easy. It can even be dangerous. However, knowing that young people have marched throughout history and have contributed to global and national progress is a reminder to children and teens that they have a voice. Long takes us on a trip through United States’ history from 1903 to the present day (ending with the George Floyd protests). By closing the book with “Tips for Marching,” Long invites readers to continue the legacy of these marchers.

At first, I didn't know what to rate this but I think 4 stars seems reasonable.

I wholeheartedly recommend this book as a conversation started between parents/guardians and kids to help teach kids how to take charge of their own destiny. It speaks to finding your own sense of agency (there's even a guide to starting your own protest in the back) that I personally think will help broaden any child's horizon. However, this book is appropriate for all ages as the information and time period that it covers means that there's bound to be at least one cause/protest that you didn't know much about.

Very accessible.

Thank you to Algonquin Young Readers for providing me with this book in exchange for my honest opinion. Kids on the March will be available on March 23rd.

Kids on the March touched me, educated me, inspired me, and left me in awe of what children have done, and continue to do, when confronted with injustice. While adults sometimes waffle- or even turn a blind eye- children stand up for change.

“When democracy was threatened, kids were there. When people on the margins needed a voice of protest, kids were there. In some cases, kids were there, marching and chanting, long before adults even thought about protesting.”– Michael G. Long

This isn’t your average history book. Aside from the fact that it focuses entirely on children’s activism throughout history, it educates in a way that is accessible for older children without speaking down to them. While there is no glorification in the sometimes ugly response to demands for change, it is also not left out. There is no pretending that opposition doesn’t exist. At the same time, the focus is on the kids’ activism.

I loved the timeline that is provided at the beginning of the book. As a homeschool teacher, this will be extremely handy. For me personally, it helped highlight how active children have been, and for how long. Kids on the March starts in 1903 and goes all the way up to 2020! That is a long history of children standing up and moving the world. It was truly astonishing to see.

There were several marches/protests that I knew nothing about. Whether that is an oversight throughout school history classes, or me just not paying enough attention growing up, it was surprising to see. There were a few early protests over issues that were eerily similar to things happening now.

At the end, there are “tips for marching”, which is exactly what it sounds like. Children can shake the world and affect change by standing up and speaking out. In many ways, children have been examples to adults. They have been examples of bravery, compassion, and action.

Kids on the March made me cry on more than one occasion. It provided me with teachable moments for my child, and moved me. I cannot recommend this book enough.

Highlights ordinary kids who have stood up for justice at rallies, marches, and protests. Puts current civil rights movements, e.g., Black Lives Matter in historical context, beginning with the March of the Mill Children (for child textile workers, 1903) up through the killing of George Floyd. Beautifully designed with timelines and numerous photo illustrations. Includes Tips for Marching - Before and After.

Kids on the March is an inspiring book about kids and activism. The book tells the story of 15 different protests that children have participated in between 1903 and 2020. The book is well written, touching on important subjects in a way that children can understand. It demonstrates to children that they do have a voice and it can be heard. By reading about other children who were willing to stand up for what they believe in despite adversity, children can be inspired to stand up for what they think is right. I think that it is important for children to realize that adults aren't the only ones that can change the world and I would highly recommend this book to everyone!

There was a lot to love in this book: great detailed descriptions of children-led marches, vivid pictures, and truth. At the same time, this book would have benefited from some editing to emphasize the marches that were truly child-led. For example, "The Bonus March" only talks about children in relation to families marching. Given that this was the second chapter, it will probably deter younger readers looking for a book about people their age doing something about issues they care about. Still, it's a good resource.