*This is of the preview because I didn't read it in time and now it's difficult to find without purchasing*

I can't speak to the whole book, but I really appreciate how the introduction breaks how the different privileges & types of oppression people have and how they can intersect. I *love* that right from the beginning it discusses how "being an ally means when you screw up (and you will), you apologise and do better.... but you don't insist on forgiveness....". This is such an important point because many people (myself included) will mess up and in their guilt will override the conversation and the person that has been hurt. At best, it's minimizing and at worst it is a form of abuse. I did a rather substantial essay on how the expectation of forgiveness in post-conflict societies just further marginalises people in the name of peace (because forced forgiveness for some nebulous 'greater good' is toxic), so I am glad that right from the beginning this book makes clear that forgiveness should not be expected and that when you screw up, you don't guilt the injured party into consoling you over your misdeeds.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for giving me access to the advanced copy of this book to read.

A great resource for allies. I loved the essay format and the different experiences shared in each one.

I really enjoyed this. Being an ally is such a necessary goal to continue to reach for. This was a great book looking at hoe allies can show up, shut up and speak up. It shows how as an ally your goal is not to save the world, but to elevate and stand by marginalized people so they have support, not a mouthpiece. I would highly recommend this to anyone who is learning how to become a better ally or just learning how to be an ally at all.

The book is addressed to younger people and teenagers, so the language is easy to follow and all the used terms are explained in a digestible way. I loved the resources at the end of the book! The self reflection prompts made the experience of reading the essays more introspective and reflective, and the book list helped me add several titles to my TBR pile.

Allies is such an important book in today’s world. Although many of the things explained in it are probably already known to people who consider themselves allies, it’s a great starting point for the younger generations. It’s also a quick and amazing refresher course for all of us, no matter our age or experience, because allyship is a lifelong work which requires constant learning.

This is an important and great read. A lot of times people want to do something, to be better, but aren’t sure of where to start and this book will help with that. I will definitely be purchasing this for my library.

Love the layout of this book. It's colorful and creative without being too "busy" its graphics will appeal to a broad audience, including the younger crowd. It's filled with relevant information about being an ally to groups who are marginalized and have faced discrimination. Very interesting and informational read

Honest writing, relevant topics, and an inviting design and voice. This book is a must-share with young readers — and older readers can learn from its content, as well. Highly recommended.

Allies includes 16 chapters written by different authors that help and inspire the reader on their lifelong journey of being an ally. Each chapter includes tips and inspirational stories/anecdotes, and each contributor explains how complicated being an ally can be without the pretense that they have all the answers or that they (or you) have never made mistakes while trying to be an ally.

As Shakirah Bourne says in Chapter 7, "A key step to becoming an ally is empathy - opening your eyes to the reality of the less privileged and acknowledging that despite your best efforts, you may have implicit biases and prejudices."

These stories do not eliminate how uncomfortable and hard conversations about inequality and race are in various contexts and occasions, but help us further see the importance of having them even when it's not easy.

I also enjoyed a lot how chapter 8 was narrated in a comic format and the last section that included lists of important organizations, resources, and books/digital media.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC!

This is a great read to start your journey to becoming a more educated ally! Some of the formatting wasn't the easiest to follow in the E-ARC but that wouldn't be an issue when reading a physical copy.

Ally, checking privilege, showing up, keep trying,

This book is a fantastic starting point for anyone to learn what it means to be an ally. The formate and wording were fun, light and easy to understand. I really liked how accessible the chapters were with a focus that no one is perfect and mistakes are understandable so long as you continue to try and learn with an open heart and mind.

I will definitely be keeping a copy in my classroom.

Special thank you to NetGalley and DK Publishing for sharing this digital copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
#NetGalley #AlliesRealTalk

Allies is a brilliant book that offer perspectives seldom found elsewhere. The variety of perspectives and personal experiences shared is so valuable for any reader. I would recommend this book to anyone.

See my starred review in School Library Journal at https://www.slj.com/?reviewDetail=allies-real-talk-about-showing-up-screwing-up-and-trying-again

What a timely and incredible book that should be required reading in our education system. I loved the framework of this book and felt that it helped me fly through this book. Many times people feel as though they are being an "ally" but in fact may be causing more of a hindrance than they realize. This provides feedback and perspectives that many may not be aware of, in a very friendly and inviting way. I encourage all readers who want a "playbook" on how to be a helpful ally in today's world, pick this up, you WILL NOT be disappointed!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an advanced reader's copy in exchange for my review.

This is an easy to read collection of essays/offerings from some YA authors, giving samples/examples of how to step up to be an ally, to be a positive in someone's life. Some might tell a story about when they saw someone step up, or when they themselves stepped up, or they might tell about when they didn't show up for another....& should have. And they talk about how standing up for someone isn't always the easiest thing to do, & can even be complicated. At the end of the book is a list of some organizations/resources that can offer some help, also some book recommendations, websites & digital media & podcasts that address this cause. The book is a good offering on a worthwhile subject....& not just for YA readers, but older readers too!
I received an e-copy of the book from the publisher via NetGalley, for review purposes. These are my own honest thoughts/opinions.

Allies is an incredible collection of essays focusing on allyship, written by YA authors. The stories these authors share are personal and varied, just like their experiences: some essays are about the allyship they extended towards other people, some were about how they received help and support from other people and what it meant for them. Some, and I personally think those were the most important, were about failing as an ally. There is a big emphasis on the fact that everyone will make mistakes even if they mean well and I believe it’s a crucial fact that needs to be talked about, because the fear of failing often stops people from doing the right thing. The essays show the ways some authors failed, but then improved, how they managed to learn and move on from missteps.

The book is addressed to younger people and teenagers, so the language is easy to follow and all the used terms are explained in a digestible way. I loved the resources at the end of the book! The self reflection prompts made the experience of reading the essays more introspective and reflective, and the book list helped me add several titles to my TBR pile.

Allies is such an important book in today’s world. Although many of the things explained in it are probably already known to people who consider themselves allies, it’s a great starting point for the younger generations. It’s also a quick and amazing refresher course for all of us, no matter our age or experience, because allyship is a lifelong work which requires constant learning.

3 stars

This read was a bit middle of the road for me. There were a few entries that I really liked and felt that they went above the basic primer/101 of intersectional allyship, but overall I felt that the majority of the pieces were very surface level. I think that this collection is more geared towards those just starting to come in to their activism and acknowledgement of their privilege, but not really for those who are looking for more nuanced texts.

Still I think guides, texts, and collections like this are really great to have because no matter where you are in your understanding of privilege and being an ally it is great that awareness is there; and that you are trying to work on being a more informed and active member in fighting against white supremacy, while also learning how to do that without talking over people of color and the other voices you are trying to stand with. So overall I think this is a nice place to start but those who are wanting a more nuanced and layered text may want to look somewhere else.

ARC given by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

Thanks to the publisher for providing an eARC of Allies: Real Talk About Showing Up, Screwing Up, and Trying Again in exchange for an honest review.

This was really well done. Allies takes a very conversational approach to teaching about allyship in all of its essays which means it both more easily consumable and more impactful while also being able to teach it's audience more about the many facets, complexities, and ways they can be an ally. All the essays in this are distinctively important and add more to the collection and while it'd be impossible to make a perfect guide on allyship, this one comes pretty close.

Pros: As a white woman, I recognize that I am in the position to be an ally, and I think it will be a life-long learning experience to be an ally for the people both in my life and those who I do not know. I appreciated the subtitle of this book and the recognition that those of us who want to be allies aren’t always going to get it right but that we can try again. It recognizes that we cannot just declare ourselves to be allies and always get it right—that can be complicated, and we will make mistakes.

Regarding the individual essays, I appreciated the diversity of experiences and types of allyship featured—race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, ability, etc. I thought the first essay was a fantastic overview to allyship and would be great to share with people who are new to the concept. Although I thought these essays would be more for young adults, I found them to be accessible to allies of all ages.

I thought the resources included at the end of this book were fantastic for continuing the work toward allyship. I especially appreciated that it included action items and provided scripts.

Cons: None that I can think of except it is disheartening to think of those people who will shy away from books like this. I can see how some people (e.g., the all-lives-matter types, the love the sinner types) would think this book is not for them, but I think those people are the ones who need this book the most.

Thank you to NetGalley and DK, DK Children for the opportunity to read this book.

Allies is a collection of essays that talk up close and personal about what it means to be an ally and why it's so important. This entire book really felt like sitting down with some friends and listening to their heartfelt stories. I found myself really enjoying the various writing styles and I hope to follow the work of the various people involved. Definitely recommend this book.