A collection of stories from young adult authors about supporting each other. Could be a good classroom resource for teachers.

Edited by authors Shakirah Bourne and Dana Alison Levy, who also contribute, Allies is as the title suggests is an accounting of “real talk about showing up, screwing up, and trying again.” Sixteen very real, very honest accounts of allyship in all its forms from authors/speakers/activists such as Adiba Jaigirdar, Eric Smith, Marietta B. Zacker, Naomi and Natalie Evans, Andrea L. Rogers, and many more.

Now, depending on where you are on your journey to being an ally to marginalized people, this book will either be a revelation or further reinforcement that you are doing right by a people who have historically been vilified, abused, demeaned, and held back through no fault of their own. If it’s a case of the former, welcome to allyship, and like almost anything else you’ll realize quickly that being an ally is not monolithic. It takes on many shapes and sizes, and not everyone you meet will be one of history’s greatest revolutionaries. In fact, many of the things you’ll do as an ally are actually quite small, easily accessible, and seemingly insignificant, and that should assuage any sense of anxiety or dismay you may have at the prospect of such an endeavor. But trust me when I say this, while the actions may appear inconsequential, that pales in comparison to the impact you can have on someone else’s life.

Allies starts off with an “Allyship for dummies…” type of chapter from one of the book’s editors, Dana Alison Levy, and if that was the entirety of this book, that would be good enough. It’s a plainly spoken but highly effective introduction to the world of allyship. It’s also a pragmatically imbued pithy primer for the 15 or so real-life testimonials you’re about to go through, which, full disclosure, may be difficult reading for some. Truth and honesty are like that, they’re not always easy to hear, especially when it causes an uncomfortable yet inevitable bit of self-reflection, but you can’t start your journey without them, it’s that simple. You can’t afford to and neither can the marginalized people who may need your allyship.

These testimonials and attestations deliver a wide cross-section of bigotry, ignorance, and hate, covering a decent amount of real estate in the spectrum of allyship. Intersexuality, physical disabilities, mental health, racism, sexism, and Islamophobia are all touched upon in some way by these audacious souls, and that’s just a few of the topics you can expect to read about either as a solo act or through the lens of Intersectionality. Put simply, these authors share their truths, moments of honest reflections and deliberations all meant to provide real life examples of both good and bad allyship.

Ultimately the point of all this is to show you that bigotry, ableism, chauvinism, any “ism” and “phobia” you can dream up takes many forms, and therefor so should your allyship. Brendan Keily says, “Doing nothing is behaviour” and that’s a very powerful statement as it really calls out a majority of the population who don’t always say something, when they see something. It’s a truism that saying nothing is as complicit as the hateful act itself, whatever it may be, and I urge those new to ally-dom to flex this muscle early and often. So, if you’re struggling to find a starting point, make it this, if you see something, say something.

What’s great about this book is the complete lack of pretension; it isn’t preachy, it isn’t performative, it’s real people talking about real issues, and what you do with that information is entirely up to you. There are no glares being cast nor are their judgements being made, it’s an honest exchange, a silent understanding that if this book is in your hands, guidance and insight is exactly what you’re looking for. And entries like Brendan Kiely’s A Bus, A Poster, and a Mirror and I.W. Gregorio’s From Author, to Ally, to Co-conspirator which obstinately describes situations in their life when they were circumspect in the defense of others, really help form this narrative around the concept of reconciliation through learning, through listening, through atonement.

And the back matter of the book titled, “Stuff to think about…” allows you to do just that, which is really more of a resource guide, meant to kick-start your journey into allyship, help you organize your thoughts and put together an action plan. There you’ll find things such as organizations you can support, helpful books, advice when it comes to social interactions, and so on. It’s meant to help you come to terms with everything you’ve just read, which can be very emotional at times, and help sort through your feelings on any one particular issue or multiple even. It compartmentalizes the different avenues so that you can find one that’s perhaps best suited for you; help you achieve realistic goals in both the short and long term. Remember what I said about no one person can do it all? Well, this is the part of the book where the rubber meets the road so to speak, putting some action behind those core values, character gasoline.

While not necessarily a forensic examination at the ills of society or clinical look at human nature, Allies more importantly is a usable and practical guide that is dripping with honesty and truth. And again, depending where you are on your journey, the mileage you get out of this book may vary, but whether it serves as a primer or a means to bolster your resolve, its importance cannot be understated. This is a must-have for anyone hoping, wishing, trying for a better world, and the first step on your allyship journey is an easy one, as Shakirah says, shut up and listen.

Thank you to NetGalley, DK, and DK Children for giving me an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own.

There has been a trend recently to release books with covers like this, and I know if I find them I will be very happy with the content inside. This book was no exception. Allies is a great children's book (at least it is targeted towards children, but it can be a great resource for people of all ages in my opinion) about what allyship means in different contexts through short letters from different authors. These short stories are meaningful and deep without being so complex that younger readers would struggle with the content. It is not an overly long book, but there are many great pieces of information throughout the pages. This is something I think that every library should have as part of the social justice information section, and I think it is a great resource for those children who are not sure where to start and are feeling overwhelmed. I really appreciated the opportunity to read this. 5/5

“Allies: Real Talk About Showing Up, Screwing Up, And Trying Again” by Shakirah Bourne and Dana Alison Levy is a welcome addition to the expanding space surrounding how to be an ally. Through the lens of 16 the different pieces numerous issues were explored. Things such as race, gender identity, disability. Each piece was told in an authentic way that posed important questions for readers to reflect upon. While it may be presented as a book for Young Adults, I think that it serves as a great introduction for teens (high school) and adults of all ages on what allyship is all about.

I appreciated the fact that one of the first pieces emphasized that it’s ok “start small” - that being an ally doesn’t mean you HAVE to attend large rallies or protests or completely change up your routine. It is more about noticing the little things you can do in your everyday life to be there for others. Another piece talked about how being an ally sometimes means *not* doing something - not speaking for others. Instead, it’s about giving people the space to share their experiences. Their stories.

As a white, cis, heterosexual disabled woman at first I wasn’t sure how much I’d relate to some of the experiences described in this book. And to be fair, I can’t say that I 100% do relate to every experience because that would be disingenuous. But, i did notice a feeling of “yeah, I can relate” with almost every piece at one point or another. To me, that shows how well the authors throughout the book did when explaining their experiences. I think this empathy is the first step towards being a good ally.

Finally, something that is also really cool about this book is the inclusion of author suggested resources on the various topics discussed, practical suggestions such as phrasing examples for having difficult conversations and numerous reflection prompts! These could serve as discussion questions within a small group or in a classroom, essay topic ideas, or simply as things the reader can reflect upon in whatever way works best for them.

In conclusion, I think that this book is going to be an important step forward in promoting allyship and understanding of experiences different from our own.

Many thanks to DK Publishing NetGalley for this e-ARC for review in exchange for my honest review.

This book is spectacular! This collection of voices are diverse and will inspire you to be a better person. You will feel your heart break and be warmed by these storytellers. This book should be used in classrooms to help students learn about empathy, kindness, and compassion. I guarantee you will learn something from reading this book.

This was such an incredible, diverse anthology, and I don't think I could recommend it enough!

"Allies" is an anthology of 16 different essays discussing what exactly an ally is. It was incredibly heartfelt and emotional, and each essay felt personal. The line-up in and of itself was extremely diverse, covering race, sexuality, gender, religion, and disability.

I felt like I was learning something new with every page - whether that meant learning something about a specific identity or learning how I can be a better ally. I also found all the essays to be extremely interesting and engaging, and there wasn't a single one I didn't enjoy.

Overall, this is definitely a book I'd recommend. I really felt like I learned a lot, and I'll definitely want to pick up a physical copy at some point!