Caroline Paul - You Are Mighty: A Guide to Changing the World

Also by Caroline Paul

The Gutsy Girl: Escapades for Your Life of Epic Adventure

(illustrated by Wendy MacNaughton)

BLOOMSBURY CHILDRENS BOOKS

Bloomsbury Publishing Inc., part of Bloomsbury Publishing Plc

1385 Broadway, New York, NY 10018

This electronic edition published in 2018 by Bloomsbury Publishing Plc

BLOOMSBURY, BLOOMSBURY CHILDRENS BOOKS, and the Diana logo are trademarks of Bloomsbury Publishing Plc

First published in the United States of America in May 2018 by Bloomsbury Childrens Books

Text copyright 2018 by Caroline Paul

Illustrations copyright 2018 by Lauren Tamaki

All rights reserved
You may not copy, distribute, transmit, reproduce or otherwise make available this publication (or any part of it) in any form, or by any means (including without limitation electronic, digital, optical, mechanical, photocopying, printing, recording or otherwise), without the prior written permission of the publisher. Any person who does any unauthorised act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.

Letter used with permission of the Myteberi family.

The author has interviewed Cora Colin, Savanah Blessing, and Tessa Rose-Scheeres. All other stories about young activists are based on media reports and/or books about these inspiring kids.

Activism is never achieved alone! Kids should carefully discuss their activist ideas with their families. Together you can make a plan and choose the tactics that are right for you.

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Paul, Caroline, author. | Tamaki, Lauren, illustrator.

Title: You are mighty : a guide to changing the world / by Caroline Paul ; illustrated by Lauren Tamaki.

Description: New York : Bloomsbury, 2018.

Identifiers: LCCN 2017034366 (print) LCCN 2017039865 (e-book)

ISBN: 978-1-6811-9822-4 (HB)
ISBN: 978-1-6811-9918-4 (eBook)

Subjects: LCSH: Social problemsJuvenile literature. | Social actionJuvenile literature. |

Social changeJuvenile literature.

Classification: LCC HN18.3 .P39 2018 (print) | LCC HN18.3 (e-book) | DDC306dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2017034366

Book design by Elizabeth Van Itallie

To find out more about our authors and their books please visit www.bloomsbury.com where you will find extracts, author interviews and details of forthcoming events, and to be the first to hear about latest releases and special offers, sign up for our newsletter.

TO MY MOM, THE FIRST ACTIVIST IN MY LIFE

CONTENTS

A NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR

Dear Reader,

Kids have the power to change the world.

I know this isnt a surprise to you. After all, youve been standing up for what you like and what you dont since you could talk (maybe even before, if you shouted loud enough). Youve been saying no (to haircuts, vitamins, long car trips) and yes (to ice cream, puppies, those cool sneakers) for pretty much your whole life. Youre excellent at it.

So, what if you used the same skills that youve honed to change your world into changing the world?

Malala Yousafzai of Pakistan won the Nobel Peace Prize at age seventeen, and the announcement of her win probably knocked the socks off many adults. But why were they surprised? Malala began fighting for the rights of girls just like her when she was just eleven years old. She said no (to oppression) and yes (to education for girls), speaking up about right and wrong, justice and injustice, despite death threats and even an attempt on her life! As you can see, this isnt about haircuts and cool clothes. This is superhero stuff. But Malala, despite her integrity and dazzling courage, is merely human, so we dont call her a superhero.

We call her an activist.

This book doesnt tell you what to stand up for, or against. Nor does it define right and wrong, because you have a good sense of that already. What this book does is offer much of what youll need in your own quest for justice. (Except the cape. That you will have to obtain on your own.)

Thank you in advance for changing the world.

Sincerely,

Caroline Paul

(The Author)

INTRODUCTION

Welcome to this how-to manual on being an activist. Youve opened these pages because you are on a quest to change the world. And there is no better time to do it than NOW.

You may be angry about an injustice. You may be scared about a situation youve just heard about. You may be excited to support a cause you believe in. All these feelings are normal. Whats more, these feelings are powerful.

This book will help channel your emotions into action. It offers a simple list of tactics used to great effect by kids just like you. Their stories are not only inspiring but instructive. They identified an issue they cared about. They researched that issue, enlisted friends, parents, and strangers to their cause, and made a plan. Then they acted!

This book also includes concepts vital for your tactics to work, like privilege, intersectionality, and escalation, among others. If youre thinking, Whoa, those are long complicated words, remember that vacation and chocolatefudgesundae are pretty long words, too. So dont be intimidated. Having a good grasp of these ideas and how they apply to you and your cause is key to changing the world for the better.

Now, gather your friends (because world-changing doesnt happen alone), turn the page, and read about tactics that have made a difference before and will make a difference again, with you!

) CHANGE YOUR HABITS