Nevertheless, We Persisted: 48 Voices of Defiance, Strength, and Courage

Gr 9 Up—All of the contributors—each from different racial and ethnic backgrounds, religions, and sexual orientations—share their experiences and stories of persistence in the face of adversity. They include Prisca Dorcas Mojica Rodriguez, who founded the online platform Latina Rebels; Maneet Chauhan, a woman who defied cultural expectations by becoming a chef; and James Lecesne, the cofounder of a suicide hotline for LGBTQIA teens, the Trevor Project. Some of the prevailing topics center on feminism and women's rights, immigrant experiences, Black Lives Matter, LGBTQIA representation and rights, religion, and homelessness. Each story brings a different perspective to these important conversations and movements. Some notable entries include a letter written to Noah Pozner, who was killed in the Sandy Hook shooting, from his sister Danielle Vaber, who has since become an advocate for gun control; and a piece by Fanny Star, a Holocaust survivor. While most of works are essays, there is a short comic, a letter, and an interview as well. The back matter includes discussion questions for a book club or classroom setting.