Stay Angry, Little Girl

PreS-Gr 3–“Inspired by the words of Madeleine L’Engle” in her book, A Wrinkle in Time, in which the main character is advised to “stay angry,” this is an exhilarating ode to the power of emotion. The concept is simple and effective: first readers see someone living out a difficult moment, then the way that “staying angry”—and stubborn, and curious, and loud—improves their circumstances. The text is appropriately spare, in sentences that are little more than a variation on the title; no author is credited. The illustrations do much of the work. A young girl and her mothers regard a TV with sadness as it flashes news of anti-LGBTQIA+ bills being proposed, and on the next page, readers see the family marching in the streets, proudly hoisting “Say Gay” and “Protect Trans Kids” signs. In another spread, friends notice a young girl in a hijab sitting alone at lunch and invite her to join them, in turn granting her the confidence to explore her playful side. Characters recur in a way that highlights their interconnectedness: the eager inventor who creates wind turbines from paper cups is the same one riding her wheelchair alongside other allies during the march for gay rights. In a bold cartoon style, Chan’s illustrations are bursting with color and life, and she features a glorious array of skin tones, physical abilities, and ages.