[From the Dust Jacket]
BEFORE BARACK OBAMA, BEFORE KAMALA HARRIS, THERE WAS “FIGHTING SHIRLEY CHISHOLM.”
From award-winning author Tonya Bolden comes the story of how this daughter of immigrants defied the odds and became the first Black woman elected to the US House of Representatives and the first Black woman from a major political party to run for president. Known for boldly speaking up for what she thought was right, Shirley Chisholm fought for her constituents while also battling sexism and racism in her own life. This “pepper pot,” as she was known, laid the groundwork for a host of women and people of color who later entered politics.
Through Bolden’s extensive research and engaging prose, readers will follow Chisholm’s inspiring life and come to understand how you make change happen when you speak up and speak out.
Ages 9 and up | 144 pages
Hardcover | National Geographic | 2022 | ISBN: 9781426372360
“Speak Up, Speak Out!” Made the List …
2022 Grateful American Book Prize Honorable Mention
RISE: A Feminist Book Project 2023 Honoree (Middle Grade Non-Fiction)
Bank Street College of Education – A 2023 Children’s Best Book of the Year
“Speak Up, Speak Out!” Reviews
“The strength of Bolden’s skill as a researcher is evident; chapter by chapter, she provides succinct but critical context around the motivations and movements of Chisholm’s political career. A foreword by Stacey Abrams helps establish that Chisholm’s legacy is one of political innovation as someone who forged a path for others to follow. This informative book has an engaging narrative structure. The use of repetition and inclusion of memorable pearls of wisdom attributed to Chisholm add a poetic tone. An insightful and focused profile of a political trailblazer.” —Kirkus Reviews
“This lively, detailed look at Chisholm’s personal and political life shines in its portrayal of a strong woman who never backed down; Bolden’s accessible text is great for report writers covering the groundbreaking Chisholm and the momentous time she lived in.” —Booklist
“Tonya Bolden brings Shirley Chisholm’s vibrant spirit to life…an engaging and readable style.” —School Library Connection
Author Interviews and Q&As
School Library Journal, January 25, 2022: Speaking Up and Speaking Out with Tonya Bolden on Shirley Chisholm (Q&A) by Betsy Bird
YA Books Central, February 15, 2022: YABC Interview with Tonya Bolden about Speak Up, Speak Out! (Feb. 2022) (Author Interview) by Beth Edwards