Marley Dias Gets It Done: And So Can You!

by Marley Dias

Overview

Marley Dias, the powerhouse girl-wonder who started the #1000blackgirlbooks campaign, speaks to kids about her passion for making our world a better place, and how to make their dreams come true!

Marley Dias, the powerhouse girl-wonder who started the #1000blackgirlbooks campaign, speaks to kids about her passion for making our world a better place, and how to make their dreams come true!

In this accessible guide with an introduction by Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Ava DuVernay, Marley Dias explores activism, social justice, volunteerism, equity and inclusion, and using social media for good. Drawing from her experience, Marley shows kids how they can galvanize their strengths to make positive changes in their communities, while getting support from parents, teachers, and friends to turn dreams into reality. Focusing on the importance of literacy and diversity, Marley offers suggestions on book selection, and delivers hands-on strategies for becoming a lifelong reader.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781338136890
Publisher:	Scholastic, Inc.
Publication date:	01/30/2018
Pages:	208
Sales rank:	151,584
Product dimensions:	7.00(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Marley Dias made headlines as a sixth grader when she started the #1000BlackGirlBooks campaign to collect children's books featuring black protagonists. Her initiative led to appearances on The Nightly Show, Today, CBS This Morning, and many more. Marley has been featured in the New York Times, has been recognized as a "21 under 21" ambassador for Teen Vogue, is an editor in residence for Elle.com, and launched a national literacy tour in partnership with the White House. Marley lives in New Jersey with her parents.

Table of Contents

Introduction 10

Prologue: Do Something 11

1 Herstory: Who I Am, How This All Began 16

2 Meet My Family: Welcome to My Village 32

3 Girls Like Me: Smart, Funny, Interesting, Adventurous 52

4 My Africa: The Global Village 66

5 Oh So Social: I Could Google Myself, But… 78

6 Be the Change You Want to See in the World: Get Woke! 96

7 The Activist's Toolbox: 21 Stay-Strong Strategies 126

8 How to Read: Why It's More Than Words 144

9 Finding the Goods: Bye-Bye, Hide-and-seek 160

10 Book Talking: Seeing Is Believing 170

11 Getting It Done: Today, Tomorrow, Always 178

Acknowledgments 189

1000 Is My Lucky Number: Black Girl Books Resource Guide 194

What People are Saying About This

Hillary Clinton

"I love [Marley's] "Black Girl Books" project so much. Keep striving for your goals, and remember that it's good to be ambitious. There's nothing wrong with knowing what you want and going after it... [Marley] is proof of that."

Melissa Harris-Perry

"If you are standing near [Marley], you better roll up your sleeves, because she will make sure you help too. That is Marley."

Bustle

"Seriously, folks, Marley Dias is the coolest..."

Hello Giggles

"Talk about black girl magic in a huge, huge way! Oh Marley Dias, we wanna be just like you!"

Fox 29

"She is a force to be reckoned with."

Ava DuVernay

"[Marley's] a dynamic young woman who!"

Teen Vogue

"It's not hard to imagine that one day soon Marley. . . will be the protagonist of one of the books she fought so hard to have represented in her classroom."

Charlie Rose

"[Marley] has a wonderful presence. . . "

Ellen DeGeneres

"[Marley] is already making a mark on the world."

Elle.com

"Dias will make for a savvy magazine editor, obviously. But we think there's a good case to be made for her future in politics."

Editorial Reviews

01/29/2018
Thirteen-year-old Dias—who launched the #1000blackgirlbooks book drive campaign when she was in sixth grade—offers an insightful and uplifting guide to becoming an activist. “If black girls’ stories are missing, then the implication is that they don’t matter,” she writes, explaining why she started the book drive. “I didn’t like it so I had to do something.” With humor and sensitivity, Dias speaks to issues of race beyond representation in books; one section uses Disney princesses to introduce the concept of being “woke.” Acknowledging the invaluable encouragement of her parents, Dias advocates for her peers to follow their passions and instincts—even if the impact starts small. Color photos of Dias appear throughout, and a list of 500 books featuring black girls is included. Ages 10–up. (Jan.)

Publishers Weekly

* "Dias' magnetic personality, outlook on life, and passion for change enliven every page, making this both a fun read and an irresistible call to action for people of all ages and backgrounds." — Kirkus Reviews, starred review

* "An invaluable selection for any public and school library collection." — School Library Journal, starred review

Praise for Marley Dias:

"I love [Marley's] 'Black Girl Books' project so much. Keep striving for your goals, and remember that it's good to be ambitious. There's nothing wrong with knowing what you want and going after it... [Marley] is proof of that." - Hillary Clinton

"[Marley] is already making a mark on the world." — Ellen DeGeneres

"It's not hard to imagine that one day soon Marley. . . will be the protagonist of one of the books she fought so hard to have represented in her classroom." — Teen Vogue

"If you are standing near [Marley], you better roll up your sleeves, because she will make sure you help, too. That is Marley." — Melissa Harris-Perry

"Dias will make for a savvy magazine editor, obviously. But we think there's a good case to be made for her future in politics." — Elle.com

"She is a force to be reckoned with." — Fox 29

"Seriously, folks, Marley Dias is the coolest..." — Bustle

"Talk about black girl magic in a huge, huge way! Oh Marley Dias, we wanna be just like you!" — Hello Giggles

From the Publisher

★ 02/01/2018
Gr 5 Up—Dias pens an eminently readable and nuanced personal narrative of her #1000BlackGirlsBooks campaign and her tips, tools, and strategies for effecting positive change in the representation of Black girls in children's literature and beyond. The work opens with Dias's poignant recollection of how Jacqueline Woodson's Brown Girl Dreaming raised questions about why the award-winning title, and other selections by Black authors, weren't a part of her school's assigned reading. Dias's effervescent personality and style shine as she discusses her family, love of sushi, trip to Ghana, relationship to social media, and more—never underestimating the audience ("For the record, just this once, let me say: Hard things come and go, but it seems like racism always stays. There, I said it. And I'm doing all I can to change it."). The text encourages readers to find and pursue their interests, provides valuable advice on activism (including how charity and activism are not the same thing), and strongly recommends reading for knowledge and pleasure. Dias's beloved list of 1,000 books is included at the end. The eye-catching photos, empowering pull quotes, and bright pastel page borders make for a thoughtful design and will have readers returning to the book again and again. VERDICT An invaluable selection for any public and school library collection.—Jess Gafkowitz, Brooklyn Public Library

School Library Journal

★ 2018-01-22
Teen social justice activist Dias shares her passion for changing the world.When Dias was in sixth grade, she was "sooo sick and tired of reading books about white boys and their dogs!" She wondered why her school's required-reading list didn't include any books by black authors. In particular, she longed for books that featured black girls like her as the main characters. That wish became a hashtag—#1000BlackGirlBooks—and then a campaign to collect 1,000 children's books featuring black girl protagonists. The campaign made headlines and has taken social media-savvy Dias across the country and beyond. Now a teenager, Dias shares her journey and her commitment to making the world a better place. And, as the book's title suggests, she seeks to inspire and empower others to do their part. Part memoir, part history lesson, part social activism 101, Dias' story draws readers into her world. The book reads like a lively, nonstop conversation with Dias, covering everything from social media safety tips and "stay-strong" activist strategies to her love of fashion—and how she doesn't always agree with her parents. Dias wants readers to know the difference between charity and activism, which Disney princess is the most woke, and what it was like to visit a landmark along what was once the trans-Atlantic slave trade route. In a chapter on her personal style, she takes pride in her "crown" of black-girl hair. Dias understands that the personal is political and that one person has the power to make a difference.Dias' magnetic personality, outlook on life, and passion for change enliven every page, making this both a fun read and an irresistible call to action for people of all ages and backgrounds. (Nonfiction. 10-16)

Kirkus Reviews

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