Sarah Rising
Author: Ty Chapman
Illustrator: DeAnn Wiley
24 May 2022
Beaming Books
40 pages
Book description from Goodreads: “Sarah starts her day like any other day: she eats her toast and feeds her bugs. But today isn’t a day like any other day. Today, her dad brings her to a protest to speak out against police violence against Black people. The protesters are loud, and Sarah gets scared. When Sarah spots a beautiful monarch butterfly and follows it through the crowd, she finds herself inside the no-man’s land between the line of police and protesters. In the moments that follow, Sarah is confronted with the cruelty of those who are supposed to protect her and learns what it feels like to protect and be protected.
Inspired by the protests that happened during the Minneapolis Uprising after the police killing of George Floyd, Sarah Rising provides a child’s-eye view of a protest and offers an opportunity for children to talk about why people take to the streets to protest racial injustice. Readers will gain a new appreciation for how important it is to be part of a community of people who protect each other.
Backmatter includes a note from the author about his experience growing up as a Black boy in the Twin Cities, information about the Minneapolis Uprising, and practical ways kids can get involved in activism.”
Need some reviews on Sarah Rising?
As a bonus, here’s an interview with the author at Tara Lazar’s blog.
Educational Activities inspired by Ty Chapman’s Sarah Rising:
- Before Reading–From looking at the front and back cover:
- When and where do you think this story takes place?
- What is the child doing on the front cover?
- What emotion is that child feeling? Are the other people feeling the same thing?
- What do you think this story will be about? What makes you think that?
- What questions would you like to ask the author before you read the book?
- After Reading–Now that you’ve read the story:
- Were you surprised by the pets that Sarah had? What type of person has pets like that?
- What did you predict was going to happen when Sarah’s dad said she wasn’t going to school that day but instead was going with him to a protest?
- How did you react when the policeman smacked the butterfly?
- When Sarah ran off with the injured butterfly and got lost, how did the art change?
- At the end of the book, Sarah was yelling along with everyone else? Why didn’t she yell and chant before?
- Which picture did you think was the most powerful? Why?
- Did you like this book? Why/why not?
- Discussing–Sarah Rising is a story about a very challenging topic. What questions do you have? How did it make you feel? Is there any part you didn’t understand? If you were Sarah, would you have done anything different? Whatever you think, feel, or wonder is perfectly okay. Read the book again with an adult family member or friend, then talk about what you think, feel, and wonder. Listen to what they think, feel, and wonder, too.
- Writing–If this book had a sequel, what would it be? Write that story yourself in any way that you choose. Use colored pencils, crayons, or markers to create your own art, if you want. Consider sharing your story with a friend or family member.
- Listening–Many real-world kids are involved in real-world activism. In the video below, how does Michael’s story connect with Sarah Rising?
- Further Reading–Learn more about children and activism by reading these exciting books. Which of these have you already read? Which of the others would you want to read first? (Click on any book cover for more information on these titles!)
