We Have Something to Say!

Adebut middle-grade novel offers a tale of child-centered climate change activism.

Quiet and broody Jenny Barajas takes a field trip with her classmates and their science teacher, Ms. Morgan, to San Francisco Bay, where they learn about the human impact on ocean waters and marine life. Jenny’s

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older sister, Jackie, is passionate about the climate crisis, but Jenny finds her patronizing, so she’s never paid much attention to what she says. However, after the field trip, Jenny begins to ask questions and do her own research regarding climate change, realizing that the problem is bigger than she imagined. With the help of Ms. Morgan, she urges her classmates to write letters to their congressional representative to vote yes on a plastic ban; she also documents how much recyclable trash is left outside the bins at school and discusses ways in which students can increase awareness about single-use plastics in their communities. Jenny also learns about how her parents moved away from their old neighborhood to avoid health risks associated with a hazardous recycling plant that polluted the water and soil. As Jenny gains self-confidence and independence, she begins to bond with and learn from her sister. Later, she leads her class in organizing an art show to raise funds so that more schools can embrace sustainability. Over the course of this novel, Myers successfully reveals the effects of environmental pollution, especially in underrepresented Latinx communities in Northern California. However, rather than representing Latinx people as a monolith, she ably addresses socio-economic disparities and differences in access to resources within Latinx communities, resulting in a diversity of characters with unique perspectives. The author also challenges the pitfalls of the educational system—particularly in terms of what educators consider to be important information—and captivatingly highlights the necessity of empowering young people, encouraging collaboration, and pursuing common goals.

A lively coming-of-age story about caring for the environment.

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