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Read Woke West Lothian

Develop your knowledge of social justice issues through a new reading challenge brought to you by West Lothian libraries and James Young High School.

The James Young High School and Lanthorn Library in Livingston are the first in West Lothian to roll out the reading challenge, which aims to help young people broaden their understanding and engagement with social injustice issues.

The 'Read Woke' challenge was first developed in the United States of America in 2017, and aims to inspire young people to celebrate diversity and explore social viewpoints by reading books outside their social norm.

Young people can choose one of the 14 carefully selected titles to read, complete a review card and collect stamps to earn a pin badge.

Read more about the origins of Read Woke and founder Cicely Lewis here: Read Woke Librarian (opens new window)

Click the following link to watch: James Young High School pupils views on Read Woke (opens new window) 

 

 

Read Woke West Lothian Challenge

The black flamingo by Dean Atta
 
The Long Way Down: The graphic novel by Jason Reynolds
 
A kind of spark by Elle McNicoll
 
And the stars were burning brightly by Danielle Jawando
Boy, everywhere by A.M. Dassu
 
Cane warriors by Alex Wheatle
 
Chinglish by Sue Cheung
Dear Martin by Nic Stone
  
Finding balance by Kati Gardner
 
New kid by Jerry Craft
Rat by Patrice Lawrence
 
Sonny and me by Ross Sayers
 
The Henna wars by Adiba Jaigirdar

(click book image to preview or borrow from the library catalogue)

 

Read Woke Collectors Card
 Choose the books you wish to borrow from our Read Woke library (opens new window)(click link to view collection in library catalogue) or visit the Lanthorn library in person.

Complete a Read Woke postcard every time you finish a book or complete online here: Read Woke Review Form (opens new window). Postcards are available from the Lanthorn library.

Collect a stamp for each book you read and earn a badge for each 4 books read. Badges can be sent to you local library for collection.

Please note; books can be reserved using your online library account and delivered to your local library for collection using click & collect. 

 

"Five Pillars of Read Woke Books"

Inspired by the belief that knowledge is power, Read Woke Books are grounded by five pillars. Read Woke Books seek to:

  1. Amplify the voices of people of the global majority*
  2. Provide information about groups that have been disenfranchised
  3. Share perspectives of people who have been underrepresented or oppressed
  4. Challenge social norms and disrupt the status quo
  5. Encourage readers to take action in their community

*People of the global majority is an affirming and empowering term that has been embraced by many people to describe the majority of the world who are people of African, Arab, Asian, and Latin American descent and identify as not white.

Read more: I'm Embracing the Term "People of the Global Majority" (opens new window)