Fall 2025

Revolutions Are Made of Love

The Story of James Boggs and Grace Lee Boggs

  • Interest Level: Grade 2 - Grade 5
  • Reading Level: Grade 4

Revolutions are made out of love for people and for place.

This was a core belief of activists and married couple James Boggs and Grace Lee Boggs. James Boggs was a worker from rural Alabama in the segregated South. Grace Lee Boggs was a philosopher from urban Rhode Island and New York City. Both found their life’s work, and each other, in Detroit. James and Grace were drawn to civil rights—and the labor, social, and political organizations through which people struggled for better living conditions for all. What they created together was more than a marriage, it was a partnership. They fought with others for fair housing, jobs, food, labor unions, urban gardens, and more to make the world a better place for all. Their wide-ranging activism spanned the second half of the twentieth century. Authors Sun Yung Shin and Mélina Mangal present the lives and ideas of James and Grace in an inspiring collection of paired poems with bold mixed-media artwork by debut picture book illustrator Leslie Barlow.

Format Your Price Add
979-8-7656-1152-4
On pre-order until 11/04/2025
$18.99
979-8-7656-7325-6
On pre-order until 11/04/2025
$23.99
Available at all major wholesalers and distributors. Save 25% off list price on library bound hardcovers and all eBook and eBook with Audio editions when you buy direct! Digital purchases will be accessed on Lerner Digital Bookshelf. An account will be created for you after purchase.
Interest Level Grade 2 - Grade 5
Reading Level Grade 4
Genre Picture Books, Social Studies
Category Biography, Diverse Books: Social Justice, Diversity, Reading/Language Arts, Social Emotional Learning
Copyright 2025
Publisher Lerner Publishing Group
Imprint Carolrhoda Books ®
Language English
Number of Pages 40
Publication Date 2025-11-04
Text Type Poetry
BISACS JNF042000, JNF007110, JNF071000
Dewey 811/.6
Dimensions 9.25 x 11
Guided Reading Level TBD
Features Author/Illustrator biography, Author/Illustrator note, Glossary, Original artwork, and Timeline

Author: Mélina Mangal

Mélina Mangal writes picture books, biographies, and short stories that focus on connections with nature and culture. She is the author of The Vast Wonder of the World: Biologist Ernest Everett Just, winner of the Carter G. Woodson Award, Jayden’s Impossible Garden, named One of the Best Children’s Books of the Year by Bank Street Center for Children’s Literature, and the sequel, Jayden’s Secret Ingredient. Mélina also works as a school library media teacher in Minneapolis, spreading book love daily.

Author: Sun Yung Shin

신 선 영 Sun Yung Shin is a Korean American poet, fiction writer, nonfiction writer, editor, and educator. Her books include four collections of poetry: The Wet Hex (Coffee House Press, 2022); Unbearable Splendor (Coffee House Press, 2016, Minnesota Book Award winner); Rough, and Savage (Coffee House Press, 2012); and Skirt Full of Black (Coffee House Press, 2006, Asian American Literary Award). Her poetry has been supported with fellowships and grants from the MacDowell Residency, the Archibald Bush Foundation, the McKnight Foundation, and the Minnesota State Arts Board. She lives in Minneapolis near Minnehaha Creek.

Illustrator: Leslie Barlow

Leslie Barlow is an artist living and working on occupied Očeti Šakówin and Wahpekute land now known as Minneapolis, MN. In 2021 Barlow was awarded the Jerome Hill Artist Fellowship, and in 2019 she was awarded both the McKnight Visual Artist Fellowship and the 20/20 Springboard Fellowship. She exhibits her work through the United States including the Minnesota Museum of American Art, Minneapolis Institute of Art, and the Weisman Art Museum. Barlow currently teaches at the University of Minnesota and leads the Public Functionary Studio Program for emerging artists.