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.