TEAR THIS DOWN

Seventh grader Freya Stillman creates her own brand of community activism after a school project reveals hard truths about the town’s history.

Named for abolitionist Benjamin Wellstone, Freya’s cozy coastal town is very proud of its history. Reading some of Wellstone’s letters for school, she’s surprised and angered to learn that while he may have been a hero to some, he vehemently opposed women’s voting rights. Irish American Freya and her new friend Callie, who presents white and has ADHD, also unearth information about local suffragist Octavia Padgett. They consider her to be more worthy of their attention. The girls publish a fiery op-ed in the town’s website about Benjamin Wellstone’s problematic values and their desire to see the prominent statue of him standing on Wellstone Green removed. The article divides the residents, eliciting strong opinions from the girls’ friends, families, and even the mayor. After some misguided protest attempts that involve vandalizing the statue and lying to her parents, a frustrated (and grounded) Freya finds a new focus for her cause through thoughtful discussions with trusted, empathetic adults. Freya dreams up a project that will honor art protest movements, like the famous AIDS Memorial Quilt, while highlighting little-known local suffragists. The age-appropriate, relatable, and realistic lessons Freya learns are reinforced by supportive grown-ups in her life.

Readers will readily root for the impassioned protagonist on her hard-fought feminist journey.