Building Allyship Through Middle Grade Literature
Empathy without action means little when it comes to allyship. However, knowing all the “right things” theoretically does not always translate into action. So what can libraries do to help young people prepare to act when it counts?
These questions were at the center of Speaking Up: Using Middle Grade Books to Build Allyship Muscles, presented by Tanvi Rastogi at PLA 2026. Rastogi discussed her work on Good Books, Young Troublemakers and how libraries can help tween and teen patrons practice allyship skills through book club discussions and roleplay activities.
I was honored to receive a scholarship to attend the PLA Conference in Minneapolis in April 2026. As an aspiring teen librarian, I was especially excited by the number of sessions focused on youth and teen services, and Speaking Up quickly became one of the highlights of my conference experience.
What Is Good Books, Young Troublemakers?
Good Books, Young Troublemakers (GBYT) is a tween and teen book club program curated by Rastogi. Each selected title encourages participants to reflect on power, privilege, and identity. Rastogi creates discussion guides with questions and roleplay scenarios that help participants practice responding to injustice.
The program is divided into two major components. The first focuses on empathy-building and helping participants identify moments of injustice or bigotry within the text. Rastogi emphasized the importance of introducing concepts and terminology such as intersectionality and colonialism, even if participants do not immediately remember the terms themselves. Naming these concepts helps participants recognize the systems and behaviors around them. As Rastogi explained, “You can’t disrupt what you can’t see.”
The second component focuses on skill-building. Through roleplay and guided discussion, participants practice responding to injustice in realistic situations. The exercises help young people learn how to prioritize the safety and support of those affected by harm, rather than focusing on appearing clever or “winning” an argument. Facilitators can also help participants work through mistakes, discomfort, and difficult emotions in a supportive environment.
Rastogi stressed that allyship is not about changing someone’s mind in a single moment. Instead, it is about supporting others and refusing to allow harmful ideas to become normalized.
Implementing GBYT in Libraries
One of the most exciting aspects of the session was learning that Good Books, Young Troublemakers is not limited to one library or institution. Rastogi makes the discussion guides freely available through the GBYT website.
At the same time, Rastogi emphasized that the success of social justice programming depends on more than having discussion guides or prepared materials. Facilitators need to understand their own motivations and be willing to engage with difficult topics and conversations. Social justice programming requires librarians to move through their own discomfort, support participants thoughtfully, and stay grounded in why the work matters.
For me, that message resonated deeply. I have many reasons for wanting to work with teens and pursue librarianship, but one of the strongest is helping young people believe they are capable of changing the world, even in small ways. Hope, Rastogi reminded attendees, is a skill just like any other.
Practical Takeaways
Rastogi also shared several practical recommendations for librarians interested in implementing similar programs:
- Prioritize the most important concepts and skills first, since discussions rarely cover everything.
- Recognize that book clubs discussing social justice are not neutral spaces, and not every perspective needs to be validated.
- Be mindful of participants’ identities and avoid placing the burden of education on marginalized youth.
- Treat difficult topics with care while still creating a welcoming and enjoyable environment.
Conclusion
Speaking Up: Using Middle Grade Books to Build Allyship Muscles offered thoughtful and practical strategies for helping young people build empathy, confidence, and allyship skills through literature and discussion. Programs like Good Books, Young Troublemakers require care and effort, but they also demonstrate the powerful role libraries can play in helping young people engage thoughtfully with the world around them.
I left the session grateful not only for the ideas shared by Tanvi Rastogi, but also for the opportunity to attend PLA 2026 alongside librarians who are committed to creating thoughtful, inclusive spaces for young people in their communities.
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