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Rise Up!: The Art of Protest
Celebrate the right to resist!
Human rights belong to every single one of us, but they are often under threat. Developed in collaboration with Amnesty International, Rise Up! encourages young people to engage in peaceful protest and stand up for freedom. Photographs of protest posters celebrate the ongoing fight for gender equality, civil rights, LGBTQ rights, refugee and immigrant rights, peace, and the environment.
Human rights belong to every single one of us, but they are often under threat. Developed in collaboration with Amnesty International, Rise Up! encourages young people to engage in peaceful protest and stand up for freedom. Photographs of protest posters celebrate the ongoing fight for gender equality, civil rights, LGBTQ rights, refugee and immigrant rights, peace, and the environment.
64 pages, Hardcover
Published March 3, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
April 13, 2020
Each chapter begins with a short essay on a broad "movement" of sorts - women getting the vote, the fight for peace, young people protesting for change (on a variety of issues), etc. The bulk of each chapter is large images of protest posters printed in vibrant colors with short descriptions of the protest the poster was used in and sometimes an explanation of the design.
A few thoughts:
• Each poster includes the name of the designer, the date, and the location. Rippon seems to be trying to get at the idea that protests for human rights are worldwide. Amnesty International is even a partner on this book. Yet Rippon’s choice of posters has a very American-Eurocentric focus. While many of the issues are global, most of the designers of the posters are from the United States, Canada and the UK (e.g., the posters about South Africa apartheid about Malala Yousefz are by U.S. designers). I felt like this was a missed opportunity.
• I was never really clear about the purpose of the book. (The inside flap states, “Protest posters from the last one hundred years show how art can bring about collective action and change.”) I thought the focus was going to be on the art, but it was really on the history of protests for various human rights issues. Most of the descriptions of the posters are about the movements – not about the art, about the layout and design, color choice and so forth. Here and there Rippon does explain the design or ideas behind the design but not consistently, making it a clearer focus. Rippon also does not consistently address “how art can bring about change” – she doesn’t link the art to the change in any of her explanations; there’s not a strong narrative or explanation of the power of the art in these posters or how they were used during the protests.
If you need an easy introduction to human rights movements, this works. The posters add a rich layer of text that students can use to deepen their understanding of a movement; discussion about a poster may launch students into further research. There’s lots of room for conversation by simply asking, “What do you notice in this poster?” and “Why do you think this poster might have been a powerful tool in this movement?”
Charlesbridge, the publisher, recommends the book for ages 8-12. I think the content might be too steep conceptually for that younger age. As I read, I imagined using it in 5th-9th grades.
A few thoughts:
• Each poster includes the name of the designer, the date, and the location. Rippon seems to be trying to get at the idea that protests for human rights are worldwide. Amnesty International is even a partner on this book. Yet Rippon’s choice of posters has a very American-Eurocentric focus. While many of the issues are global, most of the designers of the posters are from the United States, Canada and the UK (e.g., the posters about South Africa apartheid about Malala Yousefz are by U.S. designers). I felt like this was a missed opportunity.
• I was never really clear about the purpose of the book. (The inside flap states, “Protest posters from the last one hundred years show how art can bring about collective action and change.”) I thought the focus was going to be on the art, but it was really on the history of protests for various human rights issues. Most of the descriptions of the posters are about the movements – not about the art, about the layout and design, color choice and so forth. Here and there Rippon does explain the design or ideas behind the design but not consistently, making it a clearer focus. Rippon also does not consistently address “how art can bring about change” – she doesn’t link the art to the change in any of her explanations; there’s not a strong narrative or explanation of the power of the art in these posters or how they were used during the protests.
If you need an easy introduction to human rights movements, this works. The posters add a rich layer of text that students can use to deepen their understanding of a movement; discussion about a poster may launch students into further research. There’s lots of room for conversation by simply asking, “What do you notice in this poster?” and “Why do you think this poster might have been a powerful tool in this movement?”
Charlesbridge, the publisher, recommends the book for ages 8-12. I think the content might be too steep conceptually for that younger age. As I read, I imagined using it in 5th-9th grades.
June 28, 2020
This book is a primer on both historic and recent protests, with the added bonus of the art of the posters for each issue.
Wouldn't it be fascinating to study protest signs and or/yard signs as a genre?
Wouldn't it be fascinating to study protest signs and or/yard signs as a genre?
March 5, 2023
Was initially somewhat impressed but the complete exclusion of disabled people's campaigning is inexcusable.
September 26, 2020
This is a survey of protest movements, from the perspective of Amnesty International - defender of the human right to protest, told through protest posters & advertisements.
It covers several different historical & current movements.
Honestly, I think young people want to see the PEOPLE who are protesting, though - not the artwork. However, the brief descriptions at the start of each chapter do give a brief synopsis of the issues that were covered in the protests depicted in the next several pages of posters.
Includes sections on; Women, Race, Anti-War, "Change" (which is a catch-all including; anti-guns, Occupy, & climate crisis), LGBTQ rights, & Environmental issues.
It's not terrible, but I think it will have a narrow audience. It would have been much improved if each poster also had a photo of a group of people AT the protest that is being advertised.
It covers several different historical & current movements.
Honestly, I think young people want to see the PEOPLE who are protesting, though - not the artwork. However, the brief descriptions at the start of each chapter do give a brief synopsis of the issues that were covered in the protests depicted in the next several pages of posters.
Includes sections on; Women, Race, Anti-War, "Change" (which is a catch-all including; anti-guns, Occupy, & climate crisis), LGBTQ rights, & Environmental issues.
It's not terrible, but I think it will have a narrow audience. It would have been much improved if each poster also had a photo of a group of people AT the protest that is being advertised.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 1, 2020
Before reading this book I thought that protesting was not a way alter the way things are decided. I thought that it had little effect on change. I can see now that at times it did make a difference. I enjoyed the posters from the past that showed that we need to be accepting of others because it is humain, and we are all different in our own way.
June 24, 2021
Explores the history of protest movements through art. Protest posters are reproduced for demonstrations against war and racism and in support of the environment and LGBTQ rights among others. Hopefully this will inspire young people to become more involved in the world and perhaps to create their own protest posters.
May 11, 2026
I really enjoyed perusing the pages of this book. There is some really good artwork that has come from various protests throughout history and around the world! It was neat to learn a bit more about some protests I had not heard of, and to see art from familiar protests. If you enjoy art and history and social movements, check this out!
April 14, 2020
Sunday reviewed this book best. I gave it four stars because it raises children's awareness of how they can peacefully protest certain things, but I believe the thesis of the book should be clearer. It was almost disappointing because it was so vague.
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May 5, 2020A brief overview of some social justice issues during the last 100 years along with posters associated with the protests, many are related to Amnesty International, which collaborated with the author of the book.
February 18, 2021
Great survey of recent activism via an exploration of protest posters. Would make a great resource for younger students studying language of protest and activism. Excellent explanations and well contextualised write-ups of different movements in protest history
October 27, 2021
This book covers many issues regarding social justice in the past decade. The book ties these issues and topics in through art and poster-like pictures. I enjoyed this book and learned a lot about the past and even current events from it.
December 13, 2022
a good little book for the youth.
i didn't realize when i got it from the library that it was going to be a book for the youth. but reading it with that in mind - it was nice. missing a lot of stuff i couldn't believe wasn't included.
i didn't realize when i got it from the library that it was going to be a book for the youth. but reading it with that in mind - it was nice. missing a lot of stuff i couldn't believe wasn't included.
September 22, 2020
Gorgeous posters, not a lot of text, but enough to help explain the different movements the posters supported. Perfect for grades 4th-8th.
January 21, 2021
Gorgeous protest posters throughout the years are featured along with a brief explanation of the causes they championed.
December 28, 2021
Fantastic way to show art's power.
November 8, 2023
A stunningly vibrant and empowering book! I loved the approach to the six different types of activism and the international posters of protest provided.
Grades 6 and up.
Grades 6 and up.
Want to Read
February 2, 2020Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book through Edelweiss.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews