Nevertheless, We Persisted
48 Voices of Defiance, Strength, and Courage
1 of 1 copy available
"Aren't you a terrorist?" "There are no roles for people who look like you." "That's a sin." "No girls allowed." They've heard it all. Actress Alia Shawkat reflects on all the parts she was told she was too "ethnic" to play. Former NFL player Wade Davis recalls his bullying of gay classmates in an attempt to hide his own sexuality. Teen Gavin Grimm shares the story that led to the infamous "bathroom bill," and how he's fighting it. Holocaust survivor Fanny Starr tells of her harrowing time in Aushwitz, where she watched her family disappear, one by one.
What made them rise up through the hate? What made them overcome the obstacles of their childhood to achieve extraordinary success? How did they break out of society's limited view of who they are and find their way to the beautiful and hard-won lives they live today? With a foreword by Minnesota senator and up-and-coming Democratic party leader Amy Klobuchar, these essays share deeply personal stories of resilience, faith, love, and, yes, persistence.
Foreword written and read by Senator Amy Klobuchar
Essays read by Vikas Adam, Jonathan Davis, Ari Fliakos, Sullivan Jones, January Lavoy, Soneela Nankani, Adenrele Ojo, Nancy Wu, and Gabra Zackman
*Includes a Bonus PDF of contributor biographies and "Everyone Plays" graphic story
"Each tale is a soulful testament to the endurance of the human spirit and reminds readers that they are not alone in their search for self. An unflinchingly honest book that should be required reading for every young person in America."—Kirkus, Starred review
"An invaluable collection of snapshots of American society."—VOYA, Starred review
"[A] gem of a book. . . There's a lot to study here and talk about on the way to becoming kinder, more empathetic, and most important, compassionate."—Booklist
"Readers encountering injustice in their own lives may be compelled to take heart—and even action."—Publishers Weekly
"A powerful collection of voices."—SLJ
"The sheer variation in writing styles, subject-matters, and structure to these narratives provides readers with inspiration in assorted forms and a complex interpretation of what it means to persist."—The Bulletin
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Creators
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Publisher
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Awards
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Release date
October 30, 2018 -
Formats
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OverDrive Listen audiobook
- ISBN: 9781984887078
- File size: 204304 KB
- Duration: 07:05:37
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Languages
- English
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Levels
- Lexile® Measure: 1010
- Text Difficulty: 6-8
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Reviews
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Listeners are presented with an audio collection gathered and introduced by Senator Amy Klobuchar as she correlates a moment on the Senate floor to a rallying cry on the importance of standing up for what is right. The 48 stories in the book represent different forms of persistence, whether for love or against grief, depression, prejudice, societal constrictions, or bullying. The voices are well matched to the essays in terms of age, making it seem as though the authors are reading their own works. This is true whether the narrator is expressing frustration over bullying or the heartbreak of someone with a relative at Sandy Hook. These are powerful stories of resilience that are well worth sharing. E.J.F. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine -
August 6, 2018
As Amy Klobuchar, Minnesota’s first female senator, notes in a foreword, the title of this candid anthology is a riff on the derision turned rallying cry aimed at Massachusetts senator Elizabeth Warren. The contributors—representing a spectrum of ages, ethnicities, and experiences—share their stories through formats that range from comics to prose. They write of finding the strength and tools to battle such obstacles as gender and racial discrimination, self-doubt, physical challenges, and bullying. Fanny Starr, a 96-year-old Holocaust survivor, unflinchingly describes the atrocities she witnessed at Auschwitz; Danielle Vabner explains how the loss of her six-year-old brother to the Sandy Hook, Conn., shooting inspired her advocacy for gun violence prevention; and José Antonio Tijerino, president of the Hispanic Heritage Foundation, movingly details his experience immigrating to America. Readers encountering injustice in their own lives may be compelled to take heart—and even action. Ages 12–up.
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