Detroit Summer: How Small Moments Lead to Change (2027)

A historical fiction picture book that celebrates intergenerational activism and the power of collective actions, big and small, inspired by the real-life grassroots work of Grace Lee Boggs and James Boggs.

What change do you want to see in the world?

This summer, two sisters become volunteers for Detroit Summer, a program committed to empowering young people and caring for the community. 

At first, Mei Mei is overwhelmed by the important task of making positive change in her city. But when she imagines the kind of world she wants to live in, she gets to work on a community garden, a mural, and marching alongside her neighbors. 

Based on the real grassroots movement in Detroit led by community organizers Grace Lee Boggs and James (Jimmy) Boggs, this historical fiction picture book reminds young readers that no action, or person, is too small to make a difference.