Tear This Down

Reviews:

“Freya is a thoughtful yet impulsive and vibrantly drawn character. Dee strategically and effectively weaves Freya’s nascent feminism into timely subplots … in this smart and passionate read.” —★ Publishers Weekly, starred review

“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.” —Kirkus Reviews

“Dee provides  a nuanced depiction of a young person gradually learning how to engage effectively to create change. Freya is a character that readers will root for.” —School Library Journal

“Dee expertly demonstrates how varied responses to activism on the internet can be, touching on online safety without being condescending. Relatable topics range from changing friendship dynamics to respecting others’ opinions and approaches to issues to being underestimated due to age and/or gender. This empowering novel leads by example as Freya finds agency, uses her voice, and works to spark change with friends new and old.” —Booklist

“Wow did I love this book. TEAR THIS DOWN is history and feminism and family dynamics and friendship and community sewn into a brave and brilliant story. It’s going to inspire a generation of changemakers. Bravo, Barbara Dee, queen of middle grade storytelling!”—Carrie Firestone, author of Dress-Coded and The First Rule of Climate Club

“Master-of-middle-grade Barbara Dee has done it again. In this story of change-makers finding their voices, Dee ties the courage of women in the past to the courage of young girls and their allies today. The result is a moving, stirring account of a new generation fighting for a better world and learning to navigate its complexities. Here is a book to put into all our daughters’ hands—and the hands of mothers and grandmothers too.”—Brigit Young, author of The Prettiest and Banned Books, Cropped Tops, and Other Bad Influences

“Barbara Dee has done it again, creating a heroine with a big voice and an even bigger heart.”—Katherine Marsh, author of the 2023 National Book Award Finalist The Lost Year

“Tear This Down is a powerful and moving celebration of standing up for what you believe in and a fantastic introduction to activism. A wonderful and engaging read!’ — Lisa Moore Ramee, author of A Good Kind of Trouble and The Everybody Experiment

 “How a seventh grader with a lot of questions about gender inequality uses her curiosity to give voice to those who were silenced. A stirring and timely book about the power of kids to build community and move us all forward.”    —Susan Hood, author of Lifeboat 5

“Relevant and empowering, Tear This Down will have readers rooting for Freya as she upends gender stereotypes and champions the power and importance of historical truth. I loved Freya. I loved this book!” –Elly Swartz, author of Same Page