This course explores contemporary young adult (YA) literature through the lens of several pressing social justice issues, including racism, sexism, gender identity and expression, and the climate crisis. We will engage critically with a selection of YA novels that confront these themes, analyzing how they reflect and shape societal attitudes and individual identities. Students will delve into texts by diverse authors who address systemic inequalities through compelling narratives and relatable characters. Key texts may include works such as The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo, Darius the Great is Not Okay by Adib Khorram, Moxie by Jennifer Mathieu, Give Me Some Truth by Eric Gansworth, and Memory of Water by Emmi Itäranta. Through close reading and asynchronous discussion, we will analyze how these novels use storytelling to challenge stereotypes, advocate for marginalized voices, and inspire change. Assignments will encourage students to think critically about the role of literature in social justice movements and will include short response papers and a longer essay which will undergo revision after peer and instructor review. Students will complete 20 pages of formal expository writing. These assignments will connect themes from the texts to current issues of diversity. By the end of the course, students will have gained a deeper understanding of how YA literature can both highlight the need for and influence the pursuit of a more equitable society.