Rethinking Schools is thrilled to announce Transgender Justice in Schools, co-edited by Linda Christensen and Ty Marshall, has been awarded a 2024 Foreword INDIES Silver Book of the Year Award, Skipping Stones Award, and Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) Gold Award.
Transgender Justice in Schools provides inspirational stories from trans students and educators and resources for teachers, students, and parents seeking to build communities where everyone flourishes. This book will educate, challenge, inspire — and save lives.
“We crafted Transgender Justice in Schools as an act of solidarity to uplift the work of students, teachers, parents, and communities who refuse to be silenced by this legislative war against trans kids. This book is an act of defiance,” said co-editors Linda Christensen and Ty Marshall. “We’re honored that our book was selected for multiple awards, including: 2024 Foreword INDIES Silver Book of the Year Award, Skipping Stones Award, and Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) Gold Award!”
Since 1998, Foreword Reviews has provided trade book reviews of the best titles from independent presses. Foreword INDIES said, “With over 2,400 entries submitted across 55 categories, this year’s competition showcased the remarkable talent and diversity of the independent publishing industry. Foreword’s dedicated editors carefully selected approximately 12 finalists per genre, which were then presented to individual librarians and booksellers entrusted with the challenging task of determining the Gold, Silver, Bronze, and Honorable Mention winners.”
The Skipping Stones Book Awards recognize outstanding books that promote multicultural, international, and social awareness, as well as nature and ecology. They also honor teaching resources that align with these themes. Skipping Stones awarded 25 books in three categories: Multicultural, Nature, and Teaching Resources, as their 2025 Award Winners. Skipping Stones said, “These picture books, chapter books, novels and nonfiction works promote an understanding of cultures, cultivate cooperation, and/or encourage a deeper awareness of nature, ecology, and diversity. They foster respect for multiple viewpoints and closer relationships within human societies. The honored titles offer various perspectives, help us understand our diverse cultures and their histories, and how we overcome challenging situations. Hearty congratulations to the creators of these timely books!”
The IBPA Book Awards (formerly the IBPA Benjamin Franklin Awards) are regarded as one of the highest national honors for independent publishers since 1985. The reviewers offered their praise for Transgender Justice in Schools: “This is an important resource for ALL teachers and I wish you the best of luck with placing it in schools nationwide,” and “Transgender Justice in Schools should be read by all adult educators and school administrators. It should be discussed in faculty inservices and faculty meetings.”