A Fair Deal: Shopping for Social Justice, written by Kari Jones. Orca Book Publishers. 2022. $14.95 ages 9 and up

 

"By the mid-1900s, many people around the world
were upset at the way trade was happening. People 
didn't want to buy soccer balls made by a kid in 
Pakistan or chocolate from a poor farmer in Peru. It 
just didn't make sense. Instead, they came up with 
another system, and they called it Fair Trade."

Young people today are very aware of the precarious state of the Earth in response to climate change. They want to know all they can in order to make some needed change. Being able to provide them with books in the Orca Footprint series can go a long way in providing pertinent information and encouragement to make a difference. 

This book concerns fair trade, which is meant to help developing countries by getting a fair price for those items that are being made there. Ms. Jones writes about the history of trade, and how it has not always been fair at all. She encourages readers to learn as much as they can about the products and services offered where they live and to make a concerted effort to be part of such a system. Those systems are not always equal. There are, however, ways to make things better for families in world communities. 

This is just the thing that many young people today are seeking. They want equality, better ways to spend their money, and a drop in the amount of goods they purchase. Many look to second-hand stores to find items that are perfectly good for their needs. As they read this book, they learn about the successes of free trade and the ways in which it improves conditions for many. 

 “ ... fair trade products are now sold in more than 120 countries.”

Fair trade is not an impossible goal. It is already in practice in many places, and can be expanded to many others. The pages of this book provide photographic evidence of successful projects, numerous FAIR TRADE FACTs, and a number of personal stories from the author's experiences with fair trade. It encourages readers to think seriously about how buying fair trade products makes a difference to many people. 

"Fair trade is not about spending more money or buying more 
 stuff. It's about bringing justice to people around the world. 
Fair trade projects are based on the idea that people need to 
protect their environments, their families, and their homes."

Kids can make a difference by encouraging others to learn more. The author includes simple ways to help throughout the book. In back matter, she lists both print and online resources, a glossary, and an index.