You Must Stand Up

Reviews

In this urgent chronicle of the year after Dobbs v. Jackson—the case that overturned Roe—Becker shadows a collection of individuals fighting courageously for reproductive rights . . . Her conversational tone and expertise on her subject matter render this . . . A beautifully crafted, thoroughly researched account of the state of reproductive rights after the Dobbs decision. Amanda captures a critical moment in the history of abortion rights in the United States, and tells an astounding story about how outrage can be a vehicle for change even when the most powerful court in the country turns its backs on the most vulnerable of us. You Must Stand Up documents post-Roe America with care and nuance; it's a necessary book for anyone who cares about the attacks on our bodies. Amanda Becker's vivid retelling of on-the-ground activism not only reminds readers what's at stake—but what it takes to win. In this sprawling, enraging, and ultimately galvanizing book, Amanda Becker looks at post-Roe America: The devastation, but also the determination; the tsunami of challenges, and the many, many women and men who rose to meet them with unrivaled courage and creativity. You Must Stand Up tells the definitive story of what happened when the national right to abortion ended in America—and, more importantly, looks to some of the nation's most heroic women to show us all what comes next. Meticulously researched and compulsively readable, You Must Stand Up documents in searing detail the challenges and horrors of the post-Roe landscape. This is required reading for anyone trying to make sense of our current moment. Becker follows the compelling stories of abortion care providers, activists, politicians, and others as they fight to protect or regain the right to an abortion in states across the country. … Clear, well researched, and timely. Becker focuses her striking debut on the creativity and fortitude of medical practitioners in the year following the Supreme Court’s 2022 overturning of the constitutional right to abortion . . . [She] makes palpable the challenges caused by constantly shifting state-level abortion laws, and highlights the ingenuity of providers’ tactics and countermoves . . . Writing in lucid prose, Becker covers complex legal battles in multiple states with elegance and efficiency, leaving the providers’ own words ample room to breathe as they offer fascinating insights into what motivates them. It adds up to an inspiring portrait of persistence. Becker cuts through the chaos and legalese of the first year post-Roe to uncover the human impact of the ruling . . . From the halls of Congress to a door-to-door political canvas in Kentucky, to a GoFundMe-financed clinic in Maryland, Becker showcases the creativity, resilience, and diversity of the abortion rights movement, offering and clearing a space for us all to join the fight. Becker doesn’t shy away from the complicated realities that we are all living in . . . A powerful portrait of resilience and hope in the fight for abortion rights and access for everyone. Expand reviews