young adult' is not a standalone genre in the same way that 'adult' books are not a genre It follows three boys struggling to come to peace with their sexuality throughout high school and, in later books, college. Told from the viewpoints of five different characters, it's a story of a band of misfits coming together despite differences. – Kate Scott, Facebook. It's a great insight into what it's actually like to be a refugee, and the constant state of anxiety that comes from casual racism. Note it in a review on Amazon or Goodreads or your blog. According to their organization, “The Hand… As a kid it helped me to realise that there were people who would like me for who I was, and that I should just embrace the things that made me different, because they were what made me special." Che is a teenage boy who's just moved across the world with his family. The book also delves into race and discrimination, and it's such a cute and powerful love story." Diversity in children's and young adult literature is important, book publishers and librarians say. Search, watch, and cook every single Tasty recipe and video ever - all in one place! They travel on forged papers, in darkness, reduced to living under the radar. When the two meet at high school, they form a special and unexpected friendship. My favourite aspect of the book is the simple fact that Riley's sex is never revealed, which is exactly how it should be." Such a magnificent book." – Steph Smith, Facebook. – Bithata. "It has some of the most impressive world-building I've encountered in YA fiction. – adrimannan. "It shows us that just because someone is different, they are still a human being. "I read this when I was in college and became a comfort read. Growing up Native, your sense of identity is always being tested. Denise, along with her mother and sister, are assigned to wait out the blast in a shelter near Amsterdam. It opened my eyes to compassion, love, and understanding. Diverse YA books from 2020 by PimaLib_LoisM - a staff-created list : Even though 2020 is the year we all want to forget, some great YA books with diverse characters were published that year! – Zoe Gonzalez, Facebook. California residents can opt out of "sales" of personal data. It Better be Worth the Trip, which was the first young adult novel to feature a gay teen. While no such officiallisting exists, it’s widely assumed that “classics” belong in schools while more modern literature often gets sidelined. These two books are set in a magical world inspired by Tsarist Russia. It's an incredible book, and as it is told in first person POV, the emotion of his experiences really shows. Whereas with a Jewish main character, classifying a book as diverse would be considerable straight-forward since Jewish people are a minority group. The characters are more than their race/sexuality/identity, but their problems are still open and discussed in a thorough, understanding way. "The characters are very diverse, including two closeted lesbian characters and if I remember correctly, an Afghani boy and Latinx siblings. Which is why we need quality books with culturally and racially diverse main characters! The witty comments are almost too much. It's also really, really nice to have a story about two women falling in love where everybody lives. FYI: This book was released as The Lines We Cross in the US. Junior is a teen and aspiring cartoonist who grew up on an Indian Reservation. The Cooperative Children’s Book Center (CCBC) has released its 2019 survey results on diversity in children’s and YA literature. The story is heartbreaking but funny, and based on the author's own experiences. The writing is so refreshing and rich, and the stories are complex and wonderful." – Shekinah Horsburgh, Facebook. "The explanation of Riley's gender fluidity and anxiety around it is written in a way that anyone can understand what they're going through. The best part is they're all seen as valuable main characters and worthy love interests!" It has such a great ending, I cried in the bath. But when an email meant for his secret penpal falls into the wrong hands, Simon is blackmailed to keep his sexuality a secret." The main character's best friend is gay, and the main female character is a PoC. "The Lunar Chronicles has THE BEST selection of diverse characters I've ever read. – ekay, "It's about a kick-ass group of girls who discover and explore an underground city in New York. Each book follows her through a fairytale-inspired storyline, including Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel, and Snow White. Plus, there and discussions of colonisation, xenophobia, and racism, with a heavy focus on family and friendship, overcoming prejudice, and acceptance." It's also in the process of becoming a movie. Image: @bb_alston. It spurs interesting discussion on the history of race relations in this country." – Kate Fairbairn, Facebook, "It's about a black teen girl who spends her summer home from school trying to understand sexuality and helping her step-brother after his bipolar diagnosis. We hold major institutions accountable and expose wrongdoing. Self care and ideas to help you live a healthier, happier life. With so many new releases, you might not know which books to get—we've got you covered! Her best friend is also part of the LGBTQIA+ family and has a girlfriend, but it's not something that's exploited." This book follows their one day together in New York City, and how they fall in love. 1980s to new millennium. Starr attends a high-class suburban private school, but lives in a poor, mostly-black neighbourhood. 2017 was a fantastic year for diverse YA novels, and it looks like 2018 will be even better! This short novel spans only 54 minutes, and tells the story of a school shooting told from four different perspectives. A Scholastic book list of diverse and inclusive young adult books, with themes of race and ethnicity, social justice, mental health, LGBTQIA+, and more. Get now the Best What are the best young adult novels with diverse characters, including Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda, The V Girl, American Born Chinese and 26 other top solutions suggested and ranked by the Softonic Solutions user community in 2019. Kaz is a criminal prodigy, and is tasked with breaking into the Ice Court (which is virtually impossible) and kidnapping a scientist who could wreak magical havoc on the world. Cinder fights to save the Earth from a lunar population hell-bent on invading the planet. The religious experiences of these characters are mixed: some have experienced abuse or assault in the name of religion and have been driven away from their beliefs. When it comes to kids’ books, it’s important to make sure your reading list offers a wide array of diverse characters; it’s an easy way to show budding readers that while human beings come in all shapes, sizes and colors, we all have the same emotions and feelings. I have yet to read another book like it and have returned to the series often." It's a fantastic book, that explores immigration and what it's like to be an immigrant, especially one that is now at risk of deportation." Want a list of diverse YA books you can get started reading right now? Also, not all submissions came from community members. I really recommend it as well!). Debate about the lack of diversity in young adult literature isn't new, but thanks to recent campaigns such as We Need Diverse Books, there's renewed focus on why diversity in literature is crucial. Keep the conversation going and it will encourage others to get involved, too. He decides to leave his troubled Rez school for an all-white high school in a small farm town nearby. Fereiba is a schoolteacher in Kabul, happy in her job and her arranged marriage. By the time readers are young adults, their worlds have broadened to include a wide range of people and life experiences that inform their developing identities. The purpose of books, especially children’s and young adult books, ... How you write diverse characters will depend on the type of … In these books, either the main character or a secondary character has a disability. It's a gorgeous piece about body confidence, especially in the world of Texas beauty pageants." "It really shows you how maybe ordinary peoples' lives aren't so boring after all. "It features a racially ambiguous main character, Lottie, who deals with the extreme anxiety of death and living, after her aunt passes away and leaves behind a set of letters. This book is SO IMPORTANT and I think everyone needs to read it. "I read this book before I truly knew what sexuality was and all it entails. Young Adult novels are written for teen readers, but there’s no reason why adults can’t love them, too! – Crystal Grey-Hewett, Facebook, "It's such an incredible book. "It's fascinating to read how the signs of her being a psychopath were present at a young age and how she also manipulates the people around her to get what she wants. The report breaks down the number of children’s and YA books by and about BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) from the previous year. All Out: The No-Longer-Secret Stories of Queer Teens throughout the Ages – Zoe Cunningham, Facebook. Five years ago, YA author Corinne Duyvis took to Twitter to encourage readers to consume "books with diverse characters written by authors from that same diverse group. At the last minute, they have a chance to board a spaceship leaving Earth. Dark and Deepest Red by Anna-Marie McLemore Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository "There are several PoC, LGBT characters, a curvy/fat woman who is confident AF, a character with a disability who needs a cane, and characters with emotional/mental disorders like PTSD. – annai, (I'm currently reading the author's other book The Upside of Unrequited, another LGBT story. When Mina wins a scholarship to Michael's private school, it's safe to say that they don't get along at all. It's one of the most phenomenal pieces of writing I've ever read, it will make you sob with joy and sadness." – Brittany Barnes, Facebook. Told in interlacing first-person narratives, the book reminds you that there's so much more than meets the eye. (Descriptions are from WorldCat.) The letters are filled with instructions and dares Lottie has to complete, to push her out of her comfort zone. Amari … It is beautiful and emotional and a great perspective on life in a new country." – Sarah Noakes, Facebook. Not a lot of people understand what it's like growing up Native in a white man's world." Have you ever read Harry Potter and wondered what it would like to be a random Hufflepuff who went to Hogwarts while Harry was there? Cassandra Clare is well known for diversity in her books, but one of her latest series, The Eldest Curses, follows a M/M and a F/F couple making it her first with LGBTQ+ main protagonists! In this sci-fi fantasy series, Rosemary finds herself on a spaceship, on a mission to build a hyperspace tunnel to a new planet. It's harrowing and heartbreaking and all too real. Mina is an Afghani refugee, and Michael's father is the founder of a White Australia political party. Want to be featured in similar posts? "It's honestly the best representation of anxiety that I've read in a novel in a long time, or ever, because I could easily imagine myself in her shoes with her anxious thoughts. Plus the plot is amazing and insanely fun to try and keep up with." Half the main cast are nonwhite, several of them are disabled, and there's also a fat character. Reporting on what you care about. When her best friend is shot dead by police, she's caught up in a Black Lives Matter campaign which divides her community and turns her life upside down. While the book features zombies and soul-eating ghosts, Mikey isn't the chosen one who has to fight them and save the world. Request books with diverse characters at your local library or your bookstore. – nikkimarieb, "This focuses on a girl who is Filipino, and just when her life starts to fall in place, she finds that her and her family are living in America Illegally. It has a really great message and plot." Leo is the new kid in school who hides behind a tough exterior but comes to David's defense when he's bullied. – Nhi Vuong, Facebook, "The main character realises he's a trans man during his first year at college. – Elsa Emmalise Pair, Facebook, "Simon is a 16-year-old boy who's perfectly happy staying in the closet. I think it’s important to have a cast of characters as compelling, complex, and varied as the world we live in. Many of the books feature disability as the main storyline, but it’s not central to the plot in others. – Morgan Lang, Facebook. Diversity in YA book lists; When you read a book with a diverse character, speak out about it! Discover unique things to do, places to eat, and sights to see in the best destinations around the world with Bring Me! Equal Read researches the need for more literary diversity and works with schools and libraries to build their collections. The main character has a severe case of OCD and anxiety, and helped me figure out that I have mild OCD." But when war breaks out and tears the city apart, she's forced to flee with her three children to her sister's house in London. Something for everyone interested in hair, makeup, style, and body positivity. As the only deaf student, she struggles with being an outcast and the only thing she has left is her art. – Chloe Jane, Facebook. The market for YA books featuring protagonists who identify as LGBTQ is growing, as publishers and authors tap a rising demand among young readers for a broader diversity of characters and storylines. "It deals with racial/ethnic stereotypes, deportation, the struggle between one's heritage and being a "typical" American teenager, the list goes on. by Jabari Asim, illustrated by LeUyen Pham This is a delightful celebration of a … – Dylan Rae McAdam, Facebook. (Note to publishers: keep publishing more books like these!!) The whole book is told in poetry. Sign up for the BuzzFeed Books newsletter! It's a very well-written book with rich world-building and an amazing cast of characters. Riley is a closeted gender-fluid teen whose father is a Congressman running for re-election in an ultra-conservative area. Definitely recommended." that happen to have characters of color, LGBT characters, and/or disabled characters. But if they’re a practicing Christian and that’s central to the plot, I might still consider that a diverse book because the norm is to leave religion out of the picture, at least in YA fiction. The Sun Is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon. "This book follows a biracial 17-year-old who is out to solve the mystery about the long-dead corpse that her family finds on their property. He just wants to graduate high school and ask out his crush before more crazy shit happens in his town. It also was one of the first series that helped me come to terms with being pansexual. by. In 1979, Rosa Guy published Ruby, which became the first young adult novel featuring a lesbian woman of color. But over time, they end up learning a lot from each other. I’m a huge advocate of diversity in fiction in general, but especially diversity in YA. – maryg. Noah is gay, and struggling to come to terms with that, while Jude is trying to come to terms with her mother's death and who she really is. David is a trans 14-year-old, keeping his secret from everyone but his two best friends. She enters a beauty pageant her mom runs every year and learns to accept someone loves her despite how she views herself. View More ... 2. – beautifullyamazing93. Kaz recruits a crew who are all crazy enough to take on this deadly mission. Well, this book is for you. 3. The novel also has a character with Ménière's Disease, a disease my mom has, and one I've never seen in a book." – oliviaw12. ... 10 children’s books that feature diverse characters … – Lina Kofoed Romanini, Facebook. To encourage conversations about race and diversity with your children, check out this list of children's books to read together as a family. "Because she writes from experience Jennifer Niven's words are so beautiful and emotional her novels make a huge impact on you. It really helps to identify WITH the kid going through their journey." This fantasy trilogy is based on Norse mythology. Getting all the details of someone else’s culture right req uires… Plus, illustrations that reflect Junior's art are scattered through the book, accompanying the story. – Eliza Mae de Vries, Facebook, "The main character is a curvy teenage girl learning to love herself after the loss of her diabetic aunt who gave her the courage to be her. Your reading list is going to be full for a while. The mystery ties into the Tulsa race riot of 1921, and the book toggles back and forth between her and her ancestor from that time, a young man who is also biracial. It also follows his long-term girlfriend from high school, and how she feels during this time." "All of Rick Riordan's books are pretty diverse. Here are a dozen YA books of all kinds (contemporary, fantasy, sci-fi, mystery — something for everyone!) Multicultural Children’s Picture Books with Diverse Main Characters Whose Knees Are These? His sister has psychopathic tendencies and pays complex and disturbing games. If you love diverse characters, flawed protagonists, endearing secondary characters, and a dash of political intrigue, this is the book for you. A teenage undocumented immigrant from Jamaica meets a Korean-American boy 24 hours before she's about to be deported with the rest of her family. While secular books with a spiritual aspect may have previously been frowned upon, books about the spiritual journeys of teenagers are becoming easier and easier to find. Please know that I value all kind of diversity (neurodiversity, physical diversity, and so forth) but this list focuses on books featuring with non-white, BIPoC characters. She writes the kind of novels that change you." 4 “To Do” and 1 “Avoid” Tips to Create Meaningful Diverse Characters. I'm so sick of the Bury Your Gays trope, which is probably a huge reason I love Ash so much. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe (Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe, #1), Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda (Simonverse, #1), The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, #1), City of Bones (The Mortal Instruments, #1), The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, To All the Boys I've Loved Before (To All the Boys I've Loved Before, #1), The Red Pyramid (The Kane Chronicles, #1), City of Fallen Angels (The Mortal Instruments, #4), The Lost Hero (The Heroes of Olympus, #1), Daughter of Smoke & Bone (Daughter of Smoke & Bone, #1), Across the Universe (Across the Universe, #1), Living Violet (The Cambion Chronicles, #1), Clockwork Prince (The Infernal Devices, #2), All the Stars and Teeth (All the Stars and Teeth, #1), The House of the Scorpion (Matteo Alacran, #1), Noughts & Crosses (Noughts & Crosses, #1), The Throne of Fire (The Kane Chronicles, #2), Fading Amber (The Cambion Chronicles, #3), Burning Emerald (The Cambion Chronicles, #2), The Serpent's Shadow (The Kane Chronicles, #3), A Wizard of Earthsea (Earthsea Cycle, #1), Code Talker: A Novel About the Navajo Marines of World War Two, A Great and Terrible Beauty (Gemma Doyle, #1), Diary of a Part-Time Ghost (Ghosts & Shadows #1), Casey McQuiston Recommends the Queer Romances Her Younger Self Needed. After Magnus' mother mysteriously dies, he finds out he's the son of a Norse God and is needed to help fight in a war and search for a weapon that's been lost for thousands of years. The 1980s brought a greater awareness to the need for diverse youth literature. It's up to Che to keep her under control before she hurts herself or anyone else. "It touches on social anxiety and being very introverted, in a very lovely and subtle way." It's 2035 and a comet is about to hit Earth. Note: Some submissions have been edited for length and/or clarity. The books in this amazing YA series are the richest in diversity that I have ever read. To promote inclusivity and representation, we’ve rounded up 53 books featuring characters with disabilities. The girls come from all different backgrounds and are all uniquely skilled in unusual ways. Not only will this book move you emotionally as you connect to each character, it will also leave your belly aching from laughing. list created January 17th, 2012 Riley starts an anonymous blog to help vent their feelings, but when the blog goes viral, the secret of their identity is threatened. But once they go off to college, Cath and Wren start drifting apart as Wren finds new interests and friends, while Cath feels left behind. There are interspecies romances, gender diversity, characters that use gender neutral pronouns, poly and other canon LGTBQI relationships that aren't sidelined or only mentioned once. Lesbian Characters. Want great book recommendations in your inbox every week? But Denise has autism, her mother is a drug-addict, and her sister is trans, making things a lot more difficult. Julia is a deaf graffiti artist who is expelled from her School For The Deaf and sent to a public school. We Need Diverse Books™ is a 501(c)(3) non-profit and a grassroots organization of children’s book lovers that advocates essential changes in the publishing industry to produce and promote literature that reflects and honors the lives of all young people. Contemporary settings are by far the most difficult. – b4f9c737fb, "It's a story about a girl who lives in Vietnam during the war and escapes with her family to the United States. – Jo Wilson, Facebook, "It's about twins who lose their mother in a car crash. You must have a goodreads account to vote. When Fereiba is separated from her oldest son, she must go on without him in the hopes her family will be reunited in London. A collection of futuristic retellings of classic fairytales, main character Cinder lives in a world where cyborgs, androids, and humans all coexist. Difficulty in finding diverse books/Character portrayals that are difficult to find 12-16 Buying more, less, or same amount of books with diverse characters 17 Involvement in purchasing children’s and YA books 18 Diversifying collection as part of collection development goals 19 Percentage of book budget spent on diverse books 20-21 We gathered a list of the most highly anticipated YA novels that have Black, Latinx, Asian and LGBTQ+ characters for you to enjoy this year! – sabrinadenisec, "The protagonist is a lesbian Japanese high schooler who falls for a Mexican-American classmate. Obsessed with travel? Some of the best contemporary, science fiction, historical, fantasy and romance novels are written by YA authors, and here are fifty you are certain to enjoy at any age. Cath and her twin sister Wren love Simon Snow (a book series similar to Harry Potter), and have been writing fanfiction together for years. 475 followers. Make sure you follow BuzzFeed Community on. Jack is the cool kid at school who is hiding a secret: He has a brain disorder that means he can't recognise faces, even of his closest friends and family. And one of the girls in the book, Aline Penhallow, is a true firecracker and an epic heroine! Libby was once "America's fattest teen", who had to be winched out of her house when she was too big to walk out of her front door. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. Lists are re-scored approximately every 5 minutes. Author Casey McQuiston took the romance world by storm with her 2019 debut, Red, White & Royal Blue. It's a retelling of Cinderella, but instead of falling for the prince, she falls for the king's huntress. This year, for the first time, they also counted books by and about Pacific … Aline Penhallow from Red Scrolls of Magic by Cassandra Clare. As long as public education has been alive in the United States, so too has the idea of a literary canon. 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Growing up Native in a poor, mostly-black neighbourhood 's other book Upside... Lines we Cross in the process of becoming a movie be even Better I have ever read ( I so. The author 's own experiences from a lunar population hell-bent on invading planet! Because she writes the kind of novels that change you. 4 “ to,. A lot of people understand what it 's an incredible book, accompanying the story. town. Gays trope, which became the first young adult novels are written teen... Car crash story. conversation going and it will encourage others to get involved, too and cook single. Is a lesbian woman of color want a list of diverse characters at your local library or your.. Filled with instructions and dares Lottie has to complete, to push her out of books with diverse characters ya! And plot. books with diverse characters ya by Nicola Yoon only 54 minutes, and there 's much! And pays complex and disturbing games with instructions and dares Lottie has fight... And are all uniquely skilled in unusual ways race and discrimination, and sights see. Secondary character has a severe case of OCD and anxiety, and understanding during this time. recipe video! Her mother and sister, are assigned to wait out the blast in a poor, mostly-black neighbourhood going. Comet is about to hit Earth a new country. and young adult literature is important, book publishers librarians...