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- Ashley S.
- Thursday, July 06, 2023
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Check out these diverse titles releasing in July!
Here at Richland Library we are committed to fostering an inclusive culture that celebrates and respects our differences and unique learning styles. Each month a blog post will go live that showcases forthcoming diverse youth titles that have been purchased by the library. From differences in race, ethnicity, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, ability and more, these titles are great reads for the entire family.
Be sure to check out the 5 titles that I'm most excited for in the slideshow below as well as the curated list of releases at the bottom of this post.
Enjoy!
Like Lava in My Veins
Published in 2023
"Bobby Beacon has trouble controlling his hot temper at his superhero school"-- Provided by publisher.
The Very Unfortunate Wish of Melony Yoshimura
Published in 2023
In this modern-day retelling of the Japanese folktale The Melon Princess and the Amanjaku, twelve-year-old Melony befriends a wish-granting demon who encourages her to rebel against her overprotective parents, all while using her for his own evil scheme.
Rocket Says Speak Up!
Published in 2023
When Rocket finds out her town's library is closing, she rallies support from her peers, and together they lead a peaceful protest that spreads awareness and raises enough money to save their beloved library.
What Your Ribbon Skirt Means to Me
Deb Haaland's Historic Inauguration
Published in 2023
"A picture book homage to community and contemporary Native pride-intimately set in the comfort of an urban Native community center that is celebrating the inauguration of Deb Haaland as Secretary of the Interior on March 18, 2021"-- Provided by publisher.
Flora La Fresca & the Art of Friendship
Published in 2023
Ten-year-old larger-than-life Flora Violeta LeFevre uses humor and a little mischief to navigate her best friend moving away, her sister's overbearing and all-consuming quince preparations, and a surprising new friendship.
Love & Resistance
Published in 2023
Seventeen-year-old Taiwanese American Olivia joins forces with a secret society of students intent on ending the school's culture around bullying--all while making friends and falling in love along the way.
Abeni's Song
Published in 2023
Abeni, a reluctant magical apprentice, and a team of spirit kids set out to save their village from the evil Witch Priest who captured and marched off everyone toward ghost ships bound for distant lands.
The King is Dead
Published in 2023
As the newly crowned first Black king of England, seventeen-year-old James faces intense media scrutiny and a blackmailer intent on disclosing his deepest secrets, including his sexuality and hidden relationship.
Rana Joon and the One and Only Now
Published in 2023
Set in 1996 southern California, high school senior Rana Joon wants to honor her deceased best friend by entering a rap contest and living authentically as a lesbian, but feels conflicted by her Iranian family's expectations.
Once in a Blue Moon
Published in 2023
Paralyzed by guilt, eleven-year-old John Henry must come to terms with the events surrounding his Ma's near drowning and with the help of his twin sister Hattie, learn to embrace life again.
Jasmine Toguchi, Bridge Builder
Published in 2023
When Jasmine and family visit Kabo, the Japanese village where her grandmother grew up, she is homesick and angry with her older sister for not playing with her, but when they start to compromise, they discover ways to bridge their differences. Includes author's note and instructions on how to make a folding fan.
My Week with Him
Published in 2023
Kicked out of her house by her heartless mother two months before her graduation, Nikki is determined to flee Texas but finds her plans put on hold when her best friend Malachai begs her to stay with him for the remainder of spring break and her little sister goes missing.
All the Yellow Suns
Published in 2023
Sixteen-year-old queer Indian American, Maya, who falls for her white, wealthy, and complicated female classmate, Juneau, is asked to join a secret society of artists, vandals, and mischief-makers who fight for justice at their school.
What a Desi Girl Wants
Published in 2023
Mehar did not come to India planning to break up her estranged father's wedding, but she is convinced that socialite Naz is only after his money and title; except she soon begins to question many of her assumptions about her parents' relationship, and herown place in his world--especially when she begins to fall in love with Sufiya, her grandmother's assistant.
Monster Vs. Boy
Published in 2023
As eleven-year-old Dawz and Mim, the terrifying but kind-hearted monster who lives in his closet, become more aware of each other, they must uncover the true nature of their mysterious connection.
Mindy Kim and the Summer Musical
Published in 2023
Mindy tries to step into the spotlight in her community theater production.
The Worry Balloon
Published in 2023
"On the first day of school, Isla's mind plays the what if game. Scary thoughts come, the world goes dark, and everything feels stormy. With Mami at her side, Isla takes a deep breath and blows her worries away in a big balloon. But as school gets closer,Isla's worries come back like a tornado"-- Provided by publisher.
Never a Doll Moment
Published in 2023
A slumber party at Grandma Cole's house turns into a never-sleep-again party when Andres and Desmond discover her home is full of haunted dolls.
Haru, Zombie Dog Hero
Zombie Dog Hero
Published in 2023
After his dog Haru is taken away from him by his cruel landlord and sent to a multibillionaire's lab, eleven-year-old Korean American Luke is stunned when Haru returns as a zombie dog, and helps the town face a terrible threat.
Clouds over California
Published in 2023
"Stevie struggles to fit in at her new California middle school and is experiencing changes at home, while the Black Panthers and women's rights movements influence her life from the background"-- Provided by publisher.
Hope in the Valley
Published in 2023
Twelve-year-old Indian-American Pandita Paul deals with change, grief, friendship, and growing up in a community facing a housing crisis.
The Fire, the Water, and Maudie McGinn
Published in 2023
Follows thirteen-year-old neurodivergent Maudie during an eventful summer in California with her father, where she struggles with whether to share a terrible secret about life with her mom and stepdad.
I'd Rather Burn Than Bloom
Published in 2023
Alternating between present day and flashbacks, multiracial Filipina-American teen Marisol tries to figure out who she really is in the wake of her mother's sudden death.
Bubble Trouble
Published in 2023
Chloe loves musicals and is desperate to go on the class trip to Broadway, but since her mother died money has been tight, and her father's zany inventions are not selling--so with the help of her best friend Sabrina Chloe comes up with a way to make somemoney by making and selling boba tea.
Into the Shadow Mist
Published in 2023
While on a field trip to Bokati Island with the mysterious Guardian Master Em, Plum must decide whether or not to reveal her own Guardian powers when an unseen force puts the entire ecosystem at risk.
I Am Not Alone
Published in 2023
Alberto is an undocumented immigrant from Mexico, living in New York City, and is now suspected of a terrible crime; his friend Grace is a top student with every advantage, and she is determined to prove Alberto's innocence.
The Spin
Published in 2023
"Everyone knows Marcus Stroman as a baseball player. He loves the sport, and yes, he probably has a shot at the pros. But "baseball player" doesn't totally define him. Why won't anyone also see him as a basketball player or a musician? While he loves being known for what he does well, he's struggling because people are trying to limit him to just one thing. Literally how high up a mountain does Marcus need to climb to be completely free of what everyone else sees? How can he protect himself from the online zings, the chatter, and the opinions? When you walk out on the field or that court, how much criticism is fair play? With some perspective from a new view, Marcus realizes that no matter what field, court, or classroom he's in, he has to block some shots"-- Provided by publisher.
Rivka's Presents
Published in 2023
In 1918 New York City, little Jewish girl Rivka, who lives on the Lower East Side, trades chores with people in her neighborhood for lessons until she can finally attend school.
Their Vicious Games
Published in 2023
Eighteen-year-old Adina Walker, a scholarship student at a prestigious academy, faces the consequences of a single mistake and competes in a high-stakes contest hosted by the wealthy Remington family, where she uncovers unsettling truths about the sponsors and the contest's high stakes.
Under This Forgetful Sky
Published in 2023
When rebels infect his father with a fatal virus, sixteen-year-old Rumi ventures beyond his city's protected walls and meets Paz, who offers to guide him on his search for a cure, but may have an agenda of her own.