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Diverse Youth Titles: January

  • Ashley S.
  • Friday, June 24, 2022

"Diversity should just be called ‘reality.’ Your books, your TV shows, your movies, your articles, your curricula, need to reflect reality." - Tananarive Due

covers of diverse youth titles

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!

 

 

 

 

 

Cover of Crowned with Glory

"From the hair on her head to the tips of her toes, Azira knows that she is awesome! And whether it’s styled in twists, curls, braids, Bantu knots, a textured bun, or left totally natural, her hair is just one of the countless things that helps Azira celebrate who God made her to be. She’s able to live out a beautiful story because God has crowned her with glory—and Azira wants you to do the same!"

Cover of Loveboat Reunion

"It’s a classic tale of girl-meets-boy, boy-meets-other-girl, heart-gets-broken, revenge-is-plotted, everything-blows-up. Spectacularly. At least they’re friends now. They’ve left the drama behind them back in Taipei—at their summer program, Loveboat—forever. Now fall is here, and it’s time to focus on what really matters. Sophie is determined to be the best student Dartmouth’s ever had. Forget finding the right guy to make her dreams come true—Sophie is going to make her future happen for herself. Xavier, on the other hand, just wants to stay under his overbearing father’s radar, collect his trust fund when he turns eighteen, and concentrate on what makes him happy, for the first time ever. But the world doesn’t seem to want Sophie and Xavier to succeed. Sophie’s college professor thinks her first major project is “too feminine.” Xavier’s father gives him an ultimatum: finish high school or be cut off from his inheritance. Then Sophie and Xavier find themselves on a wild, nonstop Loveboat reunion, each trying to resist the chemistry that originally led to them to combust. As they grow closer, they hatch a plan to take control of their own futures. Step one? Break all the rules."

Cover of Vinyl Moon

"When Darius told Angel he loved her, she believed him. But five weeks after the incident, Angel finds herself in Brooklyn, far from her family, from him, and from the California life she has known. Angel feels out of sync with her new neighborhood. At school, she can't shake the feeling everyone knows what happened--and how it was her fault. The only place that makes sense is Ms. G's class. There, Angel's classmates share their own stories of pain, joy, and fortitude. And as Angel becomes immersed in her revolutionary literature course, the words from novels like The Bluest Eye and Push speak to her and begin to heal the wounds of her past. This stunning novel weaves together prose, poems, and vignettes to tell the story of Angel, a young woman whose past was shaped by domestic violence but whose love of language and music and the gift of community grant her the chance to find herself again."

Cover of Fall Down Seven Times

"From a young age, Patsy Takemoto Mink learned that striving for goals came with challenges. But she also learned to never give up. As the Japanese proverb says: fall down seven times, stand up eight. That spirit helped Patsy through school. She wanted to become a doctor, but at the time, medical schools didn’t admit women. So Patsy carved her own path. She went to law school, ran for a seat in the United States Congress, and helped create Title IX, the law that requires federally funded schools to treat boys and girls equally. Although many people tried to knock her down, Patsy—a historic trailblazer who spent her life fighting for fairness—always got up again!"

Cover of The Keeper

"The first letter turns up on his desk. The second is stuck between the spokes of his bike. The third flies through the kitchen window. And they are all addressed to James from someone called the Keeper. Moving from Texas to Oregon was a bad idea. No sooner have James and his family arrived in their “perfect” new town than he starts getting mysterious and sinister letters from someone called the Keeper. Someone who claims to be watching him. Someone who is looking for “young blood.” James and his sister, Ava, are obviously in danger. But the problem with making a fuss about moving and having a history of playing practical jokes is that no one believes James—not even his parents. Now James and Ava need to figure out who is sending the letters before they become the next victims in their neighborhood’s long history of missing children. Because one thing is clear: uncovering the truth about the Keeper is the only thing that will keep them alive."

Spike It, Mo!

Spike It, Mo!

Adler, David A., author.
Published in 2022
When Mo and his dad join in a volleyball game at the beach and the score is tied, it is up to Mo, the smallest boy on the team, to secure the game-winning point.
Hold
Book
 
Because Claudette

Because Claudette

Baptiste, Tracey, author.
Published in 2022
"A picture book biography about Claudette Colvin, the teen whose activism launched the Montgomery bus boycott, and a celebration of collective action"-- Provided by publisher.
Hold
Book
 
Salaam, with Love

Salaam, with Love

Beg, Sara Sharaf, author.
Published in 2022
Dua struggles to find her place in her conservative family's household, but as she spends the month of Ramadan with her cousin in Queens, Dua finds herself learning more about her faith, relationships, and place in the world.
Hold
Book
 
Vinyl Moon

Vinyl Moon

Browne, Mahogany L., author.
Published in 2022
"A teen girl reeling from the scars of a past relationship finds healing and hope in the words of strong Black writers and the new community she builds in Brooklyn, New York"-- Provided by publisher.
Hold
Book
 
Ida B. Wells, Voice of Truth

Ida B. Wells, Voice of Truth

Educator, Feminist, and Anti-lynching Civil Rights Leader
Duster, Michelle, author.
Published in 2022
"An inspiring picture book biography of Ida B. Wells-who was an educator, journalist, feminist, businesswoman, newspaper owner, public speaker, suffragist, civil rights activist, and women's club leader-as told by her great-granddaughter, Michelle Duster"-- Provided by publisher.
Hold
Book
 
Kamala Harris

Kamala Harris

Grant, Tonya K., author.
Published in 2022
"Learn all about Vice President Kamala D. Harris, from her childhood spent growing up in Oakland, California, to her time serving as District Attorney of San Francisco, California and working as a United States Senator to her journey to the White House. Find out about Kamala Harris's life, achievements, and the challenges she faced along the way. The Level 2 text provides accessible, yet wide-ranging information for independent readers"-- Provided by publisher.
Hold
Book
 
I Am Brave!

I Am Brave!

Greenawalt, Kelly, author.
Published in 2021
In rhyming text super girl Princess Truly goes on a camping trip with little brother Ty and her dog, Sir Noodles; with her super powers she is not afraid of dark caves, bugs, or things that go bump in the night, which is a problem when she develops hiccups, and needs something to scare them away.
Hold
Book
 
The Red Palace

The Red Palace

Hur, June, author.
Published in 2022
While investigating a series of grisly murders, eighteen-year-old palace nurse Hyeon navigates royal and political intrigue and becomes entangled with a young police inspector. Includes author's note.
Hold
Book
 
Ain't Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me 'round

Ain't Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me 'round

My Story of the Making of Martin Luther King Day
Kirkwood, Kathlyn J., author.
Published in 2022
This moving memoir-in-verse tells about what it means to be an everyday activist and foot solider for racial justice, as Kathlyn recounts how she went from attending protests as a teenager to fighting as an adult for Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday tobecome a national holiday.
Hold
Book
 
Lab Magic

Lab Magic

Lab Magic
Lyons, Kelly Starling, author.
Published in 2022
"Ty and Corey love to visit the museum. When they step through the doors, they become scientists. They study bugs and hunt for fossils. They catch the wind. When Ty can't participate in a lab activity because of his age, he uses his big imagination at home. Discovering new things is so much fun!"-- Provided by publisher.
Hold
Book
 
Delphine Denise and the Mardi Gras Prize

Delphine Denise and the Mardi Gras Prize

Mazique, Brittany, author.
Published in 2022
Delphine Denise Debreaux loves everything about the New Orleans Mardi Gras celebration, especially riding bikes with her friends in the parade, but this year she is determined to win the prize for best float, with or without them. Includes notes about Mardi Gras and New Orleans.
Find
Book
 
You Are Not Alone

You Are Not Alone

McGaw, Kaitlin, author.
Published in 2022
"When I say something is unfair to me, but it's fair for you, what does that make it? When I meditate, it all gets clear. And if you listen, you will really hear. I am not alone. I am enough. It can be scary to feel like you're all on your own, especiallyin the face of prejudice. But always remember: you are not alone. Inspired by the Alphabet Rockers' empowering song "Not Alone," this uplifting picture book reassures kids that they belong and encourages them to love their beautiful selves and their identities, use their voices against hate, and step up for one another and have one another's backs no matter what"-- Provided by publisher.
Hold
Book
 
Stacey Abrams

Stacey Abrams

Mwai, Melissa H., author.
Published in 2022
"Follow the life of Stacey Abrams, from her childhood spent growing up in Gulfport, Mississippi, to her work with civic engagement and mass voter registrations in Georgia, to her groundbreaking work as the first woman to lead in the Georgia General Assembly and first African American to lead in the House of Representatives. Find out about Stacey Abram's life, achievements, and the challenges she faced along the way. The Level 2 text provides accessible, yet wide-ranging information for independent readers. National Geographic Readers have been a hit in the competitive beginning reader category, and this book builds on that success with the same careful text, brilliant photographs, and fun approach to high-interest biographies of incredible people such asStacey Abrams, has proved to be a winning formula with kids"-- Provided by publisher.
Hold
Book
 
Akata Woman

Akata Woman

Okorafor, Nnedi, author.
Published in 2022
With the help of her friends, fifteen-year-old Sunny embarks on a mission to find a precious object and return it to the spider deity Udide, but defeating the guardians of Udide's ghazal will put all of Sunny's hard lessons and abilities to the test.
Hold
Book
 
Operation Sisterhood

Operation Sisterhood

Rhuday-Perkovich, Olugbemisola, author.
Published in 2022
Eleven-year-old Bo is used to it being just her and her mom in their cozy New York apartment, but when her mom gets married, Bo must adjust to her new sisters and a music-minded blended family that is much larger, louder, and more complex than she ever imagined.
Hold
Book
 
Love Somebody

Love Somebody

Roasek, Rachel, author.
Published in 2022
Seventeen-year-old overachiever Sam attemtps to encourage a love connection between her athletic ex-boyfriend Christian and her academic rival Ros while trying not to fall for Ros herself.
Hold
Book
 
Dear Reader

Dear Reader

A Love Letter to Libraries
Rose, Tiffany, author, illustrator.
Published in 2022
A voracious young reader pens a love letter to libraries and books, and powerfully expresses the need for diversity and the importance of representation in stories.
Hold
Book
 
When Winter Robeson Came

When Winter Robeson Came

Woods, Brenda (Brenda A.) author.
Published in 2022
In August 1965, twelve-year-old Eden's older cousin from Mississippi comes to visit her in Los Angeles, and while the Watts Riots erupt around them, they continue their investigation of the disappearance of Winter's father ten years ago.
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Book
 
Author

Ashley S.

Collection Strategist - Youth
Series
Diverse Youth Titles
Tags
Book Recommendations
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Audience
Parents
Families
Young children (0-5 years)
Toddlers (19 months-2 years)
Preschoolers (3-5)
School age children (6-12 years)
6-8 years
9-12 years
Teens (12-18 years)

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