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- Ashley S.
- Friday, June 24, 2022
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“The literature of America should reflect the children of America.” - Lucille Clifton
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!
Sing, Aretha, Sing!
Aretha Franklin, "Respect," and the Civil Rights Movement
Published in 2021
"An empowering picture book biography of Aretha Franklin and her role in civil rights, perfect for Women's History Month and Black History Month"-- Provided by publisher.
Because Claudette
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.
Bake Infinite Pie with X + Y
Published in 2022
"X and Y are desperate to bake infinite pie! With the help of quirky and uber-smart Aunt Z, X and Y will use math concepts to bake their way to success!"-- Provided by publisher.
The Katha Chest
Published in 2022
Asiya loves to visit Nanu's house and rummage through her katha chest filled with quilts that tell stories about the bold and brave women in Asiya's family.
Reclaim the Stars
Seventeen Tales Across Realms & Space
Published in 2022
In this collection of stories by acclaimed young adult authors the Latin American diaspora travels to places of fantasy and out into space.
Olu and Greta
Published in 2021
Two cousins--one in Lagos, Nigeria, and the other in Milan, Italy--have different lives, but they share a dream of meeting and being together.
Rima's Rebellion
Courage in a Time of Tyranny
Published in 2022
In 1920s Cuba, Rima is bullied and shunned for her illegitimacy, but finds solace in riding her horse and forges unexpected friendships with others who share her dreams of freedom and suffrage. Includes historical note.
Icebreaker
Published in 2022
Mickey James III is following in his father's (and grandfather's) skates by playing hockey at Hartland University, but he is not enjoying the situation: for one thing he is seriously depressed, unsure of anything, even whether he can make it as a hockey player (or wants to); more troubling his rival, Jaysen Caulfield, is also on the team and seems to bitterly resent him--and Mickey actually finds Jaysen very attractive and does not know how to deal with that.
Big Wig
Published in 2022
B.B. Bedazzle is dressed in drag for a neighborhood costume competition, and a key part of the costume is Wig--and while Wig is certainly not the biggest wig in the competition, she has the outsized confidence to fly from kid to kid, inspiring their dreams.
Required Reading for the Disenfranchised Freshman
Published in 2022
Upon arriving at the prestigious Wooddale University, seventeen-year-old Savannah Howard comes face-to-face with microaggressions and outright racism--but if she stands up for justice, will she endanger her future?
No Filter and Other Lies
Published in 2022
Seventeen-year-old Kat Sanchez uses photos of a friend to create a fake Instagram account, but when one of her posts goes viral and exposes Kat's duplicity, her entire world--both real and pretend--comes crashing down around her.
Ophelia After All
Published in 2022
Seventeen-year-old Ophelia Rojas, well known for her rose garden and her dramatic crushes on every boy in sight, begins to question her sexuality and sense of self when she starts to fall for cute, quiet Talia Sanchez in the weeks leading up to their highschool prom and graduation.
Marley and the Family Band
Published in 2020
"Marley and her siblings plan to put on a community concert after moving from Jamaica to Delaware, but when rain threatens to ruin the day, they learn the power of lending a helping hand"-- Provided by publisher.
And We Rise
The Civil Rights Movement in Poems
Published in 2022
"A powerful, impactful, eye-opening journey that explores through the Civil Rights Movement in 1950s-1960s America in spare and evocative verse, with historical photos interspersed throughout. In stunning verse and vivid use of white space, Erica Martin'sdebut poetry collection walks readers through the Civil Rights Movement-from the well-documented events that shaped the nation's treatment of Black people, beginning with the "Separate but Equal" ruling-and introduces lesser-known figures and moments that were just as crucial to the Movement and our nation's centuries-long fight for justice and equality. A poignant, powerful, all-too-timely collection that is both a vital history lesson and much-needed conversation starter in our modern world. Complete with historical photographs, author's note, chronology of events, research, and sources"-- Provided by publisher.
Where Butterflies Fill the Sky
A Story of Immigration, Family, and Finding Home
Published in 2022
"An evocative picture book that tells the true story of the author's immigration from Kuwait to the United States"-- Provided by publisher.
The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea
Published in 2022
In this retelling of the Korean legend The tale of Shim Cheong, sixteen-year-old Mina is swept away to the Spirit Realm, where, assisted by a motley crew of demons, gods, and lesser spirits, she sets out to awaken the sleeping Sea God and save her homeland and family from deadly storms.
Cameron Battle and the Hidden Kingdoms
Published in 2022
When Cameron and his best friends are magically transported through the pages of an ancestral book to the fabled West African country Chidani, they find a kingdom in extreme danger and have to find a way to save the Igbo people.
Dear Reader
A Love Letter to Libraries
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.
Omar Rising
Published in 2022
Seventh-grader Omar must contend with being treated like a second-class citizen when he gets a scholarship to an elite boarding schoo in Pakistan.
Golden Boys
Published in 2022
"Gabriel, Reese, Sal, and Heath are best friends, bonded in their small rural town by their queerness, their good grades, and their big dreams. They are about to embark on the summer before senior year of high school, where each is going on a new, big adventure, from attending a design school in Paris to interning on Capitol Hill for a U.S. Senator. What will this summer of new experiences and world-expanding travel mean for each of them--and for their friendship?"-- Provided by publisher.
A Comb of Wishes
Published in 2022
Twelve-year-old Kela is still mourning her mother when she finds a mermaid's comb while she and her friend are looking for sea glass on her Caribbean island; such combs have magic in them, and touching it opens a connection to the mermaid Ophidia who cangrant her wish, to bring her mother back to life--but all wishes have consequences, and magic demands a price which may prove to be more painful than the loss of her mother.
I'll Always Come Back to You
Published in 2022
"A mother reassures her daughter that--whether their time apart has been long or short, boring or exciting--their family will soon be together again"-- Provided by publisher.
Fire Becomes Her
Published in 2022
In a world where magic can be bottled and power sipped, seventeen-year-old Ingrid Ellis tries to rise in society on the arm of Lindon Holt, but when she agrees to spy on his father's political opposition in exchange for his approval, she begins to question where her true allegiances lie.