BLOG
- Ashley S.
- Friday, June 24, 2022
Share:
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!
Unfadeable
Published in 2022
"A young graffiti artist learns to fight smart against the gentrification threatening her neighborhood"-- Provided by publisher.
Pride
An Inspirational History of the LGBTQ+ Movement
Published in 2022
"The LGBTQ+ community is so much more than rainbow flags and the month of June. In this beautifully designed dynamic book, young readers will learn about groundbreaking events, including historic pushes for equality and the legalization of same-sex marriages across the world. They will dive into the phenomenal history of queer icons from ancient times to the present and read about Harvey Milk, Marsha P. Johnson, Audre Lorde, and more. Including several personal current essays from inspiring young LGBTQ+ people, this book encourages readers to take pride in their identity and the identities of those around them. Don't just learn about LGBTQ+ history--take pride in it!"-- Provided by publisher.
Flirting with Fate
Published in 2022
Ava Granados arrives too late to for her grandmother's deathbed blessing, then Nana appears as a ghost asking for help so Ava, with the help of her two older sisters and bumbling spiritual guide, Medardus, must befriend the mysterious boy who received theblessing the night of the storm.
Karthik Delivers
Published in 2022
One summer during the Financial Crisis, fourteen-year-old Karthik Raghavan makes deliveries for his father's ailing Indian grocery, but he is secretly cast in a play about the young Leonard Bernstein. Includes author's note.
The Color of the Sky is the Shape of the Heart
Published in 2022
Inspired by a mysterious message, seventeen-year-old Ginny Park sets off to find herself as she reflects on her experiences of growing up Zainichi, an ethnic Korean born in Japan, and the incident that forced her to leave years prior.
Aru Shah and the Nectar of Immortality
Published in 2022
The Pandavas call on old friends, make new allies, and face fearsome trials as they embark on a mission to stop the Sleeper from accessing the nectar of immortality, but ultimately Aru must decide who deserves immortality--the devas or the asuras--and an unexpected answer comes from an unexpected place.
Blaine for the Win
Published in 2022
After his boyfriend Joey breaks up with him to pursue more "serious" guys, Blaine decides to run for senior class president as Joey's successor to prove his worth--but is Blaine willing to sacrifice everything about himself to do it?
Show the World!
Published in 2022
"From painting, music, and slam poetry, to engineering, protesting, and photography, a young narrator journeys through her neighborhood, encouraging readers to explore all the many ways they can express themselves."-- Provided by publisher.
Moonwalking
Published in 2022
In 1980s Brooklyn, new student JJ Pankowski, an autistic, punk-rock-lover, befriends Pie Velez, an Afro-Latinx math geek and graffiti artist.
Alice Austen Lived Here
Published in 2022
Middle school student Sam is comfortable with their nonbinary identity, and their family has accepted it too (as long as they do their homework and chores), so when their history teacher assigns as a project coming up with a proposal for the new statue honoring a historical Staten Islander (there is a contest involved) they and their friend TJ decide to focus on Alice Austen, a lesbian photographer, whose house on Staten Island is a museum--but they have to overcome the presumption on the part of their teacher that only straight males are eligible.
Boulevard of Dreams
Published in 2022
"Relly can't wait for his beloved grandfather to finally see him on stage...Though his grandfather would prefer his grandson pursue something more 'practical, Relly just knows when he sees the show, he will change his mind...But right before their night show, a member of the Squad loses their phone down an open manhole. When the entire Squad goes down to help retrieve it, they find themselves in 1950s Manhattan. A big problem, considering the curtain goes up in about two hours--and over sixty years in the future"-- Provided by publisher.
The Einsteins of Vista Point
Published in 2022
Eager for a fresh start, the grieving Einstein family moves to the remote town of Vista Point to renovate an old house and turn it into a bed-and-breakfast.
Queen of the Tiles
Published in 2022
Fifteen-year-old Najwa Bakri is forced to investigate the mysterious death of her best friend and Scrabble Queen, Trina, a year after the fact when her Instagram comes back to life with cryptic posts and messages.
Black
The Many Wonders of My World
Published in 2022
A girl describes the many wonders of the color black, which is the amalgam of all colors: the starry sky at night, her own black puppy, and even the color of her eyes.
Zara's Rules for Record-breaking Fun
Published in 2022
Ten-year-old (nearly eleven) Zara's nickname is "Queen of the Neighborhood" because she organizes the other children (even the older ones), sets the rules, and generally makes sure everyone has fun; but now another ten-year-old, Naomi, has moved in acrossthe street and she has her own ideas about fun games, and suddenly the other kids (even Zara's younger brother Zayd) are listening to Naomi--if she is going to retain her influence Zara needs to come up with something quick, and an old copy of the Guinness Book of World Records gives her an idea.
Hundred Years of Happiness
Published in 2022
When her grandmother gets trapped in her cloudy memories, An and her grandfather Ông come up with a plan to bring her back to a happy moment so she can remember her wedding wish with Ông: hundred years of happiness.
In the Key of Us
Published in 2022
While twelve-year-old Andi has suffered from anxiety attacks ever since her mother died ten months ago, Zora starting hurting herself whenever she feels out of control; they are both at Camp Harmony, an elite summer music camp, trying to deal with their problems and also the stress of competition--but as the summer passes they find themselves increasingly drawn to each other, and maybe not just as friends.
Different Kinds of Fruit
Published in 2022
"When Annabelle learns that her father shares something big--and surprising--in common with her new nonbinary friend, she begins to see herself, and her family, in a whole new light"-- Provided by publisher.
The Not-so-uniform Life of Holly-Mei
Published in 2022
Moving to Hong Kong for her mother's job, Holly-Mei Jones couldn't be happier until she makes a frenemy at school and must use all of her determination, stubbornness, and sparkle to turn her life in this new city into the ultimate adventure.
Kick Push
Published in 2022
"When Epic's family moves to a new neighborhood, he has a hard time making friends and fitting in with his skateboard; but the trick to making new friends is to be yourself!"-- Provided by publisher.
The Hospital
The Inside Story
Published in 2022
"It's another busy day at the hospital! Meet doctors and nurses, ride in an ambulance, and discover the magic of medicine in this nonfiction story for kids. This book is perfect for any child who is nervous about a trip to the hospital. Dr. Christle Nworatakes readers behind the scenes to meet the incredible people who keep you healthy, from surgeons to mental health therapists. Dr. Nwora also explains the science behind how things work, from X-rays to operating theaters. Set over the course of one day,you'll follow different patients through their trip to the hospital, including: A couple having a new baby A boy getting a cast for his broken arm A woman on her way to have an operation As you turn the pages of this book, illustrated by Ginnie Hsu, marvel at the way hospital staff work together-see who prepares the food in the cafeteria, what goes on in the laundry room, and what doctors chat about during their coffee break. Once you've read this book you'll realize hospitals are full of heroes!"-- Provided by publisher.
Witchlings
Published in 2022
"Every year, in the magical town of Ravenskill, Witchlings who participate in the Black Moon Ceremony are placed into covens and come into their powers as full-fledged witches. And twelve-year-old Seven Salazar can't wait to be placed in the most powerful coven with her best friend! But on the night of the ceremony, in front of the entire town, Seven isn't placed in one of the five covens. She's a Spare! Spare covens have fewer witches, are less powerful, and are looked down on by everyone. Even worse, when Seven and the other two Spares perform the magic circle to seal their coven and cement themselves as sisters, it doesn't work! They're stuck as Witchlings and will lose their magic. Seven invokes her only option: the impossible task. The three Spares will be assigned an impossible task: If they work together and succeed at it, their coven will be sealed and they'll gain their full powers. If they fail... Well, the last coven to make the attempt ended up being turned into toads. Forever. But maybe friendship can be the most powerful magic of all…"-- Amazon.com.
My Sister's Big Fat Indian Wedding
Published in 2022
Gifted violinist Zurika Damani tries to juggle the obligations of her sister's extravagant wedding week while secretly preparing for a prominent music contest all while trying to dodge her family's matchmaking schemes.
Perfectly Imperfect Mira
Published in 2022
Mira wants to be good at something, but she is held back by her desire to be perfect.
It's the End of the World and I'm in My Bathing Suit
Published in 2022
When the electricity goes out, twelve-year-old Eddie and his friends set out to investigate what is going on when they make the startling discovery that they are the only ones left in their neighborhood--and perhaps the only people left anywhere.
I Am the Ghost in Your House
Published in 2022
Born invisible, seventeen-year-old Pie wants more from life than lurking unseen in other people's houses, but when she finally reveals herself, her mother disappears, and Pie begins to question everything she thought she knew.
Arden Grey
Published in 2022
Sixteen-year-old Arden Grey finds escape in her love of film photography as she navigates toxic relationships and how they influence her identity.