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Diverse Youth Titles: August Releases 2023

  • Ashley S.
  • Wednesday, August 02

Check out these diverse titles releasing in August!

Cover of diverse youth titles releasing August 2023

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 House of Marionne by J. Elle

17 year-old Quell has lived her entire life on the run. She and her mother have fled from city to city, in order to hide the deadly magic that flows through Quell’s veins. Until someone discovers her dark secret. To hide from the assassin hunting her, and keep her mother out of harm’s way, Quell reluctantly inducts into a debutante society of magical social elites called the Order that she never knew existed. If she can pass their three rites of membership, mastering their proper form of magic, she’ll be able to secretly bury her forbidden magic forever. If caught, she will be killed. But becoming the perfect debutante is a lot harder than Quell imagined, especially when there’s more than tutoring happening with Jordan, her brooding mentor and— assassin in training. When Quell uncovers the deadly lengths the Order will go to defend its wealth and power, she’s forced to choose: embrace the dark magic she’s been running from her entire life or risk losing everything, and everyone, she’s grown to love. Still, she fears the most formidable monster she’ll have to face is the one inside.

Cove of Julie and the Mango Tree

Julie loves all kind of fruit, but mangoes are her absolute favorite. One sticky summer afternoon, Julie goes to the big mango tree in her yard to ask for a snack. But no matter how nicely she asks or how patient she tries to be, the tree just won’t drop a single sweet, juicy mango! Will Julie ever be able to convince the tree to let her have just a taste of her favorite treat?

Cover of Mexikid

Pedro Martín has grown up hearing stories about his abuelito—his legendary crime-fighting, grandfather who was once a part of the Mexican Revolution! But that doesn't mean Pedro is excited at the news that Abuelito is coming to live with their family. After all, Pedro has 8 brothers and sisters and the house is crowded enough! Still, Pedro piles into the Winnebago with his family for a road trip to Mexico to bring Abuelito home, and what follows is the trip of a lifetime, one filled with laughs and heartache. Along the way, Pedro finally connects with his abuelito and learns what it means to grow up and find his grito.

Cover of I Feed Her to the Beast and the Beast Is Me

Laure Mesny is a perfectionist with an axe to grind. Despite being constantly overlooked in the elite and cutthroat world of the Parisian ballet, she will do anything to prove that a Black girl can take center stage. To level the playing field, Laure ventures deep into the depths of the Catacombs and strikes a deal with a pulsating river of blood. The primordial power Laure gains promises influence and adoration, everything she’s dreamed of and worked toward. With retribution on her mind, she surpasses her bitter and privileged peers, leaving broken bodies behind her on her climb to stardom. But even as undeniable as she is, Laure is not the only monster around. And her vicious desires make her a perfect target for slaughter. As she descends into madness and the mystifying underworld beneath her, she is faced with the ultimate choice: continue to break herself for scraps of validation or succumb to the darkness that wants her exactly as she is—monstrous heart and all. That is, if the god-killer doesn’t catch her first.

Cover of Zhara

Magic is forbidden throughout the Morning Realms. Magicians are called abomination, and blamed for the plague of monsters that razed the land twenty years before. Jin Zhara already had enough to worry about—appease her stepmother’s cruel whims, looking after her blind younger sister, and keeping her own magical gifts under control—without having to deal with rumors of monsters re-emerging in the marsh. But when a chance encounter with an easily flustered young man named Han brings her into contact with a secret magical liberation organization called the Guardians of Dawn, Zhara realizes there may be more to these rumors than she thought. A mysterious plague is corrupting the magicians of Zanhei and transforming them into monsters, and the Guardians of Dawn believe a demon is responsible. In order to restore harmony and bring peace to the world, Zhara must discover the elemental warrior within, lest the balance between order and chaos is lost forever.

Unexpecting

Unexpecting

A Novel
Bailey, J. Leigh, author.
Published in 2023
Openly gay sixteen-year-old Ben must make difficult decisions when his experiment to prove he is gay leads to his best friend Maxie becoming pregnant.
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Book
 
Forgive Me Not

Forgive Me Not

Baker, Jennifer, 1981- author.
Published in 2023
Set in an alternate version of Queens, N.Y., fifteen-year-old Violetta must participate in the Trials, a series of tests meant to push her to the edge, to atone for her sister's death.
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Book
 
No Place Like Home

No Place Like Home

Bird, James, 1979- author.
Published in 2023
Opin, his brother Emjay, and their mother live in a car and are trying to get to Los Angeles where they hope an uncle and a new life are waiting, but even after finding a stray dog, Opin's longing for a stable home intensifies as his brother's reckless ways hit a new high.
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Book
 
Fury of the Dragon Goddess

Fury of the Dragon Goddess

Chadda, Sarwat, author.
Published in 2023
"When the ancient Tablet of Destinies falls into the wrong hands, it is up to Sikander Aziz and his friends to save humanity from having its future erased by two fearsome Mesopotamian gods"-- Provided by publisher.
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Book
 
Hair Love ABCs

Hair Love ABCs

Cherry, Matthew A., author.
Published in 2023
"An alphabet board book inspired by the bestselling HAIR LOVE with new spot illustrations and text from the original award-winning author and illustrator duo--and perfect for baby gift baskets"-- Provided by publisher.
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Book
 
We Still Belong

We Still Belong

Day, Christine, 1993- author.
Published in 2023
"Wesley's hopeful plans for Indigenous Peoples' Day (and asking her crush to the dance) go all wrong-until she finds herself surrounded by the love of her Indigenous family and community at the intertribal powwow"-- Provided by publisher.
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Book
 
The Last Girls Standing

The Last Girls Standing

Dugan, Jennifer, author.
Published in 2023
As the only two survivors of a summer camp massacre, Sloan and her girlfriend Cherry form a seemingly unbreakable bond, but as Sloan discovers more about the attack she begins to suspect Cherry may be more than just a survivor.
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Book
 
Zhara

Zhara

Jae-Jones, S., author.
Published in 2023
Forbidden from practicing magic and burdened by her responsibilities, Jin Zhara's life takes an unexpected turn when she becomes involved with the Guardians of Dawn, a group dedicated to fighting a demonic plague that is corrupting magicians.
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Book
 
Blue

Blue

The Many Ways I Feel
James, Nancy Johnson, author.
Published in 2023
A child describes all the beautiful shades of blue they feel, from a pale winter sky to a bright ocean wave, and discovers that one has the power to change one's many blues into a song or a poem, blue into gold.
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Book
 
My Name

My Name

Kelkar, Supriya, 1980- author.
Published in 2023
When his name is mispronounced, leading to laughter in the classroom, an Indian American boy is reminded by his parents how special he is and how his unique name reflects that.
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Book
 
Lolo's Sari-sari Store

Lolo's Sari-sari Store

Lee, Sophia N., author.
Published in 2023
After recently moving to the United States, a young girl reminisces about her time spent helping her Lolo run his sari-sari store in the Philippines, and uses some of his wisdom to make herself feel more at home.
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Book
 
Mexikid

Mexikid

A Graphic Memoir
Martin, Pedro, 1967- author, artist.
Published in 2023
"Pedro Martin's grown up in the U.S. hearing stories about his legendary abuelito, but during a family road trip to Mexico, he connects with his grandfather and learns more about his own Mexican identity in this moving and hilarious graphic memoir"-- Provided by publisher.
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Book
 
A Justice for All

A Justice for All

The Story of US Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson
Patrick, Denise Lewis, author.
Published in 2023
"All rise for Ketanji Brown Jackson, the first Black female United States Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson knew from the very beginning that "You can do anything. You can be anything." Driven by those powerful words and her parents' love, Ketanji refused to let naysayers stop her from rising to the top. Her perseverance and her wits led her to become the first Black woman to become a US district judge and eventually the first Black female US Supreme Court justice. Ketanji's remarkable journey proves how she is a justice for all. With Denise Lewis Patrick's empowering prose and Kim Holt's vibrant illustrations, this picture book delves into the life of a trailblazing contemporary figure, whose work shows that with determination and support, we can do and be anything"-- Provided by publisher.
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Book
 
The Boy You Always Wanted

The Boy You Always Wanted

Quach, Michelle, author.
Published in 2023
Attempting to fulfill her dying grandfather's dying wish, seventeen-year-old Francine enlists Ollie Tran to act as his honorary male, but the mounting lies and romantic feelings they develop complicate their plan.
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Book
 
Stuntboy, In-between Time

Stuntboy, In-between Time

Reynolds, Jason, author.
Published in 2023
Portico Reeves, or Stuntboy the greatest superhero people have never heard of, tries to manage his frets and navigate his new normal with divorced parents, bullies in his building, and a newfound friend.
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Book
 
Barely Floating

Barely Floating

Rivera, Lilliam, author.
Published in 2023
Twelve-year-old Natalia's dream of becoming a synchronized swimmer is in jeopardy when her parents decide they are against a sport that emphasizes looks, but Nat is determined to change their minds.
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Book
 
Author

Ashley S.

Collection Strategist - Youth
Series
Diverse Youth Titles
Tags
Book Recommendations
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Audience
Parents
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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