Browse Items · Windows and Mirrors: Diversity in Books for Young Readers

5-minute Marvel stories

This book has no specific author as it is a collection of twelve 5-minute long stories by Marvel Press Book Group, featuring all-time favourite superheroes such as Ms. Marvel, Captain Marvel, Kate Bishop, Jane Foster, and many more. This comic book…

Tags: boy/man (secondary characters); comic book; girl/woman (secondary characters); group (characters); language: English; unspecified sexuality (secondary characters)

A Bear to Share

When her mother suggests she give up her favourite teddy bear, Bach, to make room for a brand new one, Tiana doesn’t know what to do. Tiana’s character acts as the perfect example of selflessness, generosity, and the value of giving to others. The…

Tags: Black/African (primary character); boy/man (secondary characters); early reader (ages 5-9); girl/woman (primary character); human (primary character); human (secondary characters); language: English; unspecified sexuality (primary character); unspecified sexuality (secondary characters); white, confirmed (secondary characters)

A Cuban Girl's Guide to Tea and Tomorrow

This book was on Reese Witherspoon's book club list. This book is a heartfelt romantic novel about a Cuban girl finding her way but also finding a boyfriend.

Tags: boy/man (secondary characters); girl/woman (primary character); human (primary character); human (secondary characters); language: English; Latinx (primary character); woman (author); young adult fiction

A Snake Falls to Earth

A coming-of-age story about Nina, a 16-year-old Lipan Apache girl from Texas and Oli, a cottonmouth snake person. Nina believes in old stories and the idea there's much more to life than what is on Earth. Oli is from the Reflecting World and learns…

Tags: boy/man (secondary characters); girl/woman (primary character); human (primary character); Indigenous (primary character); language: English; LGBTQ+ (primary character); non-human (secondary characters); unspecified sexuality (secondary characters); young adult fiction

Amari and the Night Brothers

Amari, an outcast, is convinced that her brother Quinton is missing. While searching for him, despite everyone's prejudiced opinions, she discovers a whole new world of supernatural affairs. Throughout her journey, she faces friendships, doubt,…

Tags: Black/African (primary character); boy/man (secondary characters); girl/woman (primary character); girl/woman (secondary characters); human (primary character); human (secondary characters); language: English; middle grade book (ages 8-12); non-human (secondary characters); unspecified sexuality (primary character); unspecified sexuality (secondary characters)

Beatrice and Croc Harry

Beatrice is a young girl who wakes up in a treehouse in the magical forest of Argilia with no knowledge of who she is and how she got there. She wakes up alone with amnesia but quickly finds an ally in a crocodile... While working together to…

Tags: Black/African (primary character); boy/man (secondary characters); cognitive/neurological disability/condition (primary character); girl/woman (primary character); human (primary character); language: English; middle grade book (ages 8-12); non-human (secondary characters); unspecified sexuality (primary character); unspecified sexuality (secondary characters)

Better Than the Movies

Now that her long-term crush, Micheal, is back in town, Liz Buxbaum is desperate to get him to notice her – desperate enough to seek help from her annoying next-door neighbor, Wes Bennet. As the two scheme and plot to win Liz her dream prom date,…

Tags: boy/man (secondary characters); girl/woman (primary character); human (primary character); human (secondary characters); language: English; straight (primary character); straight (secondary characters); white, assumed (primary character); white, assumed (secondary characters); young adult fiction

Blood Like Magic

A teen with is forced to sacrifice the love of her life in order to preserve her family's magical powers. Being a teen, she has never been in love and is tasked with finding Mr. Right in order to kill him. She applies for a matchmaking program and is…

Tags: Black/African (primary character); boy/man (secondary characters); girl/woman (primary character); human (primary character); human (secondary characters); language: English; LGBTQ+ (secondary characters); straight (primary character); straight (secondary characters); transgender (secondary characters); young adult fiction

Bodies Are Cool

This playful picture book celebrates a variety of body types, genders, hair types, and skin colours. It uses friendly images to deliver lessons on body positivity and inclusivity.

Tags: Arab (secondary characters); Asian (secondary characters); Black/African (secondary characters); boy/man (secondary characters); brown skin (secondary characters); girl/woman (secondary characters); group (characters); language: English; multiracial (secondary characters); non-binary (secondary characters); picture book; transgender (secondary characters); unspecified gender (secondary characters); unspecified sexuality (secondary characters); white, assumed (secondary characters)

Cilla Lee-Jenkins, Future Author Extraordinaire

Cilla Lee-Jenkins knows she is destined to be a great author; her first-person narrative demonstrates her working at her craft while also learning about her biracial (Chinese/White) identity.

Tags: Asian (secondary characters); Black/African (secondary characters); boy/man (secondary characters); girl/woman (primary character); girl/woman (secondary characters); human (primary character); human (secondary characters); language: English; middle grade book (ages 8-12); multiracial (primary character); white, confirmed (secondary characters)

Concrete Rose

This novel is a prequel to Thomas’ The Hate U Give. It follows Maverick, the father of Starr Carter in The Hate U Give, as a seventeen-year-old highschool student. He is a senior and a member of the King Lords gang in a fictional Black neighborhood…

Tags: Black/African (primary character); boy/man (primary character); boy/man (secondary characters); girl/woman (secondary characters); human (primary character); human (secondary characters); language: English; straight (primary character); young adult fiction

Daniel Misses Someone

Daniel misses Grandpere because he lives so far away! What can he do to cope with this feeling? Follow Daniel as he discovers there are tons of things to do to feel better about missing Grandpere.

Tags: boy/man (primary character); boy/man (secondary characters); language: English; non-human (primary character); non-human (secondary characters); picture book; unspecified sexuality (primary character); unspecified sexuality (secondary characters)

Diary of a Young Naturalist

A teenager in Ireland describes his life within a year as he navigates friendships, school, and his incredible connection with nature. These diary entries follow the challenges of Dara's living with autism.

Tags: boy/man (primary character); boy/man (secondary characters); cognitive/neurological disability/condition (primary character); girl/woman (secondary characters); human (primary character); human (secondary characters); language: English; unspecified sexuality (primary character); unspecified sexuality (secondary characters); white, confirmed (primary character); white, confirmed (secondary characters); young adult nonfiction

Dinosaur Dig (The Berenstain Bears)

Based on the TV/Cartoon show, Dinosaur Dig is a tie-in that follows Nick Jr’s Berenstain Bears. In this book, Brother and Sister visit the Bearsonian Museum and find a real dinosaur dig taking place! What sort of fossils will they find?

Tags: boy/man (primary character); boy/man (secondary characters); girl/woman (primary character); girl/woman (secondary characters); language: English; picture book; unspecified sexuality (primary character); unspecified sexuality (secondary characters)

Don't Ask Me Where I'm From

When Liliana Cruz, a first-generation Latina, is accepted into an elite and predominantly white high school, she chooses to white-wash herself in order to fit in. However, as family secrets unravel and racial tensions begin to rise, Liliana is left…

Tags: boy/man (secondary characters); girl/woman (primary character); girl/woman (secondary characters); human (primary character); human (secondary characters); language: English; Latinx (primary character); Latinx (secondary characters); unspecified sexuality (primary character); unspecified sexuality (secondary characters); white, confirmed (secondary characters); young adult fiction

Elijah Of Buxton

The book follows Elijah Freeman, an 11 year old boy from Buxton, Ontario, a settlement of escaped slaves. After Elijah's friend is robbed of the money he was saving to buy his family out of captivity, Elijah journeys to the US in pursuit of the…

Tags: Black/African (primary character); Black/African (secondary characters); boy/man (primary character); boy/man (secondary characters); language: English; middle grade book (ages 8-12); unspecified sexuality (primary character); unspecified sexuality (secondary characters)

For All Time

Together, Tamar and Fayard live through a thousand lives and have seen the ups and downs of life. Through all these lives lived, one thing never changed, which is their passionate love for one another. The problem is they can never see how their love…

Tags: Black/African (primary character); Black/African (secondary characters); boy/man (secondary characters); girl/woman (primary character); human (primary character); human (secondary characters); language: English; straight (primary character); straight (secondary characters); young adult fiction

Girl in Pieces

This book is a great choice for someone who is going through a tough time: it has heartbreak, learning experiences, and much more. This book is about a girl who is struggling in her life and needs help.

Tags: boy/man (secondary characters); girl/woman (primary character); language: English; psychiatric disability/condition (primary character); straight (primary character); white (primary character); woman (author); young adult fiction

Great Too

This fun children's book is about hockey and overcoming challenges in sports. It shows children the importance of teamwork and relying on each other.

Tags: Black/African (secondary characters); boy/man (primary character); boy/man (secondary characters); human (primary character); human (secondary characters); language: English; picture book; unspecified sexuality (primary character); unspecified sexuality (secondary characters); white, assumed (primary character); white, assumed (secondary characters)

Hair Love

A Black American girl learns to style and care for her curls. The stylish hairdos build her self-esteem. This story was made into an Academy Award-winning short film by the same title.

Tags: Black/African (primary character); Black/African (secondary characters); boy/man (secondary characters); girl/woman (primary character); girl/woman (secondary characters); human (primary character); human (secondary characters); language: English; non-human (secondary characters); picture book; straight (secondary characters); unspecified sexuality (primary character)

Holding Up the Universe

Libby Strout is dubbed "America's Fattest Teen," but after her mom's death, she hopes to start the new school year as the girl who can do anything no matter her weight. Jack Masselin has the skill of fitting in except he can't recognize faces, and…

Tags: boy/man (secondary characters); girl/woman (primary character); human (primary character); human (secondary characters); language: English; straight (primary character); straight (secondary characters); white, assumed (primary character); white, assumed (secondary characters); young adult fiction

Hopepunk

Hope Cassidy feels out of place in her conservative Christian family. She loves listening to rock, and her sister Faith has a boyfriend. When their little sister tells their parents about Faith's sin, she disappears, and Hope decides to rebel and…

Tags: boy/man (secondary characters); girl/woman (primary character); human (primary character); human (secondary characters); language: English; LGBTQ+ (secondary characters); unspecified sexuality (primary character); white, assumed (primary character); white, assumed (secondary characters); young adult fiction

In the Key of Nira Ghani

Nira, an aspiring trumpeter, fights to pursue her musical passions, which oppose the expectations of her traditional Guyanese parents. With its themes of family, friendship, and romance, this coming-of-age story explores the realities of a…

Tags: Black/African (primary character); Black/African (secondary characters); boy/man (secondary characters); girl/woman (primary character); girl/woman (secondary characters); human (primary character); human (secondary characters); language: English; unspecified sexuality (primary character); unspecified sexuality (secondary characters); white, assumed (secondary characters); young adult fiction

Indivisible

After Mateo's parents have been taken to separate deportation centers, he must navigate life in the United States with his younger sister Sophie while going to school, maintaining relationships, exploring sexuality, and learning about immigration…

Tags: boy/man (primary character); boy/man (secondary characters); girl/woman (primary character); girl/woman (secondary characters); language: English; Latinx (primary character); Latinx (secondary characters); LGBTQ+ (primary character); LGBTQ+ (secondary characters); white, assumed (secondary characters)

InvestiGators: Ants in Our P.A.N.T.S.

In the fourth installment of John Patrick Green's InvestiGators series, the crocodile agents at S.U.I.T are faced with a new problem when agent Brash's replacement, RoboBrash, comes equipt with giant ants. It's up to him and Mango to stop both the…

Tags: Asian (secondary characters); boy/man (primary character); boy/man (secondary characters); brown skin (secondary characters); girl/woman (secondary characters); graphic novel; human (secondary characters); language: English; non-human (primary character); non-human (secondary characters)

Browse Items (71 total)