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

With the Fire on High

The novel narrates the story of Emoni Santiago’s life. Emoni becomes pregnant in her senior year at high school. As a single mom, she has to manage her responsibilities towards her daughter, Abuela, school, and her passion for cooking (Amazon).

Tags: girl/woman (primary character); human (primary character); language: English; multiracial (primary character); straight (primary character); young adult fiction

Children of Blood and Bone

Zélie's mother is killed under the rule of an evil king. To avenge her, she must battle the crown prince and the royal family to bring magic back. Danger lurks as Zélie struggles to control her powers.

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

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)

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)

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)

The Hate U Give

Sixteen-year-old Starr Carter tries to balance two very different lives in the poor, predominantly black neighborhood where she lives and the posh, predominantly white, suburban prep school she attends. She is forced to face her reality when…

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; straight (primary character); straight (secondary characters); white, confirmed (secondary characters); young adult fiction

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)

Thelma, Pig and Friends Storybook Collection: Five Favourite Stories

A collection of modern fables that uses animals to portray a message of self acceptance.

Tags: boy/man (primary character); girl/woman (primary character); graphic novel; language: English; non-human (primary character)

The Cruel Prince

The Cruel Prince follows a young woman named Jude who wants nothing to do with her mortality and hopes to be accepted into the High Court of Faerie. To win a place in the court she has to win over Prince Cardan because he despises humans.

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

Tempted (House of Night #6)

Tempted is the sixth novel in the House of Night Seriesof young adult novels about teens who are marked to become "vampyres." In this novel in the series, Zoe Redbird, who has both Cherokee and white heritage, strives to understand her connection…

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

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)

The Scapegracers

Sideways Pike is a teenage lesbian witch who finds an unlikely friendship in the three most popular girls of her school. Together, the diverse group of friends form a powerful coven in which they explore friendship, love, and magic.

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

Mockingjay

This final book of The Hunger Games trilogy follows Katniss Everdeen as she discovers District 13 and becomes the opponent of President Snow. She also seeks to find her lost love, who was captured and brainwashed.

Tags: Black/African (secondary characters); boy/man (primary character); boy/man (secondary characters); girl/woman (primary character); girl/woman (secondary characters); language: English; straight (primary character); straight (secondary characters); white, confirmed (primary character)

Forever Birchwood

Wolf's and her friend's treehouse hideaway Birchwood, is threatened to be cut down, pushing Wolf to fight harder to protect the environment she cares deeply for. Her passion is fuelled when discovering her family’s indigenous connections as her great…

Tags: girl/woman (primary character); human (primary character); human (secondary characters); Indigenous (primary character); language: English; middle grade book (ages 8-12); unspecified sexuality (primary character); white, assumed (secondary characters)

Lost in Time

Mimi is a part of the Blue Bloods family line. She must face a blood trial with her twin brother Jack, where in the end only one of them will survive. However, everything they thought about the gate has turned out to be a lie. Mimi must save the only…

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

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

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

The Beatryce Prophecy

A fantasy/fable about prophecy and storytelling, set in medieval times. The protagonist has her head shaved, is disguised as a boy, and hidden by monks. She has an unpleasant goat as an animal companion.

Tags: girl/woman (primary character); human (primary character); human (secondary characters); language: English; middle grade book (ages 8-12); non-human (secondary characters); white, assumed (primary character)

Remember to Dream, Ebere

Ebere's mother tells her to always dream as big as possible, and she does. This book praises imagination, hope, and a child's potential for greatness.

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

Niki Nakayama: A Chef’s Tale in 13 Bites

This is a children’s picture book based on a true story about an American chef of Japanese descent. Niki Nakayama is a famous chef and the reader embarks on an adventure as she faces criticism and as she strives to learn about the culinary arts.

Tags: Asian (primary character); girl/woman (primary character); human (primary character); language: English; picture book; unspecified sexuality (primary character)

Little Messy Marcy Su

Marcy Su sets out to clean up her room and herself before her grandparents arrive. By the time they get there, she and her room look great, but the rest of the house is a mess. The delightful picturebook contains elements of Chinese culture…

Tags: Asian (primary character); Asian (secondary character); girl/woman (primary character); girl/woman (secondary characters); human (primary character); human (secondary characters); language: English; picture book; unspecified gender (primary character); unspecified gender (secondary characters); unspecified sexuality (secondary characters)

Gabby’s Dollhouse Cat-tastic Heroes to the Rescue!

Gabby and Pandy become superheroes and defend the Dollhouse! Follow along as they save the Gabby Cats from the supervillain.

Tags: girl/woman (primary character); human (primary character); language: English; Latinx (primary character); non-human (secondary characters); picture book; unspecified gender (secondary characters); unspecified sexuality (primary character); unspecified sexuality (secondary characters)

Browse Items (75 total)