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

Pride

This novel is an updated version of Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. It brings in themes of cultural identity, class, and gentrification in a romance setting. It discusses diversity and hardship in the teenage years and reimagines a classic story.

Tags: Black/African (primary character); girl/woman (primary character); human (primary character); language: English; Latinx (primary character); unspecified sexuality (primary character); young adult fiction

From the Tops of the Trees

“Young Kalia has never known life beyond the fences of the Ban Vinai Refugee Camp. The Thai camp holds many thousands of Hmong families who fled in the aftermath of the little-known Secret War in Laos that was waged during America’s Vietnam War. For…

Tags: Asian (primary character); Asian (secondary character); early reader (ages 5-9); human (primary character); human (secondary characters); language: English; picture book; unspecified gender (primary character); unspecified gender (secondary characters); unspecified sexuality (primary character)

The Last Star: The Final Book of The 5th Wave

Is the final book in the 5th wave series. Follows the journey of Cassie fighting against the aliens who have invaded earth. In the remaining few days they have left on earth Cassie and the remaining survivors must decide what is most important,…

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

The Bookshop Cat

A cat finds a job in a children's bookshop, where he helps children of many races and genders come together over books.

Tags: Asian (secondary characters); Black/African (secondary characters); boy/man (primary character); boy/man (secondary characters); brown skin (secondary characters); girl/woman (secondary characters); human (secondary characters); language: English; non-human (primary character); non-human (secondary characters); picture book; white, assumed (secondary characters)

The Girl and the Wolf

A retelling of the "Little Red Riding Hood" story; in this version, the wolf is a helper, and the little girl must rely on both his knowledge and her own to find her way to safety. TheKirkus review states, "Readers will likely infer the girl and her…

Tags: early reader (ages 5-9); girl/woman (primary character); human (primary character); human (secondary characters); language: English; unspecified sexuality (primary character)

Love in the Library

A short recollection of how Maggie Tokuda-Hall’s grandparents met during their time in a Japanese internment camp. A story about love as persistence and resistance in times of hardship.

Tags: boy/man (primary character); girl/woman (primary character); human (primary character); language: English; picture book; straight (primary character)

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

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)

Made in Korea

Two entrepreneurial Korean American teens fall in love as they compete in sales at their respective Korean beauty businesses. Despite their blossoming relationship, the rivalry is strong and only one business can succeed!

Tags: Asian (primary character); Asian (secondary character); 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)

Heart Sister

In this story, Emmitt's twin sister, Minnie, dies in an accident. Minnie turns out to be an organ donor. Emmitt tries to put his sister back together, in spirit. He decides to create a film and interview people who received his sisters organs. The…

Tags: boy/man (primary character); human (primary character); language: English; young adult fiction

Wonky Donkey's Big Surprise

A young donkey missing her mother is excited as her father sits her down to give her a surprise. With its funny rhyming words and its charming illustrations, this Children's Choice Award Wonky Donkey sequel tells the tale of a loving family and…

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

The Highest Frontier

This is a science fiction novel focusing on the main character, Jennifer, and her first year in college. She faces many problems, addressing political, social, and environmental issues, making the novel appealing to readers both young and old.

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

My Heart Beats

Explores the sounds that children's heartbeats make when they experience love and laughter. It features children from all around the world and demonstrates that our heartbeats unite us.

Tags: Asian (primary character); Black/African (primary character); board book; group (characters); human (primary character); language: English; unspecified gender (primary character); unspecified sexuality (primary character); white (primary character)

They Both Die at the End

They Both Die at the End is a story about two young men named Mateo and Rufus whose lives intersect when each gets a call telling him he is going to die that day and they connect via an app called Last Friend. This book allows readers to follow along…

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

Outside Over There

When her baby sister is abducted by goblins, Ida must enter a strange and bizarre world to rescue her. As noted on the Harper Collins website, this book has been the recipient of multiple awards, including the National Book Award, New York Times Best…

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

Kaleidoscope

An unnamed protagonist must continue life without his friend James. A fantastical story about love, friendship, and grief between two teenage boys. Non-linear storytelling told through recollections of memories and dreams. Biblical and mythological…

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

Mother Goose Goes to India

A colourfully illustrated book which combines timeless nursery rhymes with an introduction to Indian culture.

Tags: Asian (secondary characters); boy/man (secondary characters); girl/woman (secondary characters); human (secondary characters); language: English; non-human (primary character); picture book

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)

Richard Scarry's A Day at the Police Station

Follow Sergeant Murphy, Busytown's favourite police officer, as he helps Busytown citizens find their lost items, handle huge traffic jams, and teach the town about safety. Children of all ages will love this fun and exciting story from the one and…

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

The Boy Who Made Everyone Laugh

Billy wants to be a stand-up comedian, but he has a stutter and is afraid to speak in front of his classmates at his new school. First-person narration.

Tags: boy/man (primary character); human (primary character); human (secondary characters); language: English; middle grade book (ages 8-12); physical disability/condition (primary character); white, assumed (primary character)

Allegiant

This novel is the third in the Divergent trilogy. It is set in a dystopian future in Chicago, where people are organized into five different factions based on gene purity; the system is meant to prevent war or any other population threatening…

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

Vespertine

Grey sisters are nuns that purify and cleanse the bodies of the dead so their souls can pass on. The protagonist, Artemisia, is training to become one. But when her covent is threatened by possessed soldiers, she awakens an ancient spirit, the…

Tags: girl/woman (primary character); human (primary character); language: English; non-human (secondary characters); unspecified gender (secondary characters); unspecified sexuality (primary character); unspecified sexuality (secondary characters); white, assumed (primary character); young adult fiction

Daughter of the Deep

While leaving for a trial on board a yacht from her marine academy, 15-year-old Ana and her classmates watch their school get destroyed, revealing a battle from the 19th century based on Jules Verne's novels 20,000 Leagues Under the Seaand The…

Tags: Asian (primary character); girl/woman (primary character); human (primary character); language: English; unspecified sexuality (primary character); young adult fiction

Operation Sisterhood

Bo and her mother lived a quiet life before moving to her stepfather's home in Harlem. With three new sisters, pets, and a new life, she is unsure how to fit in.

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

Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You

A reimagining of Dr. Ibram X. Kendi's Stamped from the Beginningfor a younger/teen audience.This is a book about race to better help us understand today's climate. It also takes the time to discredit racist ideologies to help readers unlearn any…

Tags: Black/african (author); Black/African (primary character); Black/African (secondary characters); group (characters); language: English

Browse Items (133 total)