Today marks the official beginning of the #WeNeedDiverseBooks campaign on various social media outlets. Even before today, thousands of posts flooded the Twittersphere giving many valid reasons why we need more diversity in books and on bookshelves.
Diversity isn't limited to the color of your skin. It isn't limited to your socioeconomic status. It's not limited to your sexual preference, gender, or religious beliefs. There's no one thing that makes us diverse. It is a multitude of things that form and shape us, and make us the unique human being we are.
I think diversity in books is important. Readers come in all shapes, sizes, ages, colors, etc. Each one is beautiful and unique, and as a writer, I want to connect with them in a way that is significant to them. As a reader, I want to connect with characters and broaden my horizons. I want to exist in a space beyond my own corner of the universe, and books have so much potential to do that. I read a Tweet today that really summed up this whole movement: "Books should be a mirror AND a window."
Today, I leave you with one of my favorite books that features a diverse lead.
THE FARM by Emily McKay is probably one of my all-time favorite YA books. It's a post-apocalyptic vampire tale that is told from three separate points of view, one of the POVs being my favorite character, Mel.
Here's the thing about Mel - she's autistic. She views her world in sounds and smells, and this view provides perspective on how she reacts to the situation she's found herself in. She's probably one of the strongest characters I've read. I adore her.
What is your favorite book that features a diverse lead?
Diversity isn't limited to the color of your skin. It isn't limited to your socioeconomic status. It's not limited to your sexual preference, gender, or religious beliefs. There's no one thing that makes us diverse. It is a multitude of things that form and shape us, and make us the unique human being we are.
I think diversity in books is important. Readers come in all shapes, sizes, ages, colors, etc. Each one is beautiful and unique, and as a writer, I want to connect with them in a way that is significant to them. As a reader, I want to connect with characters and broaden my horizons. I want to exist in a space beyond my own corner of the universe, and books have so much potential to do that. I read a Tweet today that really summed up this whole movement: "Books should be a mirror AND a window."
Today, I leave you with one of my favorite books that features a diverse lead.
Here's the thing about Mel - she's autistic. She views her world in sounds and smells, and this view provides perspective on how she reacts to the situation she's found herself in. She's probably one of the strongest characters I've read. I adore her.
What is your favorite book that features a diverse lead?
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