Why We Need Diverse Books

 

I've been an avid reader since the early days. My mom would try to read to me, but I'd snatch the book from her hands to read it myself. As I grew, I talked to the librarians who were in the 30-40 range more often than my friends. I went to the library on Wednesday's, but did manage to go more than once a week as I grew older. I used the school bus system like public transportation—took the bus route closest to the library and walked my way there. The characters in the stories I read were my companions, and their lives became part of my reality. But, sure, the books I read were an escape, but I was still found myself searching to find a character exactly like me. Every girl fell in love with a boy at some point which was fine but my heart felt it needed something else at that time.

As I grew older with the English curriculum of my public schools, to then entering the classroom as a teacher's assistant— I realized that the needs of my youth followed to the books we taught today. We do not include characters like any of these students. The Great Gatsby and The Catcher in the Rye are classics, I get it. But our student's can learn the same motif's in books that featured characters and story lines from LGBTQ+,Latinx,POC, Female-Identifying...etc. lens. We need to shift the importance of the classics and focus on the needs of our students, it is our duty to serve who they need to see at the center of their literature. This follows to what books we pick up at the bookstore and give our attention too. These books with diverse stories and characters can make it into the literary canon if we put them on the spotlight.

I've found recently the grassroots organization We Need Diverse Books, while being rooted in children's literature their message is universal—we must advocate for essential changes in the publishing industry to produce and promote literature that reflects and honors the lives of all [young] people. With their message in mind, I have been collecting books for my future curriculum that centers in on more besides the white,cisgender, heterosexual male lens.

Here is a lineup of (so far!) the best of the very best from what I've come across in this journey for diverse books. A little heads up— most are YA literature (which is completely fine because their story lines are great, so don't hate...y'all can read whatever you please in peace.)

 None Of The Above by I.W. Gregorio

 

Gracefully Grayson by Ami Polonksy

Tell Me Again How A Crush Should Feel by Sarah Farizan

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz

 

The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Díaz 

 

What You Call Winter: Stories by Nalini Jones

 

Dykes To Watch Out For,Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic, and Are You My Mother? by Alison Bechdel

 

Long Division by Kiese Laymon