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Title: Traffick (sequel to TRICKS) Author: Ellen Hopkins Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books, November, 2015 Themes: sex trafficking of minors, tricks, homosexuality, homophobia, transphobia, family relationships, romantic relationships, abuse, Las Vegas Genre: Contemporary YA Ages: 14+ Opening: A Poem By Cody Bennet Can’t Find The courage to leap the brink, free-fall beyond the … Continue reading →

Title: What We Left Behind Author: Robin Talley Publisher: Harlequin Teen, 2015 Themes: Gender, binary identity, lesbianism, transgender, genderqueer, pronouns, starting college, relationships, romance Genre: Contemporary YA/NA Ages: 14+ Source: ARC received from publisher in exchange for an unbiased review. (Quotes from the ARC therefor subject to change.) Opening: October           … Continue reading →

I have chosen to Review My Name Is Not Easy as part of the celebration of Native American Heritage during the month of November. Title: My Name is Not Easy Author: Debby Dahl Edwardson Publisher: Marshall Cavendish, 2011 Themes: Alaska, Alaska Natives, Indians, Whites, … Continue reading →

Title: Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda Written by: Becky Albertalli Published by: Balzar & Bray, April, 2015 Themes/Topics: Coming out, homosexuality, blackmail, change, friendships Suitable for ages: 12-18 Opening: It’s a weirdly subtle conversation. I almost don’t notice I’m being blackmailed.     … Continue reading →

Title: New Shoes Written by: Susan Lynn Meyer Illustrated by: Eric Velasquez Published by: Holiday House, 2015 Themes/Topics: Shoes, Segregation, Discrimination,  African American Interest, Human & Civil Rights, Fairness, Justice & Equality, Determination, Genre: Historical fiction Suitable for ages: 5-8 Opening: My cousin Charlotte … Continue reading →

I am back with my Diversity Reading Challenge on Mondays and hope to introduce you to a range of texts that you might not automatically select, but which I hope you will read and pass on. Title: George Written by: Alex Gino … Continue reading →

Title: Gracefully Grayson Written by: Ami Polonsky Published by: Hyperion, 2014 Themes/Topics: transgender, middle school, orphans, theatre, self-acceptance, bullying Suitable for ages: 8 -12 Opening: IF YOU DRAW a triangle with the circle resting on the top point, nobody will be able to tell that … Continue reading →

Today’s book falls into category #12 and has just been updated and rereleased after 25 years. Title: Heather Has Two Mommies Written by: Leslea Newman Illustrated by: Laura Cornell Published by: Candlewick Press, 2015 (First published in 1989 by Tzivia … Continue reading →

Category #6 is up today, and while Brown Girl Dreaming was one of my favorite reads of last year, I have opted to review the young reader’s edition of Malala’s story, which is co-written by the talented YA author (and … Continue reading →

Today I am reviewing a book from category #8. I have read many Walter dean Myers’ books, but chose JAZZ because I have just completed writing a YA novel set predominantly in New Orleans and I am living a stone’s … Continue reading →

Today’s book recommendation has a multiplicity of diversity in it – the book is bilingual and has a non-gender specific protagonist. Title: Call Me Tree – Llámame árbol Written and illustrated by: Maya Christina Gonzalez Published by: Children’s Book Press, an imprint of Lee … Continue reading →

I read and review a lot of books each year, and this one stands out for me as a story that changed me. I am telling you, it is a must read. If it is on your TBR list, shuffle … Continue reading →

Today’s diversity read is one I had been looking forward to since meeting the author at one of the biannual SCBWI conference LGBTQ meetings a year ago. It doesn’t exactly fall into any of my categories, but boy, is it … Continue reading →

I am loving the variety of books I am reading to complete this challenge, and today’s story comes under #5 bullying and #3 in as far as this little boy is questioning and non-conforming! Title: Morris Micklethwaite and the Tangerine Dress … Continue reading →

I naturally gravitate towards diversity in my reading, and my blog has had this as a focus since its beginning, but this challenge has pushed me to seek out texts in a more targeted way. Today’s story, however, came to … Continue reading →

Today’s recommendation falls into category #9, A book written by or about someone on the autism spectrum. Title: RAIN REIGN Written by: Ann M. Martin Published by: Feiwel and Friends, October, 2014 Themes/Topics: Aspergers, homonyms, loss, rules Suitable for ages: 7-12 Awards: Schneider Family Book … Continue reading →

Today’s review for my diversity reading challenge falls into category #1. If you are joining is this challenge as a reader or reviewer, feel free to mention in the comments what books you have been reading. Title: Father’s Chinese Opera Written … Continue reading →