Tuesday, July 21, 2015

Top Ten Tuesday: Books That Celebrate Diversity


Top Ten Tuesday is a meme created by The Broke and the Bookish, and the theme this week is to list ten books that celebrate diversity!


1.  Tiny Pretty Things by Sona Charaipotra and Dhonielle Clayton


Holy guacamole, this book is dramatic.  I'm currently reading it and am overwhelmed by the amount of backstabbing and various hi-jinks.  But yay for diversity!  All of the three protagonists come from different cultural and financial backgrounds, from the dark skinned Gigi with the health issues, to the perfect Bette with enormous pressure put on her by her family, to the half-Asian June who doesn't seem to fit in anywhere.

2.  I'll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson 


I'll Give You the Sun is not only a terrific book, but one that features Noah and Jude as the protagonists.  Their point of views' are split:  Jude's from the future and Noah's from the past.  The mystery works its way to toward the middle.  Noah, one of the leading roles, happens to be gay and falling in love with the new neighbor in a way that is really awkward but super sweet.

3.  Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell


Eleanor and Park is my favorite Rainbow Rowell book, even over Fangirl.  It is set in the eighties (you know, the decade with big hair and Madonna), and deals with a rainbow of issues, from bullying to inescapable home lives.  Park is half-Asian and Eleanor is not one of those classic stick-thin girls typically highlighted in YA.  It is a heartwarming--and breaking--novel.

4.  City of Bones by Cassandra Clare  


Magnus Bane, resident warlock of New York City, happens to be a sexually flexible (as he says) immortal who loves glitter--and Alec, who is one of the shadowhunters, aka a half-angel demon hunter.  Magnus is one of my favorite characters in this favorite book series, and the fact that he adores all things that sparkle is only an added bonus.

5.  The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken


I have talked about this book about, oh, I'd say a half a billion times on here before.  That's because I am in love with this series!  Not only is it beautifully written and has a gorgeous cast of characters--but it does have some great diversity!  The main group of characters includes kids from hugely different backgrounds.  Liam had an abusive father, Chubs is dark skinned and is so intelligent I want to cry, Zu is a sweet Asian girl who has electric powers, and a character later on is revealed to be gay.

6.  Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson 


I reviewed Wintergirls absolutely ages ago--and it has still stuck in my mind.  Lia has an eating disorder--one her best friend has just dropped dead from.  Laurie Halse Anderson is the Gandolf of writing on sensitive topics, and this one is no exception.  It deals with the mental disorder in an extremely realistic yet respectful way.  Another one of her books, Speak, which I also suggest, subjects on a girl who has been sexually abused.

7.  Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell


I remember reading this for Battle of the Books in maybe third or fourth grade.  I also remember thinking that it was like no other book I had read before (which wasn't hard to do, really--I read mostly books about horses and warrior cat societies).  Karana, an Indian girl, has been abandoned on her island home when her people sailed away and forget her.  This is her story of survival on the Island of the Blue Dolphins.

8.  Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn  


This book is highly disturbing, and not just because of the fact that the protagonist cuts words onto her skin and that the family is just irreversibly, beyond messed up.  Sharp Objects is downright insane, but also a peek into the heads of those who some consider crazy.

9.  The Darkest Part of the Forest by Holly Black 


I've mentioned The Darkest Part of the Forest a time or two...hundred.  Do you want to know why?  Of course you do, the wisdom I so generously bestow is invaluable.  It is because this book is the product of Awesome X Fabulous, and I'm not one for math, but I like that equation.  Besides the creepy faeries and curses, Hazel's brother Ben is in love with the sleeping faerie prince Severin, as so many of the townspeople are.  But what happens when this prince awakes?

10.  We Were Liars by E. Lockhart


If you haven't read this masterpiece of a book, I will find you...and I will proceed to knock you over the head with it!  Because...really!  I gave it a glowing, iridescent, glistening review of this book that is eerie and tragic and all around spectacular.  Cadence suffers from memory loss and severe migraines, and possibly hallucinations.  One of the subtopics of this book is the fact that Cadence's grandfather (aka jerk who likes to play God) doesn't want her to date the family friend, Gat, because he is Indian.  Seriously, bro?  I know you're old and wrinkly, but get up with the times!

6 comments:

  1. I just finished I'll Give You the Sun and loved it - great pick! Eleanor and Park also ade my list. We Were Liars was amazing. Great list!!

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    1. I'm so happy you loved I'll Give You the Sun! There are so many great diverse books nowadays. Thanks for commenting!

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  2. There are so many good books on this list. I completely forgot about The Darkest Minds which is stupid because I absolutely love that series. Ugh, I'm so excited for Alex Bracken's new book Passenger next year. I really need to read The Darkest Part of The Forest. Yet another book to add to my TBR. :P

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    1. Agh, how could you possibly forget about The Darkest Minds?! It's so perfect! I am SO EXCITED FOR PASSENGER!!!!!!!!

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  3. I've read 7 of these! I'M DOING GOOD. hehe, I loved Island of the Blue Dolphins as a kid...totally inspired me to get stuck on an island, actually. Um. Yes. I was a weird child. (Not much changes, but I digress.) Ohh, I want to read The Darkest Minds. And I kiiiind of want to read a Gillian Flynn novel. But then again maybe not. I AM SCARED. >_<
    Thanks for stopping by @ Paper Fury!

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    1. Yay! I would offer you cake, but I'm keeping it all for myself...sorry. I thought I would be the only one who had read Island of the Blue Dolphins! I was also a weird child. I think most children are. I haven't seemed to outgrow it yet! READ GILLIAN FLYNN. DO IT.

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