Bookish Things

World Book Day Celebration: Diverse Books for Kids & Teens

Diverse Books for Kids & Teens: World Book Day Celebration 2021

It’s World Book Day 2021! Last year I took part in a blog hop with some other amazing bloggers where we shared books that shaped our childhoods, and I’m so excited to be taking part again this year to bring you a short list of Diverse Books for Kids and Teens that I’ve loved!

Eleanor is the person before me so make sure you check out her post on Instagram!

What is World Book Day?

World Book Day changes lives through a love of books and shared reading. Our mission is to promote reading for pleasure, offering every child and young person the opportunity to have a book of their own. Reading for pleasure is the single biggest indicator of a child’s future success – more than their family circumstances, their parents’ educational background or their income. We want to see more children, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, with a life-long habit of reading for pleasure and the improved life chances this brings them. Designated by UNESCO as a worldwide celebration of books and reading, World Book Day is marked in over 100 countries around the globe.

You can find out more on World Book Day’s website >>

Diverse Reads for Kids & Teens that I’ve loved

The first book I want to talk about is The Gravity of Us by Phil Stamper!

The Gravity of Us by Phil Stamper
Published by Bloomsbury on March 17, 2020
Genres: JUVENILE FICTION, General, Young Adult Fiction, LGBT
Pages: 352
Goodreads

Cal wants to be a journalist, and he's already well underway with almost half a million followers on his FlashFame app and an upcoming internship at Buzzfeed. But his plans are derailed when his pilot father is selected for a highly-publicized NASA mission to Mars. Within days, Cal and his parents leave Brooklyn for hot and humid Houston.With the entire nation desperate for any new information about the astronauts, Cal finds himself thrust in the middle of a media circus. Suddenly his life is more like a reality TV show, with his constantly bickering parents struggling with their roles as the "perfect American family."And then Cal meets Leon, whose mother is another astronaut on the mission, and he finds himself falling head over heels--and fast. They become an oasis for each other amid the craziness of this whole experience. As their relationship grows, so does the frenzy surrounding the Mars mission, and when secrets are revealed about ulterior motives of the program, Cal must find a way to get to the truth without hurting the people who have become most important to him.

Honestly, this book blew me away. With everything going on last year I really struggled to read but when I came across The Gravity of Us with POC, LGBTQIA and Mental Health rep? I snatched it up and did not regret it. I’m pretty sure I read it in one sitting. It deals with hard topics and does it well, looking at modern Mental Health struggles that teens (and adults) are going through. The characters are exploring their sexuality which is always great to see. It also has space-related content, so if you’re a sci-fi nerd like me, it’s a must! Trigger Warnings (highlight to view): anxiety, depression, untimely death

An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir
Series: An Ember in the Ashes #1
Published by Razorbill on 9 February, 2016
Length: 13 hrs and 56 mins
Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult
Pages: 446
Format: Paperback, Audiobook
Goodreads

Laia is a slave. Elias is a soldier. Neither is free.

Under the Martial Empire, defiance is met with death. Those who do not vow their blood and bodies to the Emperor risk the execution of their loved ones and the destruction of all they hold dear.

It is in this brutal world, inspired by ancient Rome, that Laia lives with her grandparents and older brother. The family ekes out an existence in the Empire’s impoverished backstreets. They do not challenge the Empire. They’ve seen what happens to those who do.

But when Laia’s brother is arrested for treason, Laia is forced to make a decision. In exchange for help from rebels who promise to rescue her brother, she will risk her life to spy for them from within the Empire’s greatest military academy.

There, Laia meets Elias, the school’s finest soldier—and secretly, its most unwilling. Elias wants only to be free of the tyranny he’s being trained to enforce. He and Laia will soon realize that their destinies are intertwined—and that their choices will change the fate of the Empire itself.

I can’t talk about Diverse reads without talking about a book series that stole my heart, An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir! It has great POC representation and such a compelling and emotive story, complete with a world full of culture and history well thought out and conveyed to the reader. The audiobook is also spectacular, so I highly recommend listening to this one! Trigger Warnings (highlight to view): Attempted rape (on-page), Blood, Child abuse, Child death, Death (including loved ones), Guilt, Physical abuse, Rape (mentioned and threatened), Sexual assault, Slavery, Torture, Violence

You can read my full review of An Ember in the Ashes here >>

From Twinkle, With Love by Sandhya Menon
Published by Hachette UK on May 22, 2018
Genres: Young Adult Fiction, General, Lifestyles, City & Town Life, Performing Arts, Film, Romance, Clean & Wholesome, School & Education, Social Themes, Emotions & Feelings, Young Adult, Love & Romance
Pages: 336
Goodreads

'There's something irresistible about Sandhya Menon's novels - the romances are sweet and winning, the humor is cheerful and sly, and the families are warm and complicated' Stephanie Perkins
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Aspiring filmmaker and wallflower Twinkle has stories to tell - if only the world would listen. So when nerdy classmate and fellow film-obsessive Sahil approaches her to direct a film for the upcoming Summer Festival, Twinkle can't wait.
The chance to showcase her artistic voice? Dream come true. The opportunity to get closer to longtime crush, Neil - aka Sahil's twin brother? Dream come even truer.
When Twinkle receives an email from a secret admirer - the mysterious 'N' - she is sure it's Neil, finally ready for their happy ending. The only problem is that, in the course of their movie-making, she has found herself falling for Sahil - the wrong brother.
Twinkle soon realises that resistance is futile: the romance she's got is not the one she scripted... But will it have a happy ever after anyway?
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Praise for Sandhya Menon and From Twinkle With Love:
'The hug your heart most certainly needs' Book Riot
'Funny and sweet' Buzzfeed
'Sandhya Menon is a welcome and needed voice in YA' Katherine Webber

From Twinkle with Love is another great book to listen to! It has great own-voices rep with the Indian protagonist being a strong feminist which I just loved. This story got a hold of me straight away and I couldn’t stop reading! I finished in a few days and I actually cried when I finished it. I think it felt very real to me as I’ve gone through some changes in my friendships so I understood where Twinkle came from, but then at the same time could see things she was doing that weren’t helping her situation. I think these kinds of stories are so important to kids and teens as they’re going through so many changes!

You can read my full review of From Twinkle with Love here >>

Wing Jones by Katherine Webber
on 2017
Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary
Pages: 384
Goodreads

Debut novel about a mixed-race family hit by tragedy in 90s Atlanta from a talented young writer.For fans of David Levithan, Jandy Nelson and Rainbow Rowell: a sweeping story about love and family from an exceptional new voice in YA. With a grandmother from China and another from Ghana, fifteen-year-old Wing Jones is often caught between worlds. But when tragedy strikes, Wing discovers a talent for running she never knew she had. Wing's speed could bring her family everything it needs. It could also stop Wing getting the one thing she wants.

Wing Jones is another contemporary that stole me away. I don’t tend to read many contemporaries but this one really was amazing! This isn’t own-voices but tackles what it’s like to live as a biracial teen, and from what I’ve read from reviews of POC it has accurate representation. It’s quite a hard read in that it tackles topics that are difficult for anyone, let alone teens, so please check the trigger warnings before reading!

Trigger warnings (highlight to view): racism, family member in a car accident, family member in a coma, graphic discussion of an accidental knife injury.

Once & Future by Cori McCarthyAmy Rose Capetta
Published by Hachette UK on March 26, 2019
Genres: Young Adult Fiction, Arthurian, Romance, LGBT, Action & Adventure, Survival Stories, Apocalyptic & Post-Apocalyptic
Pages: 368
Goodreads

King Arthur as you've never seen her! This bold, sizzling YA novel reimagines the Once and Future King as a teenage girl determined to save the universe from an evil curse.My name is Ari Helix. I have a magic sword, a cranky wizard, and a revolution to start.I've been chased my whole life. As a fugitive refugee in the territory controlled by the tyrannical Mercer corporation, I've always had to hide who I am. Until I found Excalibur. Now I'm done hiding. When Ari crash-lands on Old Earth and pulls a magic sword from its ancient resting place, she is revealed to be the newest reincarnation of King Arthur. Then she meets Merlin, who has aged backward over the centuries into a teenager, and together they must break the curse that keeps Arthur coming back. Their quest? Defeat the cruel, oppressive government and bring peace and equality to all humankind. No pressure. "All hail this worthier-than-ever, fresh, and affirming reincarnation of the legendary king and her round table of knights which dazzles with heroic flair, humor, and suspense." -- Kirkus, Starred Review

Last but not least is Once & Future! This book has such a diverse cast with POC and LGBTQIA rep all over the place! It’s sci-fi with humour done well. I’ll be honest, I don’t know that I ever finished it? (I KNOW) but that’s not due to the book, more because of my forgetfulness!

There is a lot going on, so you need to pay attention so you don’t get lost!

Trigger Warnings (highlight to view): Mentioned Sexual Assault, Racism, Sexism, Homophobia, & Misgendering. ALL challenged and corrected on page!