Diverse Characters
City of the plague god
Sarwat Chadda
jFICTION Chadda Sarwat
Diverse Characters, Read Woke, Fantasy
"Thirteen-year-old Sikander Aziz has to team up with the hero Gilgamesh in order to stop Nergal, the ancient god of plagues, from wiping out the population of Manhattan in this adventure based on Mesopotamian mythology"--
I sang you down from the stars
Tasha Spillett-Sumner
jE Spillett
Picture Books, Read Woke, Diverse Characters
A Native American woman describes how she loved her child before it was born and, throughout her pregnancy, gathered a bundle of gifts to welcome the newborn.
Tasha Spillet-Sumner's poetry and Michaela Goade's illustrations are a beautiful pairing not to be missed. -Casey
Darius the Great is Not Okay
Adib Khorram
YOUNG ADULT FICTION Khorram Adib
Diverse Characters, Young Adult
Clinically-depressed Darius Kellner, a high school sophomore, travels to Iran to meet his grandparents, but it is their next-door neighbor, Sohrab, who changes his life.
A great story about friendship, finding value, purpose and acceptance of yourself for who you really are at your core. I really loved how this book realistically tackled mental illness and the interactions Darius has with his family and friends about it. Soccer, Iran, bullying, depression, and tea; this book has it all! -Victoria
Our little kitchen
Jillian Tamaki
jE Tamaki
Picture Books, Diverse Characters, Poetry
"A crew of resourceful neighbors comes together to prepare a meal for their community. Includes a recipe and an author's note about the volunteering experience that inspired the book"--
Picture book perfection, made to be shared! -Casey
King and the Dragonflies
Black History, Diverse Characters
"In a small but turbulent Louisiana town, one boy's grief takes him beyond the bayous of his backyard, to learn that there is no right way to be yourself"-- Provided by publisher.
Kacen Callendar's 2021 Coretta Scott King Author Honor is a fantastic read. This book will have you hooked from the beginning; highly descriptive locations, complex and relatable characters and important themes that will evoke discussion with young readers. I would recommended this for ages 10 and up. -Victoria
Sing, unburied, sing : a novel
Jesmyn Ward
FICTION Ward Jesmyn
Fiction, Diverse Characters, Read Woke
"A searing and profound Southern odyssey through Mississippi's past and present"--
Ward's story grapples with the trauma of racism, gun violence, and incarceration via a multi-generational household. Her story is set in rural southern Mississippi yet these themes are familiar to many in America. Chapters are told from alternating character's point of view including those of a ghost. -Jason
The Birchbark House
jFICTION/Erdrich, Louise
Read Woke, Diverse Characters, Historical Fiction
Omakayas, a seven-year-old Native American girl of the Ojibwa tribe, lives through the joys of summer and the perils of winter on an island in Lake Superior in 1847.
Guilty confession: the first time I listened to this book was on a trip and we didn't finish it. Not because it isn't lovely! I remember enjoying it so much that I'm excited to pick it up in its physical format and start this one from the top. -Casey
Birdsong
Julie Flett
jE Flett
Read Woke, Diverse Characters, Picture Books
"When a young girl moves from the country to a small town, she feels lonely and out of place. But soon she meets an elderly woman next door, who shares her love of [nature and art]. Can the girl navigate the changing seasons and failing health of her new friend?"--Publisher marketing.
Added by Casey
This is our house
Hyewon Yum
jE Yum
Read Woke, Diverse Characters, Picture Books
Follows a family through seasons and generations as the house to which their immigrant grandparents came is transformed into a home.
This is a title I love sharing at storytime. Not only are the illustrations and message beautiful, but the house as a character here is truly wonderful. Read this one in a quiet moment together. -Casey
Juana & Lucas
Juana Medina
jFICTION Medina, Juana
Read Woke, Diverse Characters, Early Chapter Books
A spunky young girl from Colombia loves playing with her canine best friend and resists boring school activities, especially learning English, until her family tells her that a special trip is planned to an English-speaking place.
Juana Medina's early chapter book series is delightful. Funny and realistic, this is a series not to miss. -Casey
This is the first of the Rick Riordan Presents imprint that I have read, and I am impressed! Going back for round two with Sikander and Gilgamesh soon, as the first time around was a whirlwind. -Casey