Racial Diversity in YA

Posted by The YA Book Traveler , Thursday, April 2, 2015 12:00 AM

 My husband and I adopted a sibling group of 3 almost three and a half years ago, and none of my children are caucasian, like me. Two of them are African American and one is Bi-Racial.

Since adopting my children, I have become HUGELY aware of racial diversity (or lack thereof) within TV shows, movies and books.

Racial diversity in YA has been very disheartening. Even a year ago I could name all the book characters I could think of on one hand: (Main Character) Allison Sekemoto from The Blood of Eden series by Julie Kagawa, and (Side Character) Nehemia from Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas.



THAT.IS.ABOUT.IT

ALMOST ALL book covers STILL have only white people on them and I get very frustrated with this.

 

BUT.....

I've seen over the last year more book covers being revealed that aren't "more white people". 

Here is a list of books I'm very excited about that have a POC (person of color) on the cover! AND all of these are very anticipated releases. 

1. Written in the Stars by Aisha Saaed - Available today!

2. Soundless by Richelle Mead - Available November 17th

3. This Shattered World by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner - Available Now!

4. The Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh  - Available May 12th

5. Hollywood Witch Hunter by Valerie Tejeda - Available July 20th

6. Scarlett Undercover by Jennifer Latham - Available May 19th

7. P.S. I Still Love You (To All the Boys I've Loved Before #2) by Jenny Han - Available May 26th

8. Blood Passage (Dark Caravan Cycle #2) by Heather Demetrios - Available October 6th

9. Winter by Marissa Meyer - Available November 10th

10. The Summer of Chasing Mermaids by Sarah Ockler

Click here to see my past post on this FEATURING DIVERSE COVER REMAKES.

What are your most anticipated racially diverse books????

4 Response to "Racial Diversity in YA"

Pili Says:

I'm very happy to see more variety in YA covers, and having POC in them is extremely important so everyone can see themselves represented!

Winter and The Wrath and The Dawn are two of my most awaited books and cover with plenty of diversity in them!

April 2, 2015 at 2:49 PM

The YA Book Traveler Says:

Yes me too! I also just bought Written in the Stars last night!

April 3, 2015 at 8:12 AM

Holly Says:

I can't wait for more diverse filled books either! They are so, so needed and I love that *most* people completely agree with that. And such pretty covers! Also, The Wrath and the Dawn is such a gorgeous book. I can't wait for everyone to read it.

Wonderful post!

April 3, 2015 at 9:11 PM

aimee can read Says:

So awesome that you and your husband adopted! <3 Being Asian myself, I'm disappointed in the lack of racial diversity in YA. In fact, I had a speech about it in one of our summer camps last year.

So exited for all these books too, especially... ALL OF THEM. I already read The Summer of Chasing Mermaids and it was amazing. <3

Aimee @ Deadly Darlings

April 5, 2015 at 8:02 AM