Top Ten Tuesday: Ten Books That Celebrate Diversity

It’s Top Ten Tuesday, hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. This week’s topic is Ten Books That Celebrate Diversity/Diverse Characters. Since I’m reviewing a diverse book every other day this summer as part of my Summer Reading Diversity Spotlight Series, I thought I would choose five books that I’ve featured so far plus a few diverse titles that I’m planning to read this summer that I’ve heard nothing but good things about and one I loved from last year that I will never stop talking about! Here we go!

1. More Happy Than Not by Adam Silvera (Add it to Goodreads)
It’s heartbreaking but so beautiful as Aaron learns about love and regret and taking chances and consequences. This exploration of sexuality was riveting. The portrayal of Aaron’s social class was so very much appreciated in a category (YA) that often forgets or stereotypes this class; oh my goodness, you have no idea how refreshing it was to see this portrayed so correctly and I didn’t have to read an “urban” book to see it done right. THANK YOU. This novel is so rich and grounded in its characters, its world, its journey, and how it’s told (those twists!!!) and I wouldn’t want it told by anyone else. – Click here for my full review.

2. Under the Lights by Dahlia Adler (Add it to Goodreads)
Vanessa’s story was the story I was most anticipating as she discovers she has feelings for another girl but is struggling with what that means for her and her future, especially as a Korean American Hollywood star. There’s so much to take into account here and I loved that so much was covered here within this story of Vanessa not only finding herself but coming out as well. I love that not only was she coming out, she was coming out and a minority and in Hollywood. Talk about layers and layers of fear here. Fear of what’s expected and of the unknown. Tackled so wonderfully. – Click here for my full review.

3. Every Day by David Levithan (Add it to Goodreads)
I loved following A, who wakes up in a different body every day, that body always the age that he currently is. This was a flawlessly executed story, the structure of it so absolutely beautiful. Each day flowed so smoothly to the next, even when A woke up in less than ideal environments. This story, A’s journey was so fluid, so raw, so emotionally gripping. Every Day is a lovely, heartbreaking, mesmerizing story that everyone of every age should read. You will be so, so glad you did. – Click here for my full review.

4. The Living by Matt de la Peña (Add it to Goodreads)
The Living was a really solid story about a kid making an honest living taking a chance on the summer job of a lifetime on a luxury cruise ship, only for him to witness a suicide and later, experience the ship going down after a tsunami. And there’s more to expect that I haven’t even mentioned. Matt’s characters and the journeys they were on really had a hold on me so I was not only invested in the action from the beginning and waiting for it to all unfold but I quickly became enraptured in the personal arcs of the characters. I’ve added the sequel, The Hunted to my To Be Read list. – Click here for my full review.

5. Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews (Add it to Goodreads)
Now Me and Earl and the Dying Girl doesn’t take itself seriously at all while at the same time it’s so mercilessly honest and acknowledges so many things that many are too afraid to face head on. This book is silly and full of nonsense but it’s also full of gems about being a decent human being and what it means to live in an indecent world as we follow a kid who reconnects with a friend he never would have reconnected with had that friend not gotten cancer and his mom forced (yes, forced) him to hang out with her while she dies. The author doesn’t tip toe around this awkward ever and that’s what makes this story so great. This is a no holds barred, profanity ridden reality of three kids stuck in tough places and how they deal and it’s great. I would definitely recommend this book to quite a handful of people who I know would absolutely yearn for this honesty, really get and appreciate this voice and style, and love it as a whole. – Click here for my full review.

6. None of the Above by I.W. Gregorio (Add it to Goodreads)
I’ve never read a book that follows a character who is intersex so I am looking forward to learning a lot about an experience I know absolutely nothing about and really being challenged to acknowledge a world and struggles and identity beyond myself.

7. Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli (Add it to Goodreads)
I really have no idea what I’m in for with this book but I’ve heard nothing but good things about it long before it was published so I have high hopes about this one.

8. Written in the Stars by Aisha Saeed (Add it to Goodreads)
You’ve seen me feature this on the blog before and I am just as pumped as I was the last time to mention it. I cannot wait to read this book!

9. Lies We Tell Ourselves by Robin Talley (Add it to Goodreads)
It takes a lot of lies, a lot of hurt and pain to get to the celebration of love in this story but we all know that love always wins. And this is a fine story detailing one harrowing journey to love. You can read my review here.

10. Daring to Be Myself: A Memoir by Laverne Cox (Add it to Goodreads)
There is no title for this memoir from Orange is the New Black star, Laverne Cox but I’m highly anticipating this read.

What are notable diverse reads you’ve recently read?

9 comments

  1. I'm really excited to read Simon's!! IT SOUNDS SO CUTE and I've heard everyone swear it's adorably fluffy. (Also apparently oreos?! I'm sold!) I loved Robin Talley's book, but omg, it was tough to read because the people were so cruel. D: MADE ME SNIFFLE.
    Here's my TTT!

  2. Awesome list! I didn't know about Daring to be Myself, but now I'm adding it to my tbr- thanks! I really enjoyed LIES, Simon, NOTA, and Me & Earl. Glad to hear Under the Lights made the cut- I have my eye on that one.

  3. Great choices. I have Simon and More Happy Than Not sitting on my TBR shelf. I’ve read Me and Earl and the Dying Girl. I really liked it.

  4. Thanks for stopping by the blog, guys!

    I can't wait to be in on the oreo thing too regarding Simon, haha! Hoping Daring to Be Myself comes out on time! I'm surprised a cover hasn't been released yet :-/ Excited to watch the Me and Earl movie soon as well, finally!