Top Ten Books That Celebrate Diversity/Diverse Characters
Since I began blogging, I’ve intentionally tried to leave my comfort zone (by reading Fantasy and Classics), and I’ve also tried to read more diversely. It’s something I’d like to work on, but these are my diverse picks so far:
1. Noughts & Crosses by Malorie Blackman – Diverse Element – Race. Noughts & Crosses is one of my favourite book series ever. Not only is Blackman’s writing gorgeous to read, but the novel flips race discrimination on its head and offers a realistic dystopian society, where white people face prejudice. My review of Noughts & Crosses.
2. To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee – Diverse Element – Race. One of my favourite books of the year so far (and probably ever!), this novel is set in the Deep South during the 30’s and tells the story of a lawyer who defends a black man charged with rape, but through the eyes of his two children. My review of To Kill A Mockingbird.
3. Maybe Someday by Colleen Hoover – Diverse Element – Disability. I don’t want to go into too much detail on this novel, as I don’t want to ruin the book for those who have yet to read it (what are you doing if you haven’t read it yet?!). This is a New Adult novel, with its own soundtrack, which also features a disability. Winning. My review of Maybe Someday.
4. I’ll Meet You There by Heather Demetrios – Diverse Element – Poverty, Mental Health, Teen Pregnancy, Disability. This is definitely one of my favourite reads of 2015 – it’s a very well written YA/NA crossover that tackles a lot in one story. I think I need a reread soon actually, and I’ve yet to review it!
5. The Before Now and After Then by Peter Monn – Diverse Element – Sexuality. This was a fantastic debut novel that deserves much more readership, recognition and praise. My review of The Before Now and After Then. My interview with author, Peter Monn.
6. Louder Than Words by Iris St. Clair – Diverse Element – Substance Abuse, Physical Abuse. Ellen has been through the wars lately – her dad died, her mum has issues with alcohol and drugs, and she’s been hit on by her teacher. This is a contemporary romance with a much bigger underlying message. My review of Louder Than Words.
7. Far From You by Tess Sharpe – Diverse Element – Sexuality, Mental Health. Far From You was an excellent 2014 debut that was the perfect mix of mystery and contemporary, but also very heart-breaking. My review of Far From You.
8. Come Back To Me by Mila Gray – Diverse Element – Mental Health. A swoony NA romance, with a lot of grit and feels, this novel follows Kit, a Marine on leave, and Jessa, his best friend’s sister. My review of Come Back To Me.
9. Life Interrupted by Kristen Kehoe – Diverse Element – Teen Pregnancy. An emotional, and I feel realistic portrayal of teen pregnancy. This novel gave the right mix of humour and serious storyline, with a sassy protagonist. My review of Life Interrupted.
10. Room by Emma Donaghue – Diverse Element – Mental Health, Child Narration. I thought this would be an interesting book to add in to the mix, not only is it centred around a young woman and her child, who are both held hostage, it also deals with mental health issues, but told from the POV of a 5 year old boy. My review of Room.
I hope to keep reading diversely, so link me up to your TTT posts so I can add more to my TBR! Have you read any of my picks this week? Let me know in the comments.
Confessions of a Book Geek 
I’ve been wanting to read Room for ages, the premise sounds so interesting. And everyone always speaks so highly of Colleen Hoover, I really should read some of her books! haha! Your list is fantastic 🙂
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It’s a very unique read, Amy! I really enjoyed it once I got into it! COLLEEN HOOVER IS QUEEN! Do it, you won’t regret it! R x
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I love Maybe Someday! Why didn’t I think of it? Ugh. It’s such an amazing novel. I really need to read Noughts & Crosses, I can’t believe I haven’t read it yet.
Great list!
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Maybe Someday is a bit of a curveball one because people who haven’t read it don’t realise there’s diversity in it, and it isn’t mentioned on the blurb or anything! Ohhh, you definitely have to read N&C!!! R x
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That’s true! I also didn’t know before I started reading. I will! X
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The only one of these I’ve read is Mockingbird. It is a good list. I wrote today about physical diversity.
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This list made me realise that while I’ve read more diverse books in the past two years than ever before, thanks to blogging, I actually haven’t read a BIG number of them yet at all. I need to up my game in 2016 as I find reading diversely very rewarding! Will go check out your list to see if there’s any to add to my TBR! R x
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Lots of good ones here! I forgot how much I enjoyed I’ll Meet You There until you just reminded me. Such a good book. I never did get around to reading Room, even though it was hyped up for so long. Hyped books scare me. 😉 xx
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We need to do our review for that one, we’ve all read it now right? I might reread for a review though, it’s been a while, I’m SO behind on my reread challenge, and I was planning to anyways. Hyped books scare me too, I didn’t know Room was that hyped though? Give it a little while longer til the hype wears off for you, but definitely get to it, I think as a mother you’ll have a particular appreciation for the child narrative! R x
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To Kill a Mockingbird is a good one! It didn’t even cross my mind to add it to this list, but it’s perfect! I haven’t read any of the other books you mention, so I’ll definitely have to add them to my TBR. Nice list! 🙂
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Thanks, Holly! Some of these are really excellent, I’d highly recommend I’ll Meet You There, Noughts and Crosses, Maybe Someday, Far From You… Oh, I recommend them all. Great reads lol R x
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You’ve intrigued me with I’ll Meet You There… adding that one to the list!
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YAY! I’m doing super well with book pushing today!! It was a great read, and one I want to reread soon. R x
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I’ve been contemplating reading Room. I think it’s got a great concept, but I don’t know about reading a book from a 5-year-old’s perspective. But I read your review and I think I’ll have to check it out. 🙂 My TTT
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It was very well done, it took me a little while to get into the head space, but it was a really unique narrative, I think you’ll enjoy it. Thanks for reading the review! 🙂 I love when people read books based on things I’ve said, makes me feel all warm and glowy! Lol R x
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Excellent choices. I’ll Meet You There is amazing. I need to read Maybe Someday. I’m so bad. I have the book, just haven’t read it yet.
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Definitely want to reread I’ll Meet You There, it’s impacted me more than I thought with hindsight. OH MY GOSH, you so need to read Maybe Someday! And if you already own it that’s half the battle! Get on it, Quinn! R x
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I had Maybe Someday on my list, too. I loved that book, and I’d really like to read Room sometime. I’ve had it on my list for what seems like forever.
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I reread it this year too and still enjoyed it as much, I was so afraid with a reread that it may not impact me the same way, but I found with my first read I enjoyed the first half more and felt the second half slowed down, and with my reread I enjoyed the first half, but preferred the second. Weird, huh? Room was very different, but very good. It took a couple of chapters to wrap my head around the 5 year old narration, but once I did I really liked it. R x
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Oh I’ve got Nought and Crosses in my pile. I’m excited to read that. Diverse books are becoming popular nowadays, aren’t they? About time, I say.
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Oh, you should get to that one asap, and bring tissues! There’s four books in the series, but the first has always been my favourite. Read it for the first time as a teen, and reread last year. I don’t often actually cry tears reading books, but I did at that one, twice, even though I’d already read it. I think the spotlight has definitely been put on diversity, and seeing everyone’s picks this week means I’ve lots to add to my TBR now. I haven’t had a chance to go through them all and comment this week yet, I plan to catch up with a cuppa at the weekend 😉 R x
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This is such a great list! I have added most to my TBR list. I have read Noughts & Crosses, Mockingbird and Room which were all very good. Although Room does still haunt me.
My TTT
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Thanks, Sue! Let me know if you read any of them and what you think! I think about all of those books pretty regularly for different reasons, Noughts and Crosses broke my heart, Mockingbird was just… angry, discriminatory, perfection, if there is such a thing, and Room I thought was quite original, and scary – because it’s based on a true story. How horrible? R x
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Amazing list, it’s filled with so many wonderful books that I have loved. Will have to try the others myself, always looking for books that celebrate diversity.
As you already know, I LOVED Noughts & Crosses and Maybe Someday. Also really enjoyed I’ll Meet You There, although still have a few issues with parts of the story… hate the homophobic slurs in that, bugs me to even think about it!
Far From You was amazing! I need to reread that, it blew me away the first time I read it.
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Thank you! You’ve went on a comment spree, I’m feeling the ❤
Ah, you should check out some of the other ones on this list, as I think this is a time when our tastes match up! R x
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I have only read To Kill a Mockingbird and Life Interrupted from your list, and I would definitely include them both on a diversity list. I totally agree with your commentary about Life Interrupted. I also thought it was a realistic depiction of teen pregnancy.
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