Category: diverse

diverse, diverse books

Diversity Recs: Bisexual Characters II

by twobookthievesLeave a Comment on Diversity Recs: Bisexual Characters II

Goodreads 



Autoboyography by Christina Lauren

A coming-of-age story featuring two boys who fall in love in a writing class. Tanner, openly bisexual whilst living in California but is pushed back into the closet when he moves to Utah and Sebastian, the Mormon prodigy from a strict religious community who mentors the class. Determined to write a book in four months and planning to coast through high school, Tanner’s plans change when he meets Sebastian. It takes him less than a month to fall in love. This book will be released on September 12th.







Goodreads


Wild Beauty by Anna-Marie McLemore

Graced with the world’s most beautiful cover, this book is jam packed with magic realism, beautiful familial and romantic relationships and celebrates generations of the Nomeolvides women. The book features houses filled with huge families, and more importantly, queer women. Our main character, Estrella, her cousins and some of their mum’s and grandmother’s are bisexual and this is stated. Yes, this is a YA novel that features older women actually having a sexuality. I also believe there is a genderqueer character although I am not 100% certain (please correct me if I’m wrong.) This book will be released on October 3rd.
Goodreads




Like Water by Rebecca Podos

Savannah Espinoza always planned to escape her small town in New Mexico but when her father is diagnosed with Huntington’s disease, she and her mother must care for him. Now her life revolves around caring for her dad, working as a performing mermaid at a water park and distracting herself with one boy after the other. That is until she meets Leigh, wildly ambitious and the friend Savannah has been missing in her life. However, it isn’t long before feelings of friendship become something more. A story of identity and first love. This book will be released on October 17th.

Goodreads



That Inevitable Victorian Thing by E.K. Johnston

This sci-fi novel taking place in the near-future tells the story of the world if the British Empire had never fallen and the U.S had never rose. Victoria-Margaret is crown princess of the Empire but genetically arranged matchmaking will soon enter her into a forced marriage like her mother before her. However, before she must accept her fate, she must go incognito for one summer in the far corner of the Empire. Here she meets Helena and August, both prominent figures and during this action-packed summer, the three form an unlikely bond that could change the course of their future. This book will be released on October 3rd. 
Goodreads


Wild by Hannah Moskowitz

Zack Ramos knows of two things – he must be a parent to his 12 year old sister once their mum’s Alzheimer’s progresses too far and he must train for a hundred mile race through the mountains of Tennessee. His support comes from longtime girlfriend, Jordan, whom he met online and still hasn’t met. And Jordan herself is coming to terms with how she’s going to tell Zack that she’s deaf. In terms of representation, this book is packed with it. A Guatemalan/Jewish Deaf bisexual love interest and Filipino bisexual protagonist. Hardly any of the cast is white and of course, we have a main character with a disability that is a main focus of the story. Hilarious, heart-warming and diverse, this short story is definitely one you need to pick up!

Happy Reading!
Love Angharad @
diverse

Diverse Recs: Books with Trans Characters

by twobookthievesLeave a Comment on Diverse Recs: Books with Trans Characters
Goodreads | Book Depository


If I Was Your Girl by Meredith Russo

We follow the story of Amanda, a transgender girl who goes to live with her father. She falls in love, makes new friends and learns to love the body she should have been born with. The novel switches between present day and flashbacks all the way through Amanda’s childhood to her attempted suicide and finally, her transition. This is a YA contemporary with all our much-loved themes but having it told by a transgender woman makes the story so much more relevant.







Goodreads | Book Depository

Dreadnought by April Daniels

Dreadnought is the first book in the Nemesis series by April Daniels. We follow the story of Danielle, a superhero who just happens to be transgender. This is a world where superheroes are a part of everyday life and when Danny is confronted by a dying Dreadnought, one of the world’s best superheroes, it isn’t long until her life is completely changed when with his dying breath, he gives her his powers and changes her from the boy she was born into the girl she has always been. Faced with her new appearance and blossoming superpowers, Danielle is drawn into the world of heroes and villains alongside her fellow class-member/masked vigilante, Sarah/Calamity as they work together to stop Utopia, a super-villain hell bent on controlling the world. 






Goodreads | Amazon


When the Moon Was Ours by Anna-Marie McLemore


This beautiful magic-realism story follows the story of a lost girl who has roses growing from her wrists and Sam, a transgender boy with a Pakistani heritage whose culture is explored through his paintings. Sam and his mother have always followed the practice of Bacha posh, the cultural practice in Afghanistan and Pakistan of families without sons picking one of their daughters to live and behave as a boy, in order to accept his identity. Although this book is heavily metaphorical and magical, it still manages to deal with many intense issues – such as gender and race. Overall, this is the story of the friendship between Sam and Miel.





Goodreads | Amazon



George by Alex Gino

A middle-grade novel incorporating what it means to be transgender and how it is manifested in children. When people look at George, they see a boy but inside, she knows she’s not. Despite the heavy issues, this book being narrated by 10 year old George allows it to remain a lighthearted and heartwarming, especially George’s blossoming friendship with Kelly who accepts her without question. Female pronouns are used throughout the entire book and during one scene, George renames herself as Melissa and from that point on, that is her name. I think it’s so important to have a middle-grade novel that focuses on the positivity of a trans character and the acceptance that should always be in their lives.








Goodreads | Amazon


Peter Darling by Austin Chant

Beautiful cover? Check. Beautiful story? Check. Own Voices? Check. Diversity? Double check. Just checks everywhere for this amazing retelling of Peter Pan. Despite (unfortunately) being quite short, this story definitely packs a punch as we follow the story of Pan who returns to Neverland after resigning to live his life as Wendy Darling. However, growing up has only fuelled his true identity as a boy. Coming back to the Lost Boys who have now become men and his old rival, Captain Hook isn’t what Pan expected. What is extra unexpected is the attraction he now feels towards Hook leaving a new question, who the real villain is. This book is cute and fun and Pan and Hook could have been SO toxic but Austin nailed it. Definitely pick up this adorable retelling!







Goodreads | Book Depository


Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire

This young-adult fantasy novella is packed full of diversity despite being so small. Our main character is asexual (whose identity is confirmed and discussed), there is a trans boy whose identity is discussed in a wonderful and fascinating way and there are also secondary characters, one of Japanese descent and the other is Latino. This story takes place in a home for ‘wayward children’ and all is seemingly normal, except for the disappearing children who end up in magical lands. Heartbreakingly beautiful, reminiscent of Narnia and yet jam-packed with diversity. Despite the trans character being a secondary character, his identity is still treated with respect so we thought it was worthy to mention in this list. Also, the sequel Down Among the Sticks and Bones is out in June!
Goodreads | Book Depository





Not Your Sidekick by C.B. Lee

Upon delving into the world of book Twitter, you will probably come across this novel almost immediately. A superhero story packed with diverse characters including a bisexual Chinese-Vietnamese main character, a lesbian love interest and a trans boy called Bells whose identity is only confirmed when he is casually asked about his binder. The best news? The sequel, Not Your Villain, gives us Bells as our main character! This series is set in a world where superpowers are the norm but who is to say that they are more powerful than their sidekicks? This book is fun, full of the good kind of tropes but most of all, full of diversity. Also, who wouldn’t want that cover on their shelves?






Lots of love,
Angharad @
diverse, diverse books

Latinx Book Recommendations

by twobookthievesLeave a Comment on Latinx Book Recommendations
In light of an upcoming book which appears to have severe themes of cultural appropriation for the Latinx community, here are some books from the community, with majority being Own Voice novels. Support these books and their authors and let their voices be heard as they tell their histories and their stories and be careful of the damage caused by supporting misinformation and appropriation. 
Goodreads | Book Depository
The Education of Margot Sanchez by Lilliam Rivera

After ‘borrowing’ her father’s credit card without permission, Margot finds herself having to work in the grocery store owned by her family as punishment and to pay off her debts. Margot is desperate to maintain her fought-for reputation at her private school, and refuses to let her family get in the way of her attending the ultimate beach party. The Education of Margot Sanchez looks at class and cultural issues, family secrets, and the building of new relationships whilst trying to maintain old relationships, with friends who could never understand the situation that you’re in. 
Goodreads






I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika L. Sánchez

A YA contemporary telling the story of Julia, a young girl left to pick up the broken pieces after her sister dies in a tragic accident. Unlike her ‘perfect’ sister, Julia still lives at home and becomes the brunt of their mother’s grief as all her failures get pointed out. However, what if her sister wasn’t as perfect as everyone thought? This is a story of self-discovery, secrets and what happens to the ones left behind. This book will be released on October 17th, 2017.






Goodreads



Wild Beauty by Anna-Marie McLemore

Not only being blessed by the world’s prettiest cover, this magic-realism story follows the Nomeolvides women who have tended the beautiful estate of La Pradera whose magic entices guests from all over the world. However, these women have a tragic legacy: if they love too deeply, their lovers will mysteriously vanish and after years of this, a strange boy appears in their gardens. One of the women, Estrella becomes enamoured by this mysterious boy who doesn’t know where he is or where he has come from. This book will be published on October 3rd, 2017.




Shadowshaper by Daniel José Older

This short but powerful novel follows Sierra Santiago, a budding artist from Brooklyn. She is looking forward to a good summer but that is until a strange guy turns up to a party, starting a chain of unusual events in New York. Sierra soon discovers the Shadowshapers, a supernatural order who can connect with spirits via paintings, music and stories. Finding out not just about this order but also about her family’s history, is Sierra ready to face her destiny? The sequel, Shadowhouse Fall, will be released on September 12th, 2017.






Goodreads | Book Depository



Proof of Lies by Diana Rodriguez Wallach

A YA mystery novel following Anastasia Phoenix, the always odd girl out plus black belt plus speaker of four languages. Moving to an International city with her scientist parents is hard enough without being the sister of a mission girl who is presumably dead. Anastasia is the only person certain her sister is still alive and when she finds a trail of evidence, she becomes part of a conspiracy much bigger than she anticipated. But her only goal is to find her sister. Joined by Marcus, your typical bad-boy with a heap of secrets, the two try to uncover the secrets around her sister’s disappearance but everything is not as it appears.
Goodreads





The Go-Between by Veronica Chambers 

Being the envy of every teenage girl in Mexico City, Camilla del Valle Cammi is used to a life of private planes and paparazzi. It comes with being the daughter of a telenovela actress and a voice-over artist for blockbuster films. However, when her mum gets cast in an American television show, everything changes when the family move to LA and things aren’t quite as glamorous anymore. For once in her life, Camilla is struggling to fit in, especially when her new friends thinks she is a scholarship kid and daughter of a domestic. This book will be released on May 9th, 2017.







Goodreads


They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera

Adam Silvera strikes again with a book you just know is gonna make you cry and smile, probably at the same time. Following the story of Mateo Torrez and Rufus Emeterio, this young-adult novel joins them on their last day on Earth as they meet over an app and agree to spend their last hours together. Going from strangers to friends in just a couple of hours isn’t something either of them expected but knowing you’ll both be dead in a few hours tends to speed things up. Heartbreaking, profound and proof that your entire life can change in a day. This will be released on September 5th, 2017.









Are there any Latinx books that you’re anticipating? 
Let us know in the comments ready for the second part of this post.
Love Angharad @
diverse

Diversity Recs: Pansexual Characters in Fiction

by twobookthieves3 Comments on Diversity Recs: Pansexual Characters in Fiction

For our next Diversity Recs post, we decided to research books which feature characters identifying as pansexual. This was quite a challenging post to put together, as it seems that books with pansexual characters are few and far between; however, we managed to find the following six books that feature one or more pansexual characters (as far as we are aware, all of these books state that a character is pansexual in the text, or the author states this outside of the book). If our information is incorrect, please do let us know, or alternatively if you know of any more books that feature pansexual characters, we’d love your recommendations!

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The Shock of Survival by Nicole Field | Goodreads | {Own voices author, polyamorous relationship}

After winning the final battle against The Oppressor, Benedict, Ophelia and Dylan return to their magical community triumphantly, but soon discover that returning to their old lives after the war has been won isn’t necessarily as easy as it seems. The Shock of Survival is not only one of few books that looks at the events after the war against evil rather than before and during, but also features pansexual characters and portrays polyamorous relationships respectfully.








 The Melody of You and Me by M. Hollis | Goodreads | {Pansexual MC with Filipino lesbian love interest}

In an attempt to turn her life back around after dropping out of university and breaking up with her girlfriend of three years, Chris (a pansexual MC), picks up a job at her local bookstore, although her hopes for feeling better aren’t high. However, this all changes when Chris meets Josie through the bookstore, and the two form a fast friendship, which Chris hopes can develop into something more.







Out on Good Behaviour by Dahlia Adler | Goodreads {Pansexual MC, lesbian love interest}

Frankie knows that she can get anyone she sets her sights on – but when she starts falling for Samara Kazarian, the daughter of her town’s Republican mayor, she thinks that some lines shouldn’t be crossed – that is, until Frankie discovers that she’s been on Samara’s mind as well. However, Samara wants the real thing, not just a quick fling, and Frankie has never been one for commitment. For Sam, though, she’s willing to try…
{disclaimer: we have read mixed reviews about the representation in this book – just so you are aware if you choose to read it!}






Seven Ways We Lie by Riley Redgate | Goodreads | {Pansexual MC}


Seven Ways We Lie follows the story of seven different characters who all attend the same high school (Olivia, Claire, Kat, Juniper, Matt, Lucas and Valentine), correlated with the seven deadly sins. When rumours of a student-teacher affair surface within the school, the unlikely group end up in the middle of the situation, and each of their individual stories merge together to form the full picture.






Timekeeper by Tara Sim |
Goodreads | {Pansexual character, gay relationship}

Danny Hart is a clock mechanic in an alternate Victorian England. When he is assigned to a new position and meets his new apprentice, Colton (a pansexual character), he soon realises that Colton’s distance to him is due to the fact that he is the tower’s clock spirit – the mythical being overseeing the time in the town Danny is placed in. Falling in love with a clock spirit is forbidden and would destroy the position that Danny has worked so hard to be given, but the pair are immediately drawn to each other. 




27 Hours by Tristina Wright |
Goodreads | {Pansexual character}

27 Hours is a diverse sci-fi novel, which I’m sure we can all agree that we need more of. It is the story of a group of LGBT+ teenagers battling to save their home, the colonised moon on which they live on that was previously inhabited by Chimaera. There isn’t much info out about this book yet, but we’re sure that it’ll be a must read when it’s released this October!

love,


Becky, diverse, diverse book review, diverse books, fantasy, mythology, retelling

Kingdom of Sleep by E.K. Johnston

by twobookthieves3 Comments on Kingdom of Sleep by E.K. Johnston

I don’t think I quite enjoyed this book as much as its prequel, A Thousand Nights, but it was still an intriguing, beautiful story!

Kingdom of Sleep, or Spindle, depending on where you live, follows Yashaa, Arwa, Tariq and Saoud, on a quest to return to their crumbling home of Karuf and save the Princess, Zahrah. At her fifth birthday party, she was cursed by a demon who intended to possess her once she had learned everything she needed to be a ruler, forcing her kingdom into ruin and resulting in the banning of spindles (this is where the Sleeping Beauty references come in), as the demon pronounced that once Zahrah learned to spin, she would be ready for inhabitation. Yashaa, Arwa and Tariq’s families, who were spinners, were forced to leave their home at this point, but now the three of them along with Saoud are determined to break Zahrah’s curse. 



A Thousand Nights was very much a slow building story, and whereas Kingdom of Sleep was also slow, there was still a lot more action in it. It was definitely more of a “journey story”, focusing on the development of the characters and their relationships with each other rather than on the plot. I did struggle to get into this book at first, mostly because I wasn’t expecting some of the differences between it and A Thousand Nights (for example, I assumed that the characters would all remain unnamed as they did in the previous book) but once I got into the book I really enjoyed it and began to connect with the characters a lot more. 

Although I thought the ending was a bit too rushed, the very last chapter really made the book for me. With A Thousand Nights, the thing that really stuck with me was how beautiful and poetic the writing was, and I’m so glad that Kingdom of Sleep still had such beautiful writing, even though it was written in quite a different style and voice. 


This definitely isn’t a sequel to A Thousand Nights, but a companion novel – it’s set in the same land, but quite a long time afterwards (hundreds of years, as far as I’m aware) and although key events are mentioned from the previous book, you could definitely read this as a standalone and have no trouble at all understanding what’s happening. I’d also just like to mention something about the Sleeping Beauty comparisons – Kingdom of Sleep is marketed as being inspired by/a retelling of Sleeping Beauty, and I think this may have put some people off, but in my opinion, the two stories couldn’t be more different – literally the main similarity is that in both stories, spindles are the triggers in the Princesses curses. Because of this, I would definitely not let the Sleeping Beauty inspirations embedded in this book put you off reading it, as like I say, they’re barely there! 

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Have you read A Thousand Nights or Kingdom of Sleep/Spindle? What did you think?

love Becky @ 


diverse, diverse books

Diversity Recs: Characters on the Autism-Spectrum

by twobookthieves1 Comment on Diversity Recs: Characters on the Autism-Spectrum

For this post on diverse recs, we’re focusing on book characters that are on the autism-spectrum. This is a topic close to my heart, as at the age of 18, I was diagonised with Asperger Syndrome. It makes it difficult to communicate with people, understand emotion and understand other people’s actions but Aspergers is only one form of autism – there is a whole spectrum and these characters are on it. No two people with autism are the same but these are some books that we have found. As always, if any of our information is incorrect, please do not hesitate to let us know in the comments.

Goodreads | Book Depository


On the Edge of Gone by Corinne Duyvis

Yes, this is a sci-fi, dystopian novel with its biracial MC living with autism. Also an Own Voices book, we follow the story of Denise as she, her mother and little sister, Iris are moved to a temporary shelter on the day a giant comet is scheduled to hit their hometown of Amsterdam. There is a ship available to leave Earth but will they be allowed to board it seeing as Iris has gone missing and Denise’s drug-dependent mother isn’t helping? There are also Muslim and Jewish characters and I believe Iris herself is trans. This book is full of diversity, full of twists and turns and just a definite must-read.
Goodreads | Book Depository




M is for Autism by The Students of Limpsfield Grange School

This story is primarily told by a teenage girl known as ‘M’ as she shares her story of autism and her experiences whilst also dealing with teenage years and wanting to be ‘normal.’ Limpsfield Grange is a school for girls with Autistic Spectrum Disorder and we hear from a lot of the students. What drew me to this book, is that it was girls with autism who shared their stories and as I learned when I was diagnosed, autism is a lot harder to detect in girls than it is in boys so a lot of us can live our lives undiagnosed. This novel is heartfelt and important and delves into the world of autism from the people who know it best. 





Goodreads | Book Depository




Queens of Geek by Jen Wilde

Released on March 14th, this Own Voices novel follows the story of three girls and delves into the world of conventions. It is jam-packed with diversity including Taylor, a girl with autism and anxiety and a general fear of change, an openly bisexual Chinese-Australian vlogger/actress who falls in love with another woman of colour. Filled with adorable romances, pop-culture references and the mad but incredible world of conventions, this book is highly-anticipated. This book also deals with feminism, slut-shaming, body-shaming and how important these girl’s voices are. 
Goodreads | Book Depository






The Reason I Jump by Naoki Higashida

This book is written by Japanese thirteen year old, Naoki who lives with autism. He is very smart, very self-aware and very charming but he unable to speak aloud. Having to use an alphabet grid to communicate, we hear Naoki answer questions about living with autism which allows us and his family to understand what it is like inside his head. I must point out that this book has received some controversy as it is translated into English by David Mitchell and his Japanese wife. Some people are worried about the authenticity of Naoki’s words and if they have been at all edited for publishing reasons. For this reason, the book has mixed reviews.





Goodreads | Book Depository



The Original Ginny Moon by Benjamin Ludwig

Fourteen year old Ginny Moon has finally found her ‘forever home,’ a place where any foster kid would feel safe but Ginny is desperate to be kidnapped by her abusive, drug-addicted mother and return home, continuing her life hiding from authorities and from her mother’s violent boyfriends. Ginny is autistic and she has very strict rules that she can’t deviate from and moving away from what she knows is too much. This is the story of her living with autism, trying to fit in and trying to make sense of the strange world around her. 









Marcelo in the Real World by Francisco X. Stork

Before I start, just look at that beautiful cover. Ok. Serious face back on. We follow the story of Marcelo Sandoval, a boy who hears music that nobody else can hear and it is due to his unidentifiable form of autism. Having always attended a special school, this summer his father demands that he works in his law firm’s mailroom to get experience of the ‘real world.’ Here, Marcelo meets Jasmine and Wendell and learns about jealousy, competition and desire. 








Goodreads | Book Depository




The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon

We follow the story of Christopher Boone, a boy living with Aspergers which makes everyday life a little more difficult for him, however, he is a mathematical and scientific genius. He has no understanding of human emotions and cannot stand to be touched but he knows every country of the world and its capitals and every prime number up to 7,057. His brain is just remarkable but when a neighbour’s dog is killed, fifteen-year-old Christopher sets out to solve the murder in the style of his favourite detective (and mine), Sherlock Holmes.


Goodreads | Book Depository 







Shtum by Jem Lester

Told by Ben Jewell as he and his wife, Emma are struggling to cope dealing with their ten-year-old son, Jonah and his severe autism. The only way to further Jonah’s upcoming tribunal is for the couple to fake their separation and Ben and Jonah move in with Ben’s elderly father, Georg. What follows within the four walls of a small house in North London is the family dynamics between two men who won’t talk and one boy who can’t. Heartbreaking and important as it shows how families deal with their loved ones having autism.







Goodreads | Book Depository



Mockingbird by Kathryn Erskine

Caitlin is an eleven-year-old girl living with Asperger Syndrome and to her, everything is black or white, good or bad. Caitlin’s older brother, Devon has always been able to understand this and can explain when she couldn’t. However, Devon is now dead and her father just doesn’t get it. When one day, she reads the definition of closure, she realises that she must go out to find it and on her journey, she discovers that the world is made up of more than just black and white. It is complicated and wonderful and strange. 
Goodreads | Book Depository







Rogue by Lyn Miller-Lachmann

We follow the story of Kiara who lives with Asperger syndrome and in a world where not a lot makes sense, she relies on the Internet to answer any questions she may have but some things don’t have answers, like why she struggles to get along with other kids and why she has been kicked out of school. She wishes she could be like Rogue, a misunderstood X-Men mutant she looks up to. One day, a new boy moves in across the street and Kiara vows to make this friendship work. 








Love from Angharad @

diverse, diverse books, lgbtqia

Diversity Recs: Bisexual Characters in Fiction

by twobookthieves2 Comments on Diversity Recs: Bisexual Characters in Fiction

In our latest diversity recs post, we decided to look at novels that feature bisexual characters. When searching for books with LGBT+ representation, it can be surprisingly hard to find ones with characters who are bisexual. The following are our top 10 picks, all of which are already released or due to be released at some point this year! 
 
How to Make a Wish by Ashley Herring Blake
Goodreads | Book Depository | Release Date: 2nd May 

All Grace wants is a normal life, where she doesn’t have to worry about paying the bills, constantly moving around, or her unreliable mother and her latest boyfriend (who just happens to be the father of Grace’s ex-boyfriend). Grace’s plans to lie low until graduation are disrupted when she meets Eva – a girl with her own ghosts. This is a story of family relationships, and two girls in love helping each other to overcome their obstacles in life.









Our Own Private Universe by Robin Talley
Goodreads | Book Depository | Release Date: 31st January

Aki knows that she is bisexual, but has only dated guys before – and has only come out to Lori, her best friend. When the two girls go on a four week mission trip to Mexico, Aki doesn’t expect to meet anyone that she’d be interested in – that is, until Christa shows up. This book discusses sexuality, safe sex, and the struggles that young people can face when trying to explain their sexuality to their loved ones.


Labyrinth Lost by Zoraida Córdova

Goodreads | Book Depository

Alex, a bisexual Latina protagonist, is an encantrix – one of the most powerful Brujas in generations. However, she fears that her powers will ultimately hurt those close to her, and in an attempt to get rid of them, accidentally sends her entire family to the in-between world of Los Lagos. Alex is forced to hire Nova, an untrustworthy brujo boy, to guide her through Los Lagos and rescue her family. However, there is a darkness running through Los Lagos that has affected her and her family more than she could expect. Labyrinth Lost is a novel with an almost fully POC cast of characters, and the fact that Alex has both a male and female love interest but this wasn’t treated like a big deal (the word ‘bisexual’ isn’t actually used throughout the book) really made this book stand out for me.



Queens of Geek by Jen Wilde

Goodreads | Book Depository | Release Date: 14th March

When Taylor, Jamie and Charlie go to SupaCon together, they know they’ll have an amazing time, but they don’t expect the convention to change their lives forever.
Charlie, a bisexual Chinese-Australian film star, knows that SupaCon is her chance to show fans that she’s over her ex-boyfriend. When her crush Alyssa Huntington turns up, she definitely didn’t expect her feelings for Alyssa to be requited.
Taylor runs a blog where she openly talks about her anxiety, and because of this, is scared of big changes. The one change she’s hoping for, though, is for her friendship with Jamie to turn into something more. However, when she hears about the Queen Firestone contest, she starts to rethink her stance on taking risks.
A book packed with diversity, romance and strong female friendships, this is a must read!

Not Otherwise Specified by Hannah Moskowitz
Goodreads | Book Depository

Etta is sick of the labels that are being attached to her and making her feel as though she doesn’t fit in – she’s “not gay enough” for her old friends after recently dating a boy, “not white enough” for her ballet class, and “not sick enough” after recovering from an eating disorder. When she meets Bianca in her therapy group – a straight, white Christian girl with an eating disorder who represents everything that Etta both does and doesn’t want to be – Etta finds herself on a path to self-discovery and overcoming the labels constantly placed on her.

Far From You by Tess Sharpe 
Goodreads | Book Depository

When Sophie’s (a bisexual MC) best friend, Mina, died in what everyone believed was a drug deal gone wrong (which they also believe that Sophie set up), Sophie was forced into rehab along with her and Mina’s secret – Mina was deliberately murdered. Once Sophie is out of rehab, she’s determined to track down Mina’s killer before they track her down first. Not your typical romance, but instead a murder-mystery which also focuses on Sophie and Mina’s relationship, Far From You is definitely different from the rest of the books featured on this list, and worth a read!




Radio Silence by Alice Oseman
Goodreads | Book Depository

Frances, a bisexual WoC, is known only as a study-machine focused on getting high grades. However, she has a secret obsession – a podcast called Universe City. When Frances is asked to design art for the podcast and meets its creator, the two form a strong bond, and what follows is a story of friendship and self-acceptance.

Not Your Sidekick by C. B. Lee
Goodreads | Book Depository

Jess, a Chinese-Vietnamese bisexual girl, lives in a world where the majority of citizens have superpowers – including her famous parents. Being without superpowers herself, Jess finds what could be the perfect internship whilst looking for activities to add to her college application – it’s paid, it doesn’t require her to have powers, and she gets to work with her secret crush, Abby. She may be working for the town’s biggest supervillain, but what could go wrong?

Noteworthy by Riley Redgate
Goodreads | Book Depository | Release Date: 2nd May

Jordan Sun is starting her junior year at performing arts school, but being an Alto 2, she’s always struggled to get a role in the school musical. When the school get a mass email informing them that the Sharpshooters, the school’s revered all-male a cappella group, Jordan is determined to make this year different. She auditions in drag and discovers that, as a Tenor 1, she’s just what the Sharpshooters need.

The Seafarer’s Kiss by Julia Ember
Goodreads | Release Date: 4th May

When nineteen year old mermaid Ersel rescues and falls in love with Ragna, a shield-maiden, and the two are caught by Ersel’s suitor, he attempts to force her to choose between saying goodbye to Ragna or facing the wrath of her king. However, Ersel has other plans and is determined to be reunited with Ragna. A bisexual, f/f retelling of The Little Mermaid with Norse mythology thrown in (plus, who doesn’t love both mermaids AND shield-maidens?) this is a must read!

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love,

diverse, diverse books

2017 Diverse Reads

by twobookthieves6 Comments on 2017 Diverse Reads
I am so overwhelmed with the amount of books being released in 2017 that feature diverse characters and marginalised groups. This is a short list in comparison to the amount of books being released that we don’t yet know about, or haven’t yet got a release date/synopsis but we will make a follow-on post half way through the year. Let’s all make an effort to read these books, spread the word and support these authors. These are also in order of release! (If any of our information is incorrect, please let us know in the comments and we will change it immediately.) 



 (Release Date: January 3rd)

Diverse Aspect: Black protagonist 







 (Released Date: January 3rd)

Diverse Aspect: Protagonist with mental illness (OCD & Agoraphobia)






 (Release Date: January 12th)

Diverse Aspect: Protagonist with selective mutism and a deaf love interest







 (Release Date: January 17th)

Diverse Aspect: Queer male protagonist with OCD







 (Release Date: January 24th)

Diverse Aspect: Black protagonist







 (Release Date: January 24th)

Diverse Aspect: Transgender, lesbian protagonist







 (Release Date: January 31st)

Diverse Aspect: Bisexual protagonist







 (Release Date: February 7th)

Diverse Aspect: Currently unknown but we’ve been promised a large variety of diverse characters from its Own Voices author






 (Release Date: February 14th)

Diverse Aspect: Queer protagonist







(Release Date: February 14th)

Diverse Aspect: Immigrant (Haitian) protagonist



 (Release Date: February 21st)

Diverse Aspect: Puerto-Rican protagonist





 (Release Date: February 28th)

Diverse Aspect: Queer protagonist with severe anxiety




 (Release Date: February 28th)

Diverse Aspect: Black protagonist






 (Release Date: March 7th)

Diverse Aspect: Deaf protagonist






(Release Date: March 7th)

Diverse Aspect: Mexican-American cast



 (Release Date: March 14th)

Diverse Aspect: A Muslim Pakistani-American protagonist





Hello, Universe by Erin Entrada Kelly
(Release Date: March 14th)

Diverse Aspect: Japanese and Filipino MCs and a deaf character

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 (Release Date: March 14th)

Diverse Aspect: Bisexual WoC MC and a character on the autism-spectrum




 (Release Date: March 28th)

Diverse Aspect: Muslim cast including hijabi, Bangladeshi-American protagonist





The Upside of Unrequited by Becky Albertalli
(Release Date: April 11th)

Diverse Aspect: Fat, Jewish protagonist





 (Release Date: April 18th)

Diverse Aspect: Two queer protagonists




 (Release Date: May 2nd)

Diverse Aspect: A bisexual, Chinese protagonist




 (Release Date: May 2nd)

Diverse Aspect: Bisexual protagonist and Black love interest



(Release Date: May 4th)

Diverse Aspect: Bisexual protagonist



 (Release Date: May 9th)

Diverse Aspect: Queer protagonist




 (Release Date: May 16th)

Diverse Aspect: Set in Feudal-Japan





 (Release Date: May 30th)

Diverse Aspect: Two Indian-American MCs




(Release Date: May 30th)

Diverse Aspect: Asian protagonist



 (Release Date: June 13th)

Diverse Aspect: Entirely Asian + Pacific Islander cast






 (Release Date: July 18th)

Diverse Aspect: Indian-folklore inspired






 (Release Date: August /?)

Diverse Aspect: Genderfluid protagonist





 (Release Date: August 29th)

Diverse Aspect: Discusses gender fluidity 

Love,
diverse, diverse books

Diversity Recs: Aromantic/Asexual Characters in Fiction

by twobookthieves5 Comments on Diversity Recs: Aromantic/Asexual Characters in Fiction

This time for our diversity recommendations we are listing books that feature asexual/aromantic characters. Unfortunately, it was near enough impossible to find YA books for this topic but we did find some sci-fi, short stories and fantasy so we hope there will be something for everyone. In case there are any mix-ups, asexual people have no sexual feelings towards another person and aromantic people experience little or no romantic attraction/feelings towards another person. Being an aromantic asexual is also common and we will list which sexualities are featured in each book. So without further ado, here’s what we found!

Goodreads | Book Depository


Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire
This young-adult fantasy novella is packed full of diversity despite being so small. Our main character is asexual (whose identity is confirmed and discussed), there is a trans boy whose identity is discussed in a wonderful and fascinating way and there are also secondary characters, one of Japanese descent and the other is Latino. This story takes place in a home for ‘wayward children’ and all is seemingly normal, except for the disappearing children who end up in magical lands. Heartbreakingly beautiful, reminiscent of Narnia and yet jam-packed with diversity.


Goodreads | Book Depository



Fourth World by Lyssa Chiavari

Book one in an ongoing trilogy, Fourth World follows the story of Nadin, a girl who is doing everything to stop her planet from dying even if that means defying its leaders. When a mysterious alien boy, by the name of Isaak, arrives in the citidome from another world, Nadin knows her plan will work if they work together. Featuring an almost entirely PoC cast and LGBT characters, this YA dystopian stands apart from the more well-known ones and yet isn’t heard of. The reason this book is featured in this list is because our main character, Nadine is in the ace-spectrum and so is Isaak. A sci-fi, dystopian YA novel with ace protagonists? Add this to your TBR!
Goodreads | Book Depository





Chameleon Moon by RoAnna Sylver

This primarily fantasy, dystopian young-adult novel features (get ready…) a cast of characters (mainly PoC) dealing with mental/physical disabilities, a trans woman as a MC and an interracial, queer polyamorous family. Adding to that, we have asexual characters and even discussions of their sexuality. If you’re not sold already, I don’t know what else you could want. There are multiple PoVs and each person has their own identity and voice.  Taking away the sci-fi aspects, this is a book about character development in this diverse, dystopian world. There’s also a mechanical dog!
Goodreads 




The Galloway Road by Catherine Adams

Upon recommending me this iBook, the person said it is reminiscent of Skyrim and as a gamer, I almost fell over myself rushing to buy it. Not only that but it features an asexual protagonist who undergoes some serious character development in such a short book – uncovering secrets about herself and her abilities. This book puts a lot of emphasis on friendship and its value and manages to encapsulate the fantasy world in just a few pages without romance being a huge factor. Released early this year, I believe this novella is a hidden gem that should be added to everyone’s TBR.
Goodreads



The Cybernetic Tea Shop by Meredith Katz

I can sum up this novella by saying that it is just incredibly cute, atmospheric and just gives you a warm feeling in your belly. We follow the story of Clara, a highly-skilled technician specialising in ‘RAISE’ which are AI companions. Never staying in one place for too long because of her roots, Clara moves to Seattle and is recommended a cute but different tea shop. Here she meets Sal, an original (and now illegal) robot who still runs the shop years after her owner’s death. The two form a unique bond and eventually a romantic one albeit sexual as Clara is asexual and Sal is unable to physically have sex. It is the journey of their relationship but also of the concept of moving on.
Goodreads | Book Depository






We Awaken by Calista Lynne

A fairly new release, this young-adult novel is described as a coming-out story/tale of self-discovery mixed with fantasy. It is a quiet love story between two asexual lesbians – Victoria and Ashlinn. So not just one asexual protagonist, but two and the author makes this clear early on in the novel. The entire book reads in a dreamlike form, so it’s lyrical, atmospheric and beautiful. It is primarily a love story and it probably won’t be known for its plot/action but if you’re looking for an important love between two girls, this is definitely the book for you. Oh, and look at that stunning cover!
Goodreads | Book Depository




The Last Chronomancer by Reilyn J. Hardy

Allow me to shimmy on over to you presenting an asexual/aromantic protagonist in a fantasy novel *balloons fall from the sky.* But seriously, this story follows nineteen-year old, Maestri Craft from a small town living a perfectly normal life (as all fantasies start) and this was ideal for him, not for his friend, Jace though. Jace is turning two decades old and in the eyes of their people, this makes him a man and he wants to prove it. Together, the two set off on a journey as they encounter winged horses, vampires and hags to name but a few. Many aromantic asexuals are portrayed as being cold-hearted but Mae is soft and gentle and cares deeply about his best friend. Definitely a must-read.





Love,

diverse, diverse books

The Diverse Books Tag

by twobookthievesLeave a Comment on The Diverse Books Tag


Sticking with our theme of looking into diverse books, we thought that it was about time that we had a go at the diverse books tag, by Read Diverse Books. This tag is a great way to discover new diverse books, as it works sort of like a scavenger hunt – you basically have to find a book that fits into each category! 


We tag anyone reading who wants to have a go at this tag!  


FIND A BOOK STARRING A LESBIAN CHARACTER 
Goodreads | Book Depository

Released in May 2017, this is the story of two WoC (I’m unsure of their ethnicity which is why I haven’t mentioned it, if you know, please let us know in the comments) who fall in love. Sana and Jamie, two sixteen-year old girls with their fair share of problems – Sana is worried her father may be having an affair and she is surrounded by friends who constantly leave her out. Jamie has an established group of friends but they don’t accept Sana into them and a boy named Caleb is definitely making more than friendly advances towards her. Battling with their own problems, they find solace in each other and realise that loving a girl is the easy part.

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FIND A BOOK WITH A MUSLIM PROTAGONIST

Goodreads | Book Depository 

Yes, you’ve read that correctly. A Muslim superhero in a comic/graphic novel who goes by the name of Kamala Khan. Kamala, seemingly just a normal girl from Jersey City suddenly develops extraordinary gifts but is she ready for the legacy that she is about to create? However, developing superhuman powers doesn’t come without discovering a secret behind them. Volume 1 in an ongoing series, Ms. Marvel is a definite must-read.

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FIND A BOOK SET IN LATIN AMERICA

Goodreads | Book Depository

A fantasy story full of Latinx culture, by an author originally from Ecuador! Not only is the main character Alex a WoC, she is also a bisexual character, and the majority of characters in this book are PoC as we discover Latinx culture. Alex is what is known as a bruja, the most powerful witch in a generation but it is power she doesn’t want. At her Deathday celebration, she performs a spell to rid herself of her powers but instead, she vanishes into thin air with nothing but the company of Nova, a brujo boy. This begins their journey to Los Lagos, an in-between land just as strange as Wonderland.

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FIND A BOOK ABOUT A PERSON WITH A DISABILITY
Goodreads | Book Depository

Six of Crows is a is a young-adult fantasy duology following a gang of six misfits about to complete a series of impossible heists in the criminal town of Ketterdam. Their leader, Kaz Brekker, is a criminal prodigy with a no-price-is-too-high attitude – he is smart, clever and ruthless and he just happens to have a disability – Kaz walks with a cane due to an accident damaging his leg a few years back. Occasionally crippled with pain and walking with a limp, it is just another part of him and he doesn’t let it hinder him in any way. This series is also diverse with a bunch of PoC characters who also show us their individual cultures and gay and bisexual characters. Must read duology!

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FIND A SCIENCE-FICTION OR FANTASY BOOK WITH A POC PROTAGONIST
Goodreads | Book Depository

A reimagining of One Thousand and One Nights with a fantasy twist. E.K. Johnston tells the story of Lo-Melkhiin, a ruler who has killed over three-hundred girls before coming across our protagonist. When he takes her to his court instead of her sister, she vows she will not be the next to die. The court is a creepy and atmospheric place and each night, she tells him a story and every morning she wakes up is another day she has survived. Amongst the palace walls, she gradually discovers that Lo-Melkhiin may not have always been a cruel man. All the female characters are unnamed throughout it, including the MC showing us the magnitude of Lo-Melkhiin’s reign. 
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FIND A BOOK SET IN (OR ABOUT) ANY COUNTRY IN AFRICA
Goodreads | Book Depository

A beautiful story that not only gives voice to Nigerian culture and folk tales but also to its LGBTQ community. Written by an own voices author, the wonderful Chinelo Okparanta, this tells the story of Ijeoma, only eleven during the outbreak of civil war in the young republic of Nigera as she is sent to safety and meets a girl who she falls in love with. However, in a country where this is a sin, the two must keep it secret and remain star-crossed lovers. It is the story of two women, their struggles and their triumphs set against a dangerous backdrop. 
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FIND A BOOK WRITTEN BY AN INDIGENOUS OR NATIVE AUTHOR

Goodreads | Book Depository

A novel following numerous characters who are trying to find the balance between their Native American traditions and the modern world. Written by a Cherokee author, Thomas King erases common stereotypes about Native Americans in his works. This story tells the story of Alberta, a university professor who would happily trade her boyfriends for a baby but no husband, Lionel, a forty year old television-salesman and finally Eli, whose log cabin home stands in the way of a profitable dam project. These three come together at the Blackfoot reservation for the Sun Dance and what follows will leave the small town of Blossom forever changed.
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FIND A BOOK SET IN SOUTH ASIA (AFGHANISTAN, INDIA, PAKISTAN, SRI LANKA ETC.)
Goodreads | Book Depository

When Naila falls in love with Saif, despite her parents strict rules that they would choose her husband, they travel to Pakistan so that Naila can get in touch with her roots and rediscover her culture. However, upon arriving in the country, Naila discovers that her parents have found her a husband in Pakistan and expect her to marry him during their stay. This is a book that isn’t afraid to delve into Pakistani culture, and showcase the forced marriages that so many girls are involved in to this day. 
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FIND A BOOK WITH A BIRACIAL PROTAGONIST
Goodreads | Book Depository

Jess is a bisexual Chinese-Vietnamese girl living in a world where having superpowers is just the norm, except for her… she is completely normal despite having two famous superheroes as parents. She’s still struggling with everyday issues, such as trying to find an internship that isn’t for a super villain and doesn’t require her to be more than human. When she does find one, she finds out she’ll be working alongside her longtime crush, Abby who may just have a secret of her own. Not only does this book have a diverse cast of lesbian and bisexual characters but there’s Bells, Jess’ friend who is trans. This book needs to be talked about a lot more. Superheroes and diversity is the best combo.

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FIND A BOOK STARRING A TRANSGENDER CHARACTER OR ABOUT TRANSGENDER ISSUES
Goodreads | Book Depository | Our Review

This book follows the story of Amanda, a transgender woman as she moves across country to live with her father. Starting at a new school requires her to fit in but she soon finds a diverse group of friends and even love with a student called Grant. This book not only deals with transgender issues – we hear from Amanda from a young age when she realised she was born in the wrong body, all the way up to her starting her transition – it is also written by a transgender author. It is a very important YA novel and Amanda has a very strong and memorable voice. 
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So that is our list. We hope we have chosen books appropriate to its topic and if you would like to see any posts featuring more, let us know!
Love,