Diversity in the News

May 2nd—May 9th, 2013

ON OUR RADAR

• Lionsgate Acquires Film Rights for R.J. Palacio's Wonder via the CBC
• This, That, Both, Neither: The Badging of Biracial Identity in Young Adult Realism at YALSA
• YA Author Maureen Johnson Calls for an End to Gendered Cover Designs with a "Coverflip" Challenge via the CBC
• Racial and gender inequalities in YA literature covered in new issue of YALSA's Journal of Research on Libraries and Young Adults at American Libraries Magazine
• Historical fiction starring girls at the Horn Book
• Amazing TED talk: “The Danger of a Single Story” by Chimamanda Adichie
• The “Radioactive Energy” of Bullies | An Interview with Meg Medina via SLJ
• Award-Winning Author Fredrick McKissack Dies at 73 via the Brown Bookshelf; also at SLJ; great video interview with Patricia and Frederick via Reading Rockets
• DiversifYA: Michelle Smith – the author of Kingdom Come (May 22) talks about mental illness and stigma. More great interviews here.

Feeding the Demand for More Diverse Books

An "It's Complicated!" post by literary agent Stefanie Sanchez Von Borstel

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While on faculty at the National Latino Writers Conference last Thursday, a timely USA TODAY headline read:

For the first time in US history, more than half of all newborn babies born last year are minorities. The entire US population is 36% minority, and this milestone shows how swiftly our nation’s youth is diversifying. 

Yet a recent study by the SCBWI found that in 2010 more than 90 percent of children’s/young adult books published in the US featured white protagonists. As a literary agent, I’ve found it’s important to show publishers there is a demand, and in turn help them feel confident to publish even more diverse voices. As an author advocate, I believe it’s critical for writers of color to see their fellow writers succeed. As a mother, I know it’s urgent that we make sure young readers see themselves in the books they read.

The debut middle-grade novel by Diana Lopez, Confetti Girl (Little, Brown), is an example of a book filled with diversity that doesn’t focus on diversity but instead wraps diversity around a wonderful story. Apolina “Lina” Flores is a sock enthusiast, volleyball player and science lover looking for answers about her life. Filled with colorful Mexican-American cultural details such as dichos, confetti-filled cascarones and cumbia dances, the story struck a chord with middle-schoolers nationwide.