diversereadingchallenge
Diverse Reading Challenge 2022
A reading challenge focused on reading books by and about marginalized communities.
Please let me know if I mess up, or say something ignorant.
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[Image Description: Book cover of Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler. There is an image of a black woman holding an open notebook in her lap. There is additional text that reads “Multiple award-winning author of Kindred and Fledgling.” and a review quote that says “Gripping...Poignant...Succeeds on multiple levels. - New York Times Book Review.”]
Title: Parable of the Sower
Author: Octavia E. Butler
Prompt: 5 - A book that takes place in the future with a protagonist of color
Summary (from Goodreads): In 2025, with the world descending into madness and anarchy, one woman begins a fateful journey toward a better future.
Lauren Olamina and her family live in one of the only safe neighborhoods remaining on the outskirts of Los Angeles. Behind the walls of their defended enclave, Lauren’s father, a preacher, and a handful of other citizens try to salvage what remains of a culture that has been destroyed by drugs, disease, war, and chronic water shortages. While her father tries to lead people on the righteous path, Lauren struggles with hyperempathy, a condition that makes her extraordinarily sensitive to the pain of others.
When fire destroys their compound, Lauren’s family is killed and she is forced out into a world that is fraught with danger. With a handful of other refugees, Lauren must make her way north to safety, along the way conceiving a revolutionary idea that may mean salvation for all mankind.
Review: I also read this book for a different prompt in 2020 and my review is here.
This book is very bleak but impactful. I love the poetry and philosophy of Earthseed, and how it adds hope in a very grim world. Lauren is a great protagonist, and the writing is wonderful. Overall, I highly recommend it, but look up trigger warnings beforehand, because there are a lot of upsetting things that happen.
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[Image Description: Book cover of Fat Chance, Charlie Vega by Crystal Maldonado. It shows a fat, brown girl and she is framed by lilies. There is a review quote, “This book feels like your best friend giving you a hug - it’s warm and sweet and healing. - Mason Deaver, bestselling author of I Wish You All the Best.”]
Title: Fat Chance, Charlie Vega
Author: Crystal Maldonado
Prompt: 25 - A romance book with a fat protagonist and/or love interest
Summary (from Goodreads): Charlie Vega is a lot of things. Smart. Funny. Artistic. Ambitious. Fat.
People sometimes have a problem with that last one. Especially her mom. Charlie wants a good relationship with her body, but it's hard, and her mom leaving a billion weight loss shakes on her dresser doesn't help. The world and everyone in it have ideas about what she should look like: thinner, lighter, slimmer-faced, straighter-haired. Be smaller. Be whiter. Be quieter.
But there's one person who's always in Charlie's corner: her best friend Amelia. Slim. Popular. Athletic. Totally dope. So when Charlie starts a tentative relationship with cute classmate Brian, the first worthwhile guy to notice her, everything is perfect until she learns one thing--he asked Amelia out first. So is she his second choice or what? Does he even really see her? UGHHH. Everything is now officially a MESS.
Review: I really enjoyed this book. Charlie is a great protagonist, and I found her very relatable. The relationships, both romantic and platonic, are well done and engaging. I did think the conclusion of the subplot with her mom was weak, and rushed. Overall, I thought this was a fun and sweet read, and would recommend to anyone looking for a good YA romance.
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[Image Description: Book cover of Lost at Sea: The Jon Ronson Mysteries by Jon Ronson. The cover shows two arms raises, against a background of strips of differently colored paper stacked on top of each other. There is additional text, “With New Material” by the title, and above the author’s name text that reads “New York Times bestselling author of The Psychopath Test”. There is a review quote, “Profoundly weird... Wonderfully twisted,,, Extremely satisfying. - The Boston Globe”]
Title: Lost at Sea: The Jon Ronson Mysteries
Author: Jon Ronson
Prompt: 38 - A non-fiction book by an author from a marginalized community
Summary (from Goodreads): Ronson has spent his life investigating crazy events, following fascinating people and unearthing unusual stories. Collected here from various sources (including the Guardian and GQ America) are the best of his adventures. Always intrigued by our ability to believe the unbelievable, Jon meets the man preparing to welcome the aliens to earth, the woman trying to build a fully-conscious robotic replica of the love of her life and the Deal or No Deal contestants with a fool proof system to beat the Banker. Jon realises that it’s possible for our madness to be a force for good when he meets America’s real-life superheroes or a force for evil when he meets the Reverend ‘Death’ George Exoo, who has dubiously assisted in more than a hundred mercy killings.
He goes to a UFO convention in the Nevada desert with Robbie Williams, asks Insane Clown Posse (who are possibly America’s nastiest rappers) whether it’s true they’ve actually been evangelical Christians all along and rummages through the extensive archives of Stanley Kubrick. Frequently hilarious, sometimes disturbing, always entertaining, these compelling encounters with people on the edge of madness will have you wondering just what we’re capable of.
Review: This book was very interesting, and enjoyably written. It has a dry sense of humor, I thought was really funny. I also liked that it treated its subjects with empathy. Overall, I would recommend to anyone looking to get into reading non fiction. Be warned, some of the essays discuss suicide, and one discusses rape and child sexual abuse.
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[Image Description: Book cover of Interracialove Stories by Alexandra Isobel. It shows a White man and a Black woman, and below them is an empty table and chairs. There is additional text above the title, which says BWWM Romance Anthology.]
Title: Interracialove Stories
Author: Alexandra Isobel
Prompt: 31 - A romance book focusing on an interracial romance
Summary (from Amazon): Four book collection of bwwm interracial romance books.
CHURCH MOUSE ON HIS MOTORCYCLE
She's a new grad about to take flight. He's been ordered to bring the boss's daughter home. Will their rekindled forbidden romance triumph over some new ridiculous heights?
RUSSIAN SWIRL
He's an ex-Russian gangster. She's, his queen. Entwined in a passionate and volatile marriage, their world explodes when she opens an unknown sender email.
HER SEAL TO SLAY DRAGONS
She has embedded trust issues. He is an honorable Navy SEAL. When their steamy encounters become too intense, and she attempts to flee to her comfort zone, he turns up the heat to a drastic level.
TAKE FLIGHT
He has one mission tonight. Get her from the safety within his arms, through the rebels who overtook the embassy, to the rendezvous helicopter on the other side of town… but when the time comes can he let her go?
Review: I received an early copy of this book through LibraryThing’s Early Reviewer program.
I did not enjoy this book. I thought the sex scenes were well done and hot, but the plots were uninteresting and the romances unengaging. Overall, I would not recommend.
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Prompt 50 Rec List
Here are some recs for prompt 50 of the Diverse Reading Challenge 2022. Full prompt list is here
Prompt 50 - A book written by an LGBTQ+ author of color
Seven Tears at High Tide - C.B. Lee
A YA romance, it follows Kevin, who after making a wish to be happy and in love, saves a mysterious boy from drowning. Unbeknownst to Kevin, the boy is a selkie, and they grow closer, he is caught between the human and selkie worlds. This is a cute, fun book. I would recommend to anyone who likes selkies, or who is looking for a sweet romance.
Note: The following books I have not personally read but are on my to-read list.
How To Succeed in Witchcraft - Aislinn Brophy
A YA fantasy, it follows an overachieving teen competing for a prestigious scholarship at her magic school.
Huntress - Malinda Lo
A YA fantasy, two teen girls are sent on a journey to the city of the Fairie Queen, in order to bring nature back into balance.
We Set the Dark on Fire - Tehlor Kay Mejia
A YA fantasy, it follows a teen training to be a society wife, who is asked to spy for a resistance group.
I’m a Gay Wizard - V.S. Santoni
A YA fantasy, it follows two teens who are taken to a magic school and get caught up in a supernatural war.
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Prompt 49 Rec List
Here are some recs for prompt 49 of the Diverse Reading Challenge 2022. Full prompt list is here
Prompt 49 - A book published in 2022 by an author from a marginalized community
Note: I have not personally read any of the following books, but they are all on my to read list.
This Rebel Heart - Katherine Locke
A YA historical fantasy novel, set during the Hungarian revolution, a teen must decide if she loves her country enough to fight for it, or to flee.
The Devouring Wolf - Natalie C. Parker
A middle-grade fantasy, it follows young werewolves that didn’t gain the power to transform, and must hunt down a mysterious creature in the woods.
Cameron Battle and the Hidden Kingdoms - Jamar J. Perry
A middle-grade fantasy, it follows a young boy, who opens a book and is transported to a magical land in extreme danger.
Sir Callie and the Champions of Helston - Esme Symes-Smith
A middle-grade fantasy, set in a fantasy land with rigid rules about girls learning magic, and boys learning to be knights, it follows Callie, who is non-binary and wants to be a knight.
Dauntless - Elisa A. Bonnin
A YA fantasy, it follows a teen girl who hunts and kills beasts, to protect her people. When she encounters a stranger who can communicate with the beasts, she starts to doubt everything she’s been taught.
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[Image Description: Book cover of Rise: Poetry for Lovers and Thinkers by Henry Lee Thomas. It shows three red hot-air balloons, and one red balloon, against a cloudy background.]
Title: Rise: Poetry for Lovers and Thinkers
Author: Henry Lee Thomas
Prompt: 49 - A book published in 2022 by an author from a marginalized community
Summary (from Amazon): RISE celebrates the diversity of our beautiful planet and its inhabitants and it unveils harsh truths that need to be faced before we can experience total-world transformation. Most importantly, it inspires us to dive deep within ourselves and truly introspect, especially during these uncertain times fraught with fear, racism, and societal collapse.
Review: I received an early copy of this book through LibraryThing’s Early Reviewer program.
I did not enjoy this book. While I agreed with most of his messages, I thought they were presented poorly. The poems overall, lacked subtlety, and beauty. Some of the poems were decent, but most of them would have worked better as essays. Overall, I would not recommend.
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Prompt 48 Rec List
Here are some recs for prompt 48 of the Diverse Reading Challenge 2022. Full prompt list is here
Prompt 48 - A book by a Jewish author
Mainly on Directing: Gypsy, West Side Story, and Other Musicals - Arthur Laurents
I read this book for this prompt in 2020 and my review is here.
A memoir, focusing on his career as a Broadway director. This was an interesting, behind the scenes look, at what goes into making a Broadway musical, and I would recommend it to any musical theatre fan.
Night - Elie Wiesel, translated by Marion Wiesel
A memoir, about his survival of a Nazi concentration camp as a teen. This is a heartbreaking, poignant book, that everyone should read.
Catch-22 - Joseph Heller
A classic novel, it follows a pilot in WWII, who is trying to get out of his perilous missions. This book is hilarious and subversive. If you want to read a fantastic satire, or antiwar novel, I would recommend this.
Where the Sidewalk Ends: Poems and Drawings - Shel Silverstein
A poetry collection, these are comedic poems for children, but are perfect for people of all ages. If you want something that will make you smile and laugh, I would recommend this.
The Crucible - Arthur Miller
A play, centered on witchcraft trials in a small community. It is brilliant and engaging, and a classic play. If you haven’t already read it, I would check it out.
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Prompt 47 Rec List
Here are some recs for prompt 47 of the Diverse Reading Challenge 2022. Full prompt list is here
Prompt 47 - A contemporary book that takes place in Africa, Asia, or Latin America
Cry, the Beloved Country - Alan Paton
A classic, it is the story of a Zulu preacher and his son, as they confront the racial injustice under Apartheid in South Africa. It has beautiful prose, and is moving and compelling. If you haven’t read it yet, you should.
Note: The following books I have not personally read but are on my to-read list.
Mother’s Beloved: Stories from Laos - Outhine Bounyavong
A collection of short stories, focusing on the lives and experiences of ordinary people in Laos.
Mordechai's Moustache and his Wife's Cats: and other stories - Mahmoud Shukair, translated by Christina Phillips, Issa J. Boullata, and Elizabeth Winslow
A collection of short stories, set in Palestine, focusing on the surreal moments, and life under occupation.
The Last Will and Testament of Senor da Silva - Germano Almeida, translated by Sheila Glaser
This novel is set in Cape Verde, and after a very successful entrepreneur dies, his will is read, which tells of his shocking life story.
The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives - Lola Shoneyin
This novel is set in Nigeria. When Baba Segi marries his fourth wife, she throws the family into turmoil by threatening to reveal the secrets of his other wives.
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Prompt 46 Rec List
Here are some recs for prompt 46 of the Diverse Reading Challenge 2022. Full prompt list is here
Prompt 46 - A book written by a Pacific Islander
Note: The following books I have not personally read, but are on my to-read list.
Maori Boy: A Memoir of Childhood - Witi Ihimaera
A memoir, about his experiences growing up Maori in New Zealand.
Ruahine: Mythic Women - Ngahuia Te Awekotuku
A collection of stories, about women in Maori mythology.
Redefining Realness: My Path To Womanhood, Identity, Love & So Much More - Janet Mock
A memoir, it talks about her experiences growing up multiracial, poor and trans in America.
Marshall Islands Legends and Stories - Edited by Daniel A. Kelin II
A collection of stories, recorded from oral storytellers in the Marshall Islands.
Mata Sara - Regis Tove Stella
A novel, it follows four students who received scholarships to study abroad, and their experiences.
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Prompt 45 Rec List
Here are some recs for prompt 45 of the Diverse Reading Challenge 2022. Full prompt list is here
Prompt 45 - A poetry collection by an author from a marginalized community
100 Love Sonnets: Cien sonetos de amor - Pablo Neruda, translated by Stephen Tapscott
I read this book for this prompt this year, and my review is here.
This is a collection of 100 love sonnets dedicated to his wife. They are gorgeous and lush, and have amazing, sensual imagery. I would highly recommend it.
Note: The following books I have not personally read, but are on my to-read list.
If Not, Winter: Fragments of Sappho - Sappho, translated by Anne Carson
This is a collection of the fragments of Sappho’s poems that have survived.
Somebody Else Sold the World - Adrian Matejka
This collection centers on the way we exist in the world, and the pandemic.
Nothing is Okay - Rachel Wiley
This collection focuses on deconstructing lies about our bodies, and building new ways of viewing ourselves.
Home Is Not a Country - Safia Elhillo
A novel in verse, about a girl caught between cultures trying to find herself.
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Prompt 44 Rec List
Here are some recs for prompt 44 of the Diverse Reading Challenge 2022. Full prompt list is here
Prompt 44 - A book with a fat protagonist
Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe - Fannie Flagg
I read this book for this prompt in 2020 and my review is here.
This novel follows two women who become friends, as one of them tells the other he life story, about two women who ran the Whistle Stop Cafe. It was engaging, and moving with memorable characters. I would recommend to anyone who likes historical or southern fiction.
Holes - Louis Sachar
A middle grade novel, it follows Stanley, who has unjustly been sent to a juvenile detention camp, where they spend every day digging holes, supposedly to build character. He soon realizes that the warden is looking for something, and tries to find out the truth. This is a modern classic, and is engrossing and clever. I would recommend it to anyone.
Note: The following books I have not personally read but are on my to read list.
Juliet Takes a Breath - Gabby Rivera
A YA book, it focuses on a closeted lesbian Puerto Rican teen, who interns with a white feminist author.
Coming Back - Jessi Zabarsky
A graphic novel, it is set in a fantasy world, and follows two women who go on separate journeys to prove themselves to each other.
Cheer Up: Love and Pompoms - Crystal Frasier, Val Wise, Oscar O. Jupiter
A graphic novel, it follows two former friends, who after both being on the cheerleading squad, rekindle their former friendship and discover they are having more romantic feelings for each other.
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[Image Description: Book cover of Ice Massacre by Tiana Warner. It is underwater and shows the tail of a mermaid, half of it is stained red with blood and blood is falling into the water.]
Title: Ice Massacre
Author: Tiana Warner
Prompt: 40 - A YA book with a protagonist of color
Summary (from Goodreads): A mermaid’s supernatural beauty serves one purpose: to lure a sailor to his death.
The Massacre is supposed to bring peace to Eriana Kwai. Every year, the island sends its warriors to battle these hostile sea demons. Every year, the warriors fail to return. Desperate for survival, the island must decide on a new strategy. Now, the fate of Eriana Kwai lies in the hands of twenty battle-trained girls and their resistance to a mermaid’s allure.
Eighteen-year-old Meela has already lost her brother to the Massacre, and she has lived with a secret that’s haunted her since childhood. For any hope of survival, she must overcome the demons of her past and become a ruthless mermaid killer.
For the first time, Eriana Kwai’s Massacre warriors are female, and Meela must fight for her people’s freedom on the Pacific Ocean’s deadliest battleground.
Review: I enjoyed this book. I loved the world-building and though the mermaids were interesting. I also thought it had a fantastic villain, and an intriguing plot. However, I was disappointed in the romance, and I never really connected with any of the characters. Overall, I would recommend if you like mermaids.
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Prompt 43 Rec List
Here are some recs for prompt 43 of the Diverse Reading Challenge 2022. Full prompt list is here
Prompt 43 - A book with a physically disabled and/or chronically ill protagonist
So Lucky - Nicola Griffith
I read this book for this prompt in 2020 and my review is here.
This novel follows a woman, who is diagnosed with MS, the same week her wife leaves her, and shortly after is forced to leave her job. She decides to fight back by finding a new community. This book has such an interesting protagonist, and great prose. I would recommend if you are looking for a character study.
The Story of Edgar Sawtelle - David Wroblewski
This is a retelling of Hamlet, set in a remote farm focused on breeding dogs. It follows Edgar, whose once peaceful life is broken when his uncle moves in. This is an enjoyable book, with some very clever reinterpretations of Hamlet. I would recommend to Shakespeare fans, or people who like books about dogs.
The Nothing Within - Andy Giesler
A sci-fi novel, it is set in the post-apocaylpse. It follows Root, who after hearing a voice no one else can hear, flees her home into the wilderness, and must confront a threat to her people, and find out the truth about who she is. This is an interesting sci-fi novel, and weaves journal entries and stories together. I would recommend it to any post-apocalyptic fan.
Note: I have not personally read the following books, but they are all on my to-read list.
Fairest - Meredith Talusan
A memoir, of a trans woman with albinism, talking about her journey moving to America and transitioning.
Something to Talk About - Meryl Wilsner
A romance, an actress and her assistant are photographed together, sparking rumors they are a couple.
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Prompt 42 Rec List
Here are some recs for prompt 42 of the Diverse Reading Challenge 2022. Full prompt list is here
Prompt 42 - A book originally written in a language other than English
The Little Prince - Antoine Saint-Exupéry, translated by Richard Howard
A children’s book, this is a classic and one of my all-time favorite books. A pilot crashes in the desert, and meets a young boy, who says he is a prince from space, and talks about his travels. It is both profound and deeply moving, and also a short, lovely read. It is a book not easily forgotten, and I would recommend it to anyone.
Blue Is the Warmest Color - Julie Maroh
A graphic novel, it is a romance between two women, and also considered a classic. It has some gorgeous art, and is a moving depiction of young love. I would recommend if you want something emotional, or want to read a classic lesbian novel.
Anna Karenina - Leo Tolstoy, translated by Richard Pevear, Larissa Volokhonsky
A classic novel, this tells the doomed love affair of Anna, a married woman and Vronsky, an officer. It is engaging, and exciting, and the characters are interesting and complex. If you are looking for something long, you can really sink your teeth into, or want a great female protagonist, I would recommend this.
Les Misérables - Victor Hugo, translated by Lee Fahnestock, Norman MacAfee
A classic, this novel is about Jean Valjean, a man imprisoned for stealing a loaf of bread, and follows him through 19th century France, and to the uprising of 1832. This book has some gorgeous prose, and an amazing story and characters. If you are a fan of the musical, or want to read a long book, I would check this out.
The Diary of a Young Girl - Anne Frank, translated by Susan Massotty
This is the diary of Anne Frank, a Jewish teen who recounts how her and her family lived in hiding during World War II. This is a book everyone should read, if you haven’t, go and read it.
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Prompt 42 Rec List
Here are some recs for prompt 42 of the Diverse Reading Challenge 2022. Full prompt list is here
Prompt 42 - A book originally written in a language other than English
The Little Prince - Antoine Saint-Exupéry, translated by Richard Howard
A children’s book, this is a classic and one of my all-time favorite books. A pilot crashes in the desert, and meets a young boy, who says he is a prince from space, and talks about his travels. It is both profound and deeply moving, and also a short, lovely read. It is a book not easily forgotten, and I would recommend it to anyone.
Blue Is the Warmest Color - Julie Maroh
A graphic novel, it is a romance between two women, and also considered a classic. It has some gorgeous art, and is a moving depiction of young love. I would recommend if you want something emotional, or want to read a classic lesbian novel.
Anna Karenina - Leo Tolstoy, translated by Richard Pevear, Larissa Volokhonsky
A classic novel, this tells the doomed love affair of Anna, a married woman and Vronsky, an officer. It is engaging, and exciting, and the characters are interesting and complex. If you are looking for something long, you can really sink your teeth into, or want a great female protagonist, I would recommend this.
Les Misérables - Victor Hugo, translated by Lee Fahnestock, Norman MacAfee
A classic, this novel is about Jean Valjean, a man imprisoned for stealing a loaf of bread, and follows him through 19th century France, and to the uprising of 1832. This book has some gorgeous prose, and an amazing story and characters. If you are a fan of the musical, or want to read a long book, I would check this out.
The Diary of a Young Girl - Anne Frank, translated by Susan Massotty
This is the diary of Anne Frank, a Jewish teen who recounts how her and her family lived in hiding during World War II. This is a book everyone should read, if you haven’t, go and read it.
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[Image Description: Book cover of Little Brother by Cory Doctorow. The cover shows three people in silhouette, the one in the middle is holding an open laptop, and the two on the sides are both raising a leg, in a fighting position. In the background is a big red x, which has binary code in it. There is additional text under the title, “The New York Times Bestseller”. There are two review quotes, one says “A wonderful, important book... I’d recommend Little Brother over pretty much any book I’ve read this year. - Neil Gaiman, author of Sandman and The Graveyard Book” and “A rousing tale of techni-geek rebellion. - Scott Westerfeld, author of Uglies, Pretties and Sepcials.”]
Title: Little Brother
Author: Cory Doctorow
Prompt: 1 - A book about current civil rights issues
Summary (from Goodreads): Marcus aka “w1n5t0n,” is only seventeen years old, but he figures he already knows how the system works–and how to work the system. Smart, fast, and wise to the ways of the networked world, he has no trouble outwitting his high school’s intrusive but clumsy surveillance systems.
But his whole world changes when he and his friends find themselves caught in the aftermath of a major terrorist attack on San Francisco. In the wrong place at the wrong time, Marcus and his crew are apprehended by the Department of Homeland Security and whisked away to a secret prison where they’re mercilessly interrogated for days.
When the DHS finally releases them, his injured best friend Darryl does not come out. The city has become a police state where every citizen is treated like a potential terrorist. He knows that no one will believe his story, which leaves him only one option: "M1k3y" will take down the DHS himself.
Review: I really enjoyed this book. It was engaging and a fun read, and I learned a lot about computers and tech, which was very interesting. Also, even though it was published in 2008, it remains very relevant today. I also really appreciated, that while the white main character sees it as a shocking dystopia, he is told that it is what life has always been like for people of color.
However, I did think the middle dragged on a bit, and some of the side characters felt really flat, especially his love interest. Overall, I would recommend to anyone looking for a tech thriller.
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