There is a microscopic possibility that the title of my post is a little…disorientating. BUT LET ME EXPLAIN! Because it does make perfect sense. Truly. (Everything I say makes absolutely wonderful sense, don’t even deny your overlord this truth.) I occasionally blog about diversiful things. I wrote a list of my favourite diverse books and also confessed why I’m scared to write diversity.
It’s a topic find very intriguing to discuss because I actually can’t fathom WHY a lot of books struggle to represent minorities. Maaaybe this is because I’m from Australia and every second person is from a different ethnicity. But why is it so hard to write about?! Represent all the human beans! Write relatable books! Talk about “taboo” topics like mental health so they become NON-TABOO topics as they should be! Discuss living with disabilities! HUZZAH!
I, personally, think that YA is getting better at representing diversity. Teens have different cultural backgrounds, a best friend has a disability, and OH LOOK they’re eating dahl instead of meatloaf. ADORABLE. It’s not that hard to find a book on schizophrenia or about Deaf Culture. Not every girl falls in love with the first strapping young white dude she sees.
But do you know what I want?
DO YOU??
I want to read books with diverse characters where the point of the book is not about their diversity.
I want to read more books where it’s like, “And this is my BFF, Frank, and he has OCD, now let’s go kill a zombie and ride pterodactyls into the sunset”.
I feel like most books that represent diversity are all: “And this is a story about a girl with cerebral palsy and how she navigates life” and “This is a book about a blind boy and what it’s like to be blind and how he gets a dog and learns braille” and etc and etc.
“Oh, Cait,” you’re probably saying, “you fussy little platypus. You never want to read issue books then, eh? You don’t want to read about what it’s like to be deaf or autistic or mentally ill? WHAT EVEN IS WRONG WITH YOU??”
Oh my gosh. Chill you cucumbers. THAT’S NOT WHAT I MEANT!!
I do want to read those books where the diversity/minority IS the issue and IS the point of the book. I just want to read books where it’s not the issue too. And I rarely see any of those.
FOR INSTANCE…I want to more books like…
- Percy Jackson! Where 90% of the cast have ADHD and it’s addressed but not the sole purpose of the book. (Not to mention all the cultures represented.)
- The Lunar Chronicles! Where tons of characters are from different ethnicities (French! Asian! African! and…from the moon?? Like, don’t let me doubt the aliens. They deserve voices too.)
- Viral Nation! Where it’s a dystopian society and the protagonist is saving the universe like any ol’ dystopian, but also happens to be autistic.
- A Game of Thrones! Where the book is about power and manipulation and drenched in fantastical culture (AND DRAGONS) but characters also have physical disabilities and mental disorders.
- There Will Be Lies! Where they’re on a crazy road trip with psychotic parentage and cops on their tale and, by the way, the protagonist is deaf.
I want to pick up fantasies and thrillers and adventure books that have diverse characters. I WANT THIS TO BE MORE COMMON.
I do want both kinds! I want the diversity/minorities to feature in the book (because those kinds are usually better for educating my pineapple brain about these things) AND I want adventures and fantasy with those characters but with their issues as part of the story, not THE story.
Not too much to ask, is it? Pfft. OF COURSE NOT. And when the overlord decrees, it must be done. So, writers among you, get busy.
-~-
OH YES, I THINK SO TOO. I think it’s also great for people who have mental illness/disabilities/are of any kind of minority to see that they don’t have to be DEFINED by their diversity – that they are three-dimensional, world-saving people as well. So yep, I think there is definitely room for both kinds of stories 🙂
YES. AGREED. Labels shouldn’t define, and I feel like by not having an protagonists with disabilities and illnesses we’re doing literature a disservice.
I wholeheartedly agree with you here. I mean, I love books about diversity as much as the next girl, but I feel like sometimes they deny that that character ever has something else going on in their lives. To use the examples you gave, it might feel like the girl with CP only has to worry about navigating stairs or long walks, not exam results or friendships or evil people taking over the planet. I know I have other worries!
(FYI, one of my favourite diverse-but-not-about-diversity reads is SHE IS NOT INVISIBLE by Marcus Sedgewick. The MC is blind, and how she gets around is mentioned, but it’s more about solving the mystery and saving her Dad.)
YES AGREED. And even, just reading these contemporaries is great on it’s own…but these characters never seem to leak into fantasy and thrillers and adventures, you know?! And it’s just not fair on them OR on literature. Books should be showing us the whole world, not just a corner of it.
I ABSOLUTELY ADORE SHE IS NOT INVISIBLE!! IT’S SUCH A GREAT STORY!!
YESSS. Another one is I’d like to see a book where there’s a gay/bi character but coming out ISN’T the main storyline, you know?? I think that would be nice to see something like that. While in YA fiction often focuses on identity and whatnot, it doesn’t HAVE to be a massive part of the plot. (And I’m not talking about, like, a side character being gay [although that too is great] but more of a book that features a gay/bi character but the story isn’t inherently about that.) BUT YES. I actually see a lot of people saying that GoT isn’t very diverse but it’s epic to see someone else see it the way I do. 😀
Coda by Emma Trevayne is a YA dystopia with a bisexual main character, whose story is not about him being bi, and it’s never even an issue. Everyone already knows, no one thinks he’s disgusting or greedy or confused. I didn’t know when I picked up the book and when I found out I almost wept, I was so excited.
Ohh, thank you so much for letting me know about that! *adds to overflowing TBR list*
AGREED. Like, let their romance be a sidedish like any other book, right?! I almost feel like it’s unequally balanced because so much SPECIAL focus has to be on diversity…whereas it’s not for any other type of romance or ability/disability. Omg, am I even making sense. >_< It'S BEEN A LONG DAY. hehe How can anyone say GoT isn't diverse?!?! IT'S AMAZINGLY SO. It's got ethnic diversity AND disabilities, not to mention I'm pretty sure every one in the Lannister family has some sort of mental illness. 0-0 I also have a secret theory that Brienne is mildly autistic. *nods*
I’m actually writing a YA Fantasy series where, in short, in that world there are lots of people with different ethnicities but it’s not really a big thing. It’s more humans and a few other races that live together and now have this big bad hanging over them. Sure there are some that are narrow-minded and will be cruel to people that are different from them, but that’s normal.
There’s also a LGBT romance in the second book and while the romance is a big focus, the fact that it’s an LGBT one isn’t because in that world where it takes place, they don’t have labels like gay or lesbian. It’s just all the same.
Your book sounds fabulous, Bee. Give it to me already!!
When it’s finished, I will :p
SO I ALREADY LOVE YOUR FANTASY BOOKS THEN. XD When I first started fantasy, I didn’t even know about “diversity” or…really…anything. I just wrote. And I had so many ethnicities in there. So proud of little-fifteen-year-old me. :’)
I’m pretty sure your book sounds EXACTLY like the kind I want to pick up off the shelves!
Sure hope so. 😛 That’s the goal.
I definitely agree that it shouldn’t always be about the diversity. I mean, it’s great those books exist, but I just want to read about people doing awesome things and being diverse, and often it ends up being about people doing awesome things because/despite being diverse.
YES YES WE JUST NEED BOTH. But more for the action/adventure/fantasy/thriller books with diversity.
YES PLEASE ! Books that are all about diversity are great, they’re informative, they manage to de-stigmatise a certain minority, they open your mind. BUT ! I think anyone who’s part of a minority deserves a story that goes beyond that. There was this story on Tumblr of a kid with hearing aids being so freaking excited to learn that, in the comics, Hawkeye (one of the AVENGERS, man !) has hearing aids too. Like, “look, a superhero who’s like me !”. Everyone deserves to have this kind of representation too.
Yesss, I saw that tumblr story. SO CUTE. And I totally agree. Everyone does deserve that chance, and I think it also shows the world those people in different lights. Like we assume we should be sorry for someone who’s deaf, right? But they can live JUST as awesome lives as anyone in this universe can, and I think more books with protagonists with disabilities/illnesses being the lead character would really just SHOW THE WORLD THEIR AWESOMENESS TOO.
I agree, I think we need more books with diversity, but without the diversity being the sole issue because it’s not awesome to define people by their “issue”, if you will. I would be a bit disappointed if the author didn’t expand the diversity aspect of it a bit, though, because I like learning new stuff and it would, to some point, define you. For example, if you are deaf that will affect your life and it’s good to talk about that. It’s not cool to make that the only aspect of your life, though. If that made any sense.
YES! Totally agree with you. Sometimes when authors make an obvious effort to make their story solely about a diverse character, I find that it isolates those minorities even more – as if the author is saying that their diversity defines them, as if it’s the only thing that makes them interesting.
Also, The Lunar Chronicles is beyond amazing in that regard. I live for that series.
Oh yes there needs to be more books like that! I am currently reading a fantasy book “Starflower by Anne Elisabeth Stengl” And one of the MCs is mute….. but I think that is because of a curse, and she talks in sign language…. but the other MC is not from her world so he can’t understand it. Which makes for amusing, one sided conversations.
Oh my goodness that book is my absolute favorite. *flails because The Tales of Goldstone Woods*
Starflower! Goldstone Wood! Ahhhh, so much love! <3333 Seriously, it has taken a very firm position on my Favorite Series Ever list. XD But yes, her muteness makes for some very interesting/challenging/downright hilarious situations!
Yesss. That is easily one of my favoritest series EVER. I wish the first book, Heartless, was better though, because I think a lot of people are turned off by it.
I personally LOVED Heartless. I guess I can see why some wouldn’t . . . and the following books are different than the first . . . but still. I wonder if it’s Una that so many people have issues with? She’s such a real person in her immaturity that I think she hits too close to home for some. *shrugs*
So now I must ask: which is your favorite Goldstone Wood book thus far?? 😀
OMG YOU GUYS ARE ALL FLAILING ABOUT THESE BOOKS I HAVEN’T EVEN HEARD OF BEFORE. WHERE DO I LIVE?!? UNER A ROCK??! *goes to google them*
APPARENTLY. XD (No, probably not, it’s just an under-appreciated series.) READ THEMMMM. And if Heartless (book 1) isn’t your style, push on and read one more, because the tone does change somewhat. But it’s an absolutely beautimous series, full of the most gorgeous paradoxes I’ve ever laid eyes on. And characters. Oh, the characters! Sir Eanrin is by far the best Faerie character EVAR.
Ahem. I’ll curb my fangirliness now.
Also! FYI, Eanrin (whom Tracey is bubbling about) is a Fairie guy who can shapeshift into a cat, and is also blind (as cat and as person). So that would count on your list! 😀
*waves* Hiiii, Deb! 😀
Oh my goodness, how could I forget to mention THAT? He IS blind. (Figuratively as well as literally, but that’s a whole ‘nuther story…)
There are also multiple races/languages/skin colors/etc. And “Dragonwitch” prominently features a character who is smaller and weaker than average. Does that count?
I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH YOU ON THIS. I love “incidental diversity”! I’ve been working on adding diversity to my YA fantasy, and while it’s never a major focus (it may need to be more important, as I don’t talk much about culture and such), it’s there. Plenty of it. I have a blind supporting character, a disabled major character, a few with mental illnesses, and a good part of my cast is different ethnicities. Because as much as I love certain books focusing on the issues, I want to see those kinds of characters on quests or using superpowers or tracking down killers. People are not defined by their race or religion or disability or mental illness or whatever it is that makes them diverse. There’s more than enough room for both types of books.
Cait, I know exactly what you mean! I think it’s best to be shown in contepory boks that are slightly more like real life and so the authors can create characters that may have a mental disorder or a disability but not have it as the main focus of the book but almost like an add-on to them but not actually them. One thing I’m not keen on is when author’s almost dehumanise characters with mental disorders and focus on their symptoms rather than the character themselves and it’s almost like it’s a story of two mental disorders rather than the actual people if that makes sense.
Sarah 🙂 x
I get what you’re saying Cait! I’ve been thinking about it a lot but I just don’t know how to put it into words haha 😀
Oh Cait I still can’t believe how hilarious this is, we pretty much said exactly the same thing in different ways hahaha! So great! *high fives* I love how you listed Lunar Chronicles and Percy Jackson as perfect books that deal with diversity. I mean we don’t need it shouted from the rooftops, but it still honours them you know with things in their culture!
*claps wildly to give a round of applause* Yay! I agree I agree! I’ve been thinking this for a while because and I am SO GLAD someone has said it! It is important to read books where diversity etc is the main topic but it’s equally important that it is represented as a sub-topic. Or that it isn’t even a topic at all… it’s just THERE fitting in seamlessly. Because there are many different humans HERE on Planet Earth. So there should be many different humans THERE in books. If that makes sense? Although, like you mentioned, aliens are welcome too because looking at the bigger picture we are all HERE in the universe(s) 😀
YES THAT MAKES PERFECT SENSE AND I UTTERLY AGREE. I think everyone needs and should be represented. *nods* And I think contemporary YA is doing pretty well, but I sooo wish there was more in the fantasy realms.
For the record, I knew what you were talking about the minute I read the title. But this is true. I go to an international school so I know exactly what you mean (at least with the ethnic diversity) Diversity should be part of everyday life. The issues shouldn’t be offhand; they should be everyday. It is only then that we see true diversity. That said, I do like so called ‘issue books” because they educate me (also historical books.) And the examples you mentioned are awesome 🙂
YA books try to represent their audience, but as their audience expands, they need to expand too, without seeming try hard. Thanks for the discussion, Cait.
YAAAAY I MAKE SENSE. Sometimes?? PFFT. ALL THE TIME, OF COURSE. I am nothing less than perfect. *flips hair*
heh
Okay but seriously now.
I 1000% LOVE YOUR COMMENT ADN AGREE. Just having diversity be part of everyday life doesn’t necessarily have to make it “offhand” (which I hear is the hue and cry around doing this). You can write respectfully and still not focus on the thing, right?! And plus I think things get a bit backward here in that, writers should research heavily ALL the kinds of characters, even if they’re writing straight/white/able-bodied people. THEY SHOULD. There shouldn’t be favouritism for how much research you do, right?!
I want more books where the diversity doesn’t come in the form of a best friend. And where there’s more than one kind of diversity – LGBTQIA people of colour, LGBTQIA/POC with disabilities etc etc. And more disabilities that aren’t Teens Dying Of Horrible Diseases. Where are the protagonists who are in wheelchairs? Or who are missing a limb (love interests with one leg seems to be an increasingly popular trope and it kind of weirds me out)? Or who’ve got obscure heart conditions that mean they could drop dead at any moment? Gah.
You should really read Akata Witch by Nnedi Okorafor. It’s basically Harry Potter set in Nigeria and you only get magical powers if you have some kind of disability or learning difficulty. Other recommendations include the Timeriders series, Girl Stolen, and The Shattering. Malinda Lo also writes fantasy/sci-fi books with lesbian protagonists.
MORE DIVERSE PROTAGONISTS. I can seriously only name you two books where characters were in a wheelchairs. AND THAT’S SAD. I’ve read over 600 books in the last few years and I really wish more of them were diverse. I want to see all these things in the protagonists though, too!!
I’M LOOKING UP AKATA WITCH THEN. Actually I’m looking all of these up. I’ve only read one Malinda Lo book because that’s all my library has, but I’ve heard she’s utterly brilliant.
I’ve never thought of diverse books this way but I totally get what you mean! It would be awesome to have more books like this! I would love to see something about an LGBT character where their story isn’t about them coming out but about them… I don’t know, taking over the world??? Awesome post 🙂
YES. EXACTLY!! ME TOO. I’d like to read more books where they just are. I mean, we still want their struggles and their perspective and I want it to be realistic and respectful, but I want protagonists and stars of books to be diverse — and then go smack zombies.
I totally understood what you meant from just the title 😀 I agree: there should be more books like this, but also, as with everything, there should be a balance – so, a selection of both type of books.
I can’t actually think of any recommendations 🙁 Surely, I’ve read some, right? My mind’s blank.
YAY I’M GLAD THE TITLE MADE SENSE. XD I couldn’t think of how else to word it. hehe Balance = YES. We need balance. I think the more focused-on-the-issue books outweigh the not-so-focused ones though so someone petition some authors to fix this!!
Yes, yes, and yes! And then yes again to this post, Cait. I’ve been meaning to write something about since the volley of the anti-“just gay” posts hit the book blogging community. Now I understand their point. Of course, I do! We want books that explore books sexuality and gender and disabilities and mental illness etc. etc. BUT when we say exactly what you’ve summed up perfectly above – that we don’t JUST want books that are about blind people being blind because yeah, of course, that is interesting and important and everything (and I am by no means saying that I don’t want those sorts of book) – why wouldn’t we want books that are more about characters that are “just” homosexual or blind of autistic etc. – that carry on with their story not because they are fighting to be heard or learning to cope with their lifestyle, but because they just are? No questions asked. We aren’t asking for their struggles to be ignored (though I can see where people may think that is what we are asking. We AREN”T though) but what our main point is (or at least mine is – call me out if I am the only one that thinks this!) that these characters might have a trait that makes them a minority in a certain way but they are just people after all, no? And they get to go on adventures too and fight dragons and we want to see them do all that without them having to be stuck in “coming of age” sort of “heavy” contemporaries or worse, as sidekicks. Well, rant over now. Great discussion, Cait.
OMG you know I didn’t even SEE those “just gay” posts until someone linked me to them in the comments. :O So this isn’t a response post or anything, I honestly didn’t know about them!! I actually didn’t really like those posts, although I know that they’re written by knowledgable people who put forth some great points.
But seriously? I think it can get a bit backwards. You can be “just straight” and that’s okay, right? You can be “just happened to be white and able-boded and sound-minded” and no one cares. I think there is STILL too much stigma surrounding people with disabilities/mental illness/sexuality/ethnicity so that we feel like they are such small numbers and super super special. AND THEY ARE IN A WAY. BUT ALSO EVERYONE IS SPECIAL.
I don’t think we should overcompensate by making diversity such a golden special thing when really, it is JUST A THING. And we are all things and. OMG I’M MAKING EXACTLY 0% SENSE BUT I HOPE YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN. (And I am part of what people would consider “diverse” so, eheh, I can say this too. xD)
We are all just people and I don’t think any of us should be treated with “more respect” then the rest. All characters, regardless of who they are, should be researched and well written to honour that personality or ethnicity or sexuality or health or disability.
SO I TOTALLY AGREEE WITH YOU ON THIS, RACHEL. *hi fiveS*
Well, that makes your discussion even more brilliant then! Absolutely. I love that point too. Being “just gay” is undermining and insulting, but being “just straight”, “just white”, “just super hot” is okay? That in itself seems 100% more insulting and close-minded than wanting everyday book characters to be “just” diverse. And again, like you said, “they” may seem to be a minority in society – and statistically they probably are – but does that make them a special little group that needs their own type of books? What we are aiming for is eliminating all of that!
*triple high fives all around* because I think we are onto something really important here, Cait. Preach it!
YESSSS. THANK YOU. It’s like, in an attempt to be fair, it’s swung the pendulum too far. EVERYONE IS EQUAL. There should be none of those more equal than others sort of things. *nods*
I definitely agree with you on this topic! Give me diversity without it being the main focus. Like a “ohhhh, that explains a lot” or a “now I get it”. Maybe even begin with diversity in clear view to settle any confusion that may come.
**idk** just me thinking out loud.
Hmmm. The closest I can come up with, thinking about diversity without it being about the diversity, is Mr. Mercedes by Stephen King.
Taps quite a bit into some diverse personas, races, and orientations while stilling focusing on the murders, suicides, and threats.
YES. I love your thoughts! I AM COMPLETELY WITH YOU ON THIS. WE SHALL PETITION THE AUTHORS! HUZZAH! Oh. OHhhh, and I have never read a Stephen King. NEVER. One day though… XD
THIS POST IS GOLDEN AND SO TRUE! This is what I’ve always wished for, and I am super glad that you wrote a post about this!
This is a reason why I love diversity in fantasy more than contemporary. When a contemporary book is marked as diverse, most probably the whole point of the book is going to be about the character’s sexuality or mental illness and how they cope/deal with it and find a happily ever after despite all of that! But when it comes to fantasy, diversity will most probably be handled in an offhand, matter-of-fact way, and I WANT TO SEE THAT IN BOOKS!
Awesome post, Cait!
AWK I’M SO GLAD YOU LIKED IT, MISHMA!! <3 I was a little worried about it, because I know a lot of people get riled about this because they think diversity can be overlooked if it's not treated with respect. And I'm ALL for writing it respectfully, I AM, but I just don't think it always has to be the utter focus. XD I want to read books and not be amazed that it's diverse, because I WANT IT TO BE NORMAL AND EXPECTED. xD
I agree with this post–I can get tired of books being diverse for diversity’s sake. Because, is it really incorporating diversities if it’s only about diversities? Doesn’t that just set the diversity apart anyway? Wouldn’t it be better to incorporate all sorts of things into the story–like, you wouldn’t make basil soup, but you might use basil in your soup, and your basil would complement all your other spices and ingredients. Otherwise, it can feel like books are treating issues like mental disorders and such as if they’re oddities, rather than stuff you come across in everyday life. (Side note: My current work in progress is a Fantasy set in a landscape a lot like West Africa, which is really fun to write.)
YESSS. THANK YOU, LIZ, I COMPLETELY AGREE. I want it not to be odd, too. I want it to be just how things are. It needs to be respectful and well researched, but then, doesn’t everything?!? OMG I LOVE THE SOUND OF YOUR FANTASY. My fantasy currently-in-plotting is mixing fantasy/medieval Russia with Africa too. x) I’M EXCITED.
Yes! This! I was just talking about this topic with another blogger. I even considered writing a post about it. We were trying to think of YA books that have a LGBT main character but are not “coming out” stories. Where are those books? They must exist somewhere.
HA. YES. THEY DO EXIST. Night Owls (which I just reviewed) is one. XD The MC’s brother is gay but it’s not even a big part of the book. He just is. And I think it’s like that in I’ll Give You the Sun, though a bit more coming out. And in Dorothy Must Die there’s a gay character who is part of the adventure but it’s not about him coming out. xD IF THAT HELPS. I’D BE SO INTERESTED TO READ YOUR POST/VIEWS ON THIS.
YES! Because it is actually pretty easy for a book to be so obsessed with the issue that they devalue the MC’s life, if that makes sense. Like, “and our MC is deaf, SO LET’S BE OBSESSED WITH IT!!” and the real deaf girl probably has a lot of other things to do and think about but the book makes out that her deafness is her whole life.
So, yeah. When I’ve finished my WIP series I’m going to (obviously) start another one and rather than frantically plunging in with zero thought (like I did last time) I shall actually plan things like how to introduce diverse characters and minorities.
Exactly!! Being deaf would be a HUGE part of your life, but not your whole life! Learning to live with the discriminations, and the limitations…but also what are their hobbies/interests/dreams?! I want to see deaf people starring in fantasies. I WANT TO WALK IN THEIR SHOES AND EXPERIENCE ADVENTURES FROM THEIR POV.
I just felt so relieved seeing this topic. Because, when I have diversity, it’s just like, “Oh, this character is African American”, or “this character is Korean” or “this character has social anxiety”and pretty much leave it at that, and I spend the entire time wondering if I should add more problems (I can’t think of the right word) because of the diversity, even though it’s a fantasy novel and they’re busy trying not to be eaten by dragons. I don’t want my fantasy novel to become something about racism or elitism or homophobia or whatever else means people think that they’re better than another person.
Does that make sense?
IT DOES MAKE SENSE. And I struggle with that too. I tend to naturally put in a whole heap of diversity into my books, because that’s what I experience in real life and it just flows for me. I do think it needs to be carefully done. SO YEAH. THE STRUGGLE IS REAL.
YES! I love this. I love diverse books and everything, but when you keep reading about how diverse the character is you lose some sight of what’s actually going on! Love this post, Cait.
WE NEED MORE!
YES WE DO. LET IS PETITION ALL THE AUTHORS.
YES SO MUCH YES.
I mean… I don’t mind if the diverse character has to deal with their diversity at some point in the story but I don’t want the whole story to be like that. I don’t even mind if that particular character’s arc has something to do with her diversity. But I don’t want an entire story like that, for the most part.
Percy Jackson, yes! Dream Thieves!
And… maybe or maybe not the new book i’m writing…
YESSSS. And I do think the diversity should be noted. But, like, it doesn’t have to take over the story. And I know some people think this is insensitive, but I don’t think it is. I know lots of “Diverse” people, and we’re just…normal. IN OUR OWN WAY. Why can’t this be in books and not be a big deal?
YAY NEW BOOK YOU’RE WRITING. XD
YES! This is an excellent post and I completely agree with you!! It would be great to read books where people of different backgrounds come together in a book and it’s treated like a normal part of every day life. That is how it should be anyway, right?
IT SHOULD BE. And it kind of is, where I live in Australia, at least! So it always weirds me out that books don’t catch up with this?!
I absolutely agree 100%.
Also, you should check out Beggar Magic by H.L. Burke — I was pleasantly surprised to discover that one of the characters in this YA fantasy is deaf, though the summary doesn’t mention him at all. And it’s just a wonderful book all-around.
AHHH, thank you, Serena!! <3 I shall check out Beggar Magic! That author's name is familiar too...ohh, where have I heard it. *wracks brain*
YES, I totally agree, Cait! It seems as if a lot of books lately are focused on being diverse but to the point that it is ALL the book is about. I want diverse characters with diverse abilities, but I rather read a book in which the characters show that their diversity is handy in a situation (such as demigods being ridiculously good at killing mythical creatures).
YES THIS EXACTLY, SARAH. BASICALLY RICK RIORDAN NEEDS WRITE 294082 MORE BOOKS FOR US.
Agreed. Of course, I do think the books that focus on the diversity are important, because all experiences should be explored. But I also think non-issue books need diversity, because otherwise it’s like the book world is saying you can only be the hero, fall in love, or go on an adventure if you’re straight, white, and abled. That is sooooo not true!
WE JUST NEED BOTH FOR SURE. XD And yesss, Omg, I agree with your comment 10000%. People with OCD can lead a book and train dragons! It doesn’t just have to be straight/white/able-bodied people starring in books and getting stuff done.
Do you think you might read manga (Japanese comic books) because there’s a manga called Gangsta that’s currently airing as an anime right now that features THE BEST DIVERSITY WITHOUT IT BEING THE CHARACTERS OR THE STORY’S DEFINING POINTS. I’ve not read the manga, but I know it’s amazing as the anime has been phenomenal and anyone craving diversity should read/watch it (it has a bit of mature content tho.) It’s the best story ever; very character driven, there’s mental disorders and surviving abuse and physical diversity and racial diversity and I think you’d eat it up. I know manga isn’t a traditional book and I have no idea how familiar you are with anime, but I thought I’d recommend the story anyway since it’s exactly what you’re looking for. 🙂
~Jamie
OKAY I’M GONNA HAVE TO LOOK IT UP!! i’ve never read Magna before though!! And it’s a show too!? *goes to google*
Oh god, SO true!!!! I wholeheartedly believe that characters shouldn’t just “happen” to be X–like, diversity needs to be included as a part of them, not an accessory. BUT I also agree that you don’t need a book where diversity is the main plot point to have diverse characters. It reminds me of two great lists I found on Goodreads, LGBT books that are NOT about coming out (https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/73637.YA_LGBT_Books_Not_Coming_Out_) and books about black people that don’t deal with slavery, racism, or poverty (https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/35443.Books_by_Authors_of_African_Descent_That_Don_t_Feature_Slavery_Colonialism_Racism_or_Poverty). Like, we’re getting better at this representation thing, but now we need to normalize it. People with depression can go on adventures! Gay characters can fight demons (looking at Cassie Clare, because she rocks at that).
C.J.
Sarcasm & Lemons
WE ARE GETTING BETTER. Although I’m seeing a lot of commenters who are against it because they say if it’s normalized then it’s not being treated right. So I do kinda get both sides, buuut…I really still think it SHOULD be normalised. I think it shouldn’t be an “omg, this book is diverse, how wonderful!” I think it should be that EVERY book is like that. *nods* I LOVE CASSANDRA CLARE.
It depends on the context, and also what type of “diversity” we’re talking about. If you’re writing a book with racially diverse LGBT characters and you set it in present-day New York City, that sort of diversity might not be a big issue. If you’re writing a book with racially diverse LGBT characters set in a small village in fifteenth-century England, that sort of diversity had better be an issue in the story… or it’s going to look like tokenism. The same thing goes for disabilities. Like it or not, those sorts of things do help define and affect lives… often in profound ways. If the disability turns out not to be an issue at all, I’m going to wonder why it was mentioned in the first place and most likely conclude that it was simply an attempt at making the book seem diverse for the sake of being diverse.
That’s just my opinion, though. In looking at my favourite “diverse” books on my TTT list from last month, I can see that most of the books there focus on the “diverse” aspects… whether it’s race, disability, or religion. I guess I feel like, if the things that make the characters diverse aren’t important, why bother mentioning them?
Well, it does need to make sense, I AGREE! Although, for fantasy and things, I always feel it’s weird how it’s easy to stick in dragons, but not to imagine humanish diversity.
But, honestly, if I gathered up a bunch of people I know in real life and wrote them into a book, there’d be an entire MOTELY of different races/religions/mental health issues/disabilities. And those “issues” don’t rule our lives. So if I did that, would someone read the book and accuse me of just putting in token aspects for no reason? Where I’m really basing it off real life? I think we can be a liiiiittle harsh when deciding if diversity is being added for no reason or not. BUT I AGREE IT’S TRICKY AND IT’S HARD TO BALANCE AND THERE ARE SO MANY OPINIONS AND THAT DOESN’T MAKE ANYONE WRONG! 😀
This title didn’t make sense when I first saw it, but after reading the post I GET YOU.
I’m kind of split on the diverse books. Cause, sure, it’s good to have different races and mental illnesses and such (I’m writing about a different race and a practically blind person in my novel, so that’s interesting. xD), but like you said, I don’t want it to be SUCH a big deal. Just add in the diverse part but please don’t focus on it *so* much where it’s basically like “Oh, look at me here, being a perfect author and writing diverse books.” We really don’t need that. :p
So, yeah. I agree with you. *nods* xD
OKAY GOOD. I’M GLAD IT MAKES SENSE. XD I was worried about that title, hehe, but I didn’t know how else to phrase it! 😀
It’s a difficult balance too! Like diversity needs to be properly researched and also properly represented, BUT, at the same time, it totally doesn’t always need to be the focus. And I see a lot of books get hated on for being “random” about adding in diversity, but I don’t think that’s fair!! Just because they’re not calling 100% attention to the fact that a secondary character is Indian doesn’t mean the book is dissing it. IT’S A RELALY HARD BALANCE AND TOPIC AND THERE ARE SO MANY SIDES. *collapses in exhaustion*
Oh my gosh, I couldn’t agree more with you! I get so tired of books that are like “LOOK AT ME BEING ALL DIVERSE UP IN HERE!”. It starts to feel so forced.
I haven’t read any where it feels forced (under-researched = yes, ehhe) but I JUST WANT TO PICK UP BOOKS AND LEARN ABOUT ALL SORTS OF DIFFERENT THINGS AND EXPERIENCE LIFE LIKE OTHER PEOPLE WOULD. I’d like it to be the average/normal/accepted thing to have books be diverse. 🙂
Me at this title before reading: OH, HELL YES. YESSSSSSSSSS. ALLY CAKE FOR CAIT. ALLY CAKE FOR CAIT. ALLY CAKE FOR CAIT. I love when white people talk about diversity, and use their privilege to uplift rather than shout down the voices of minorities. I feel like this is not done by a lot of bloggers, and so I love seeing it when it is done. YESSSSSSS. *tackle hugs you* (Oh, and sorry if you’re actually not white or actually a part of some minority because then…awkward, and I deeply apologize for the misunderstanding!)
YES. I want hundreds more books with diversity where diversity isn’t the central plot. Similar to you, I also enjoy reading books with diversity as the central plot whether it is to see myself in them, or to learn more about the experience of other minorities! (although this can be dangerous when people not of the minority write, and misrepresent the minority they are writing…but that’s easily fixed by readers calling it out or the writer doing some research beforehand, and getting some diverse beta readers..because really..but I digress.) I mean, naturally, I wouldn’t *just* books featuring diverse characters without going in depth on the diversity because WE NEED TO EDUCATE THE PRIVILEGED (I mean no offense, really); also just because there are diverse people out there that WANT to see themselves in these situations, so I wouldn’t want that to die off…but YES. MORE BOOKS WITH DIVERSE CHARACTERS BEING BADASS.
OOOOOOOOOOHHHHHH. *winces* That’s a great question. It really depends on the situation, honestly. For example, people not knowing Everything That Leads To You by Nina LaCour is a diverse novel is not okay. We need to make sure diversity is in the blurbs or synopses because then you risk straight-washing/white-washing being done. It does do a disservice to those who may not pick up a diverse novel because they didn’t KNOW it was diverse, but it really depends on the particular situation, as aforementioned.
Great post, Cait and lovely graphic!
Oh, and the link to the Creative Blogger Award before I forget: https://oreoandbooks.wordpress.com/2015/08/15/the-creative-blogger-award/
HAHA. OMG YOU ARE PRECIOUS, WESAUN. XD I’m white, but also 1/4 Italian an have anxiety, but I consider myself pretty, like, not diverse at the same time. 😛
It IS dangerous and scary writing about things you don’t know 1st hand. I see a lot of writers get absolutely blasted for it…and I don’t think it’s fair. Isn’t trying better than not trying?!? I mean, it’s not okay to have books misrepresent minorities, but at the same time everyone’s experiences ARE different!! So if I wrote about anxiety, someone else with anxiety who had a completely different experience to me might still say that i’m totally wrong. BUT WE JUST HAVE DIFFERENT JOURNEYS. So i think there’s a lot more room for trying to walk in other people’s shoes too. *nods*
AND I WANT TO SEE MORE DIVERSE PROTAGONISTS. Like often there are diverse secondary characters, BUT LET’S GET THESE PROTAGONISTS ONBOARD TOO.
Hmm, that’s interesting how you say diversity needs be in the blurbs! I’d probably be opposite about that. XD >_< I'd like to have it just be the accepted/normal thing. *nods*
Hee. This makes me happy. 😀
In the novel I just finished writing, my MC has diabetes, because why just have an orphaned character on the run from an evil dictator and his genetically modified super soldiers while trying to rescue a twin sister and mother the two little children she’s somehow responsible for and also deal with the time traveler who just dropped into her life, when she can ALSO be dealing with high blood sugars and needing to eat at specific times and having to rob medical supply buildings for insulin to stay alive? XD
and in my other novels I also have characters with club feet, characters with schizophrenia, characters with Von Willibrand’s disease and situs inversus and anorexia…all part of the story and needing to be dealt with in the context OF the story…but…that’s not what the story itself is /about/… 😀
YAY I AM GLAD. 😀 Okay, but your book sounds AMAZING AND SO INTRIGUING AND JUST WELL DONE TO IT ALL. I neeed books like that in my life. x) That must be so much research for you too! I JUST TAKE MY HAT OFF TO YOUR FABULOUSNESS.
I looove this! And I used to want and praise books that were like this. But then I read a few posts, and they made me think. SO. Instead of be garbling everything up, I’m just going to point you in their direction. Hope that’s ok? 🙂
Robin Talley on Character Who ‘Just Happen’ to be LGBT (Or People of Colour, or Disabled, or What Have You)
Robin Talley & Lucas J.W. Johnson on Gay YA: “Just Happening to Be LGBT” Dismisses a Depth of Character – Part 1
Robin Talley & Lucas J.W. Johnson on Gay YA: “Just Happening to Be LGBT” Dismisses a Depth of Character – Part 2
T.S. Ferguson on Gay YA: No Dumbledores Need Apply
I’d be interested to hear what your thoughts are now. I can see both sides of the coin, so I’m no longer sure what I want.
Someone else directed me to the “just happened to be” posts and gah, I don’t know. I don’t think I honestly 100% agree?? I don’t think “just happens to be gay/sick/disabled/mentally-ill necessarily means the author isn’t paying attention to the issue. I still think it’s fair to want to read a book where a character is autistic and it ISN’T the point of the book. I mean, there are books were everyone “just happens to be straight” and that’s okay?!? So it’s a bit of, um,…double standards, almost?! IF that makes sense. >_<
*noms Belgian chocolate*
*puppy dog eyes* AREN’T YOU GOING TO SHARE?
hmmmmm *thinks* yes, I will share. Because you’re awesome XD *shares*
I agree it would be nice to see more books where diversity is just part of the story without it being ALL about that- I mean there’s room for both, of course, but I think you’re right. By just showing the world as it is and moving on, that can be powerful too. Mental health seems to be getting a lot of attention these days, and that’s good. It’s nice to see people with OCD or whatever show up, and they address it ro whatever but the whole book is not about that- they’re fighting the tyrannical govt or whatever and that’s the main focus. Entertainment but real life too…
YAY! I’M SO GLAD YOU LIKED MY POST! 😀
I see people say that if you ignore the stigmas and persecution of diversity that’s in reality, it’s being disrespectful to it, BUT I DON’T AGREE. I think if we read/write books that move past this and SHOW us worlds where diversity is average, then that’s really positive and encouraging. I also want to see more mental health issues in books where said person IS NOT cast as the villain.
I think “issue books” are in some ways more harmful than helpful. It’s way too easy to just write a bunch of stereotypes. There are a couple of good books I’ve read this year with diverse characters where that diverse quality was important, yes, but it wasn’t the only defining thing about the character or the book. THAT is what I want to see. I want it to become so normal that at some point these books aren’t even considered “diverse.” Simon vs. is a perfect example. It tells an important story about a gay boy, and part of that is about coming out, but most of it is just about being an awkward teenager. I never thought of it as an “issue book” and I refuse to believe that everyone can’t relate to Simon’s story on some level.
Can I hire you to narrate my life? “You fussy little platypus” and “cool your cucumbers” and basically I just want you to provide me with constant entertainment. Can you send me one of your clones?
It IS easy to write stereotypes, but they CAN be excellent because they show and teach too! I am going to read Simon Vs. omg, I need to so much and I just never get around to getting my clammy paws on it.
I can ghost write your memoir. There will be many platypus and fruit salad references. OBVIOUSLy SO MUCH WIN.
SO much yes. It’s one of my favorite things about Made You Up (have you read it? You really should!), because Alex has schizophrenia, but it isn’t really ABOUT that. I mean, of course it comes up, it is a story about her life after all. But it’s mostly about her trying to figure out who she is, who she wants to be, finding friends, dealing with family… you know, normal stuff!
I have always wanted to write a book that somehow works mental health in, but is NOT the focus. I mean, live the day to day, I am over that- I want to live the day to day fighting battles or overthrowing someone, or whatever.
To answer your other question, NO, I do not think offhandedly mentioning diversity is a bad thing! On the contrary! If someone is like “oh hey, here’s my friend Joe, he’s (fill in diverse feature here), he’s cool” and moves on to talk to Joe like a human? Well, isn’t that the BEST example possible? LOVE this post, and could not agree more!
I’M GOING TO READ IT. IT’S LITERALLY IN THE MAIL COMING TO ME NOW. *stalks the mailbox waiting* AND YES that’s exactly what I want to read about! I want to see the character, not the “diversity”. And I want to know what it’s like for them to live, not collapse. Although, that saying, of course we need both kinds. Because I do think the issue books are really important and interesting and I learn a lot.
DUDE, WRITE A BOOK. JUST DO IT.
YES! it would be awesome if there were more books out there with diverse characters but not diversity plots. especially if the characters are portrayed as normal and not crazy or supremely different from everyone else because of there ocd or autism, or whatever fact about them makes them diverse.
Nice post!
YES. GAH. I’m so tired of reading books where diversity is persecuted. I mean, I know it’s normal and it’s realistic and we should be educated about it. But it is tiring. I just wanna read about someone with OCD who trains dragons or a deaf girl going on a quest or ANYTHING REALLY.
Yes! I would LOVE to have books with diversity that isn’t about the diversity. After all, their whole personality shouldn’t just be about that. I know that issues books are important – and I certainly think there’s a message to them that’s needed – but if I’m being honest, I don’t really enjoy reading them. (I know, I know, but that’s me.) So, yes, we NEED more books like this. Ones that are about saving the world and, oh, btw, she’s black and he’s gay. (And all the other wonderfully diverse things that I could never mention in this comment.)
That’s why we need BOTH, right?!? I enjoy a lot of books that are ABOUT the issue because I learn a lot. *nods* But I also want to learn through watching diverse characters train dragons. And to not have to SHOUT from the rooftops that it’s diverse. I just want it to be what every book is expected to be. *nods*
This reminds me of when I went to the New Day New Normal event on Monday with David Levithan and Lisa Williamson. We were talking about diversity and David commented how we’re getting more and more diverse and after this stage we’ll get to that point that books won’t be about diversity. It’ll just be a given that the world, any world is a diverse place. He pointed out for instance Cassandra Clare’s writing where there are plenty of diverse characters but that’s just part of their backstory, not the plot. They (and I) did agree that contemporary YA still has a bit of a way to go.
YESSSS OMG I WANT THAT DAY SO BAD. I want to review a diverse book and not even say “look!! EXCITEMENT it’s diverse!” becuase it’ll just be normal and average and ALL the books will be like this and it’ll be glorious. :’)
Although I don’t think Cassandra Clare’s diversity is necessarily backstory. Like Magnus Bane is DEFINITELY crucial to the plot.
Let me add two more books to your list
– Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins – Isla’s best friend has high functioning autism
– The Fault in Our Stars by John Green – about cancer patients but also not just about cancer patients
I just want to point out that I agree with everything with this post.
YES TO BOTH OF THOSE. ABSOLUTELY. I love both those books (although I liked Lola better, but then, yay for her book’s diversity as well! :D) Actually Stephanie Perkins is just winning at this I think.
I feel the same! I think, especially in terms of representation (as opposed to educating, which diverse books also do), the best books are those that aren’t JUST about being diverse, because nobody lives their lives like that. We don’t focus on how we’re different from one another all the time, or invest all of our time thinking about any mental illnesses or disabilities we might have. These people have lives just like everyone and characters should represent that!
YESSS. EXACTLY! I mean, I know there’s room for it, and sometimes a diagnosis for a mental illness or struggling with restrictions due to disability IS a big part of your life. Or even all of your life. But don’t those people want to read books, too, and see characters like them doing epic stuff??! Plus I think it makes us understand people in different walks of life from ours better.
Exactly! I think so many of these “diverse” books make the whole story about how “diverse” a character is and I think it really undermines the whole point. Give me a real story with characters from all walks of life.
YES. Oh oh I love how you summed that up. REAL characters. *nods* And also, in a way, having casts of “perfect” and able-bodied and sound-mind and straight and white characters kind of underlines this wrong concept of what is “normal”. NORMAL IS A WORD THAT SHOULD NOT EXIST.
I completely agree 110% Cait. I feel like if there’s diversity in a book and the book is all about how that character is diverse, it just turns into a diversity study and stops just being about someone who, like so many people, just happens to be diverse. (If that makes any sense…) Thanks for sharing your thoughts and, as always, fabulous post Cait! ♥
Especially if *whispers* the author gets it wrong. >_< ALTHOUGH THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN TOO MUCH SO THAT'S GOOD. And, tbh, in every day life, I think we are surrounded by a lot of diversity. At least in Australia it's like that! I want to see it in books! MORE MORE.
Totally agree! It’s like books about people’s sexuality. It’s important to have the books where that IS the focus, because they teach people and a lot of people can still relate. HOWEVER, we still need books where the character happens to be gay or lesbian or whatever. It allows people to see these things as NORMAL and for those that are gay or have OCD or have autism, they can feel more included! 🙂
-lauren
THIS IS WHY NIGHT OWL WAS SO GOOD. THE SEXUALITY DIVERSITY WAS IN THERE BUT IT WASN’T EVEN BLINKED AT IT WAS JUST PART OF THE BOOK AND I SHOULD REALLY STOP YELLING NOW BUT I WAS SUPER IMPRESSED WITH THAT BOOK. XD I agree. These things are normal and they should be in books.
THIS — YES. It’s actually quite easy for me to do so, because I write fantasy and I feel like contemporary is more likely to focus on the overcoming-obstacles thing, but also because I just set everything in China and laugh my head off because diversity this way is much, much easier. (Except when I don’t and cry when I try to research too many things. Especially food, because then I cry of jealousy.) But at the same time I also think that it’s important diversity isn’t there as like a random sign in the background, like “OH look the sidekick is Asian and the love interest is bisexual and the mentor is autistic”. I feel like in some way they have to be working on their own issues, like as subplots, for it to be more meaningful? Or their mindsets or cultures or whatever actually influences their actions and drives the plot differently.
Crying whilst researching is like the normal, accepted thing to do. in fact, I don’t research and just make everything up and it saves tears and, eh, nobody’s noticed I don’t know what I’m talking about yet. THE TIME WILL COME, I’M SURE. BUT IT IS NOT THIS DAY. *Aragorn hair flip*
I do get what you mean about it just being random…like the token gay best friend and stuff. I’M TORN ABOUT IT THOUGH. Like I’d rather it be there than not. Although I’d like to see more diverse protagonists. And I like it when the diversity comes with a bit of culture too. Like in PJO, the focus of the book was totally NOT on the characters’ ethnicity, buuuuut…there’d be a Cherokee story here, or a Chinese reference there, and it was just COOL. I felt like I learnt stuff as well as watched them stab things. *nods*
oh, cait, YOU READ MY MIND. diversity in YA is becoming a more and more common/popular thing and that makes me so happy! but if we keep acting like it’s a “big deal” then wouldn’t that kinda defeat the purpose? we want to show that it’s NORMAL for people to be diverse and etc but if that’s all the book talks about then isn’t it not normal then? anyway, i too believe there should be more subtly diverse books. one of my favorites is ‘to all the boys i’ve loved before’ by jenny han because 1/ the main character is korean and we kinda go into her traditions and cultures, 2/ there’s a side character that is gay, 3/ another side character that talks about feminism. YAYYYY FOR SUBTLE DIVERSITY!!
I AM EXCEPTIONALLY GOOD AT MIND READING. MWHAHAAH. *ahem* Like I said, I reckon there’s room for both! 😀 I just definitely see more emphasis on diversity being the issue, instead of just part of the character. I want moooore books where it’s just THERE and nobody even comments on it.
I’m glad someone said it! I’ve been thinking about this topic for a long time but I wasn’t quite sure how to word it, but you’ve done it quite perfectly here! I totally understand what you’re saying. I think a lot of people are putting emphasis on diversity in too literal of a way when truly, I think we’re making progress as you mentioned. I’m all for diversity but I want the kind of diversity that you’re talking about – I want it to be there, just not as the main focus ALL the time. I think if authors put too much effort into making the readers aware that their book is diverse that it could come off as forced. Again, great topic for a discussion!
Aww, thanks AM Bradley!! 😀 I’m glad we agree on this (I’m actually just super glad this post made sense, hehe, sometimes I get a bit waffly when trying to get my thoughts across). I think diversity CAN come off as forced, but at the same time, I’d prefer to see authors TRYING than just abandoning it and having all able-bodied/straight/white casts of characters, you know? I want books to get to the point where I’m NOT saying “yay diversity!” because it’s just a given it’ll be in there.
Viral Nation sounds amazing! I’ve never heard of it before. I don’t think I’ve ever once in my life read a book about someone with a mental illness or disability that wasn’t ABOUT it. I guess they’re just not too common, are they? Like, the only stories people with disabilities have are stories about how they’re disabled and nothing else.
I didn’t mind it! I think it was a 3-star read for me, but at the same time it was UBER refreshing. *nods* And yep, they’re not common. Although they ARE out there. Like I should’ve listed Susan Ee’s Angelfall series too. The MC’s little sister is in a wheelchair during the apocalypse. SO IT’S THERE. But I feel like authors cave to this huge temptation to write “perfect” characters, and it’s not fair. 🙁
I’ve heard of Angelfall! I want to read it soon. There’s a lot of stuff I want to read soon.
Fantastic topic, Cait!! This is why I loveeee reading fantasy that has diversity. I mean real PoC or queer or people with disability don’t sit around and ponder on their identity ALL their life. We want to have magic and go on adventures and slash some stuff, too.
I highly recommend The Fifth Season and House of Shattered Wings- both recent reads of mine that does a fantastic job of having diversity while not making it a focus of the story. People are more than their label- for diversity to stop being a trendy marketing term and start being a part of publishing reality – we really need it in ALL KINDS OF BOOKS!
Love this post so so so much, Cait. Thanks for sharing 😀
Oooh, I’m excited to read your one on fantasy now! 😀 AND YES. IT SHOULDN’T BE JUST A “LABEL”. Gah. I think a lot more people in the world are being diagnosed, or even just coming forth, with disabilities and mental illnesses, and it’s NOT something that’s super closeted anymore, so therefore those people….WE!…want to see people we can relate to in books, right?!? Also I really hate it when books have “perfect” casts too, just because I think it’s sending a bad message.
Oh wow. I love reading diverse books, but this post showed me a different perspective. You’re totally right, Cait. I’ve never even thought of Percy Jackson that way. Come to think of it, there’s plenty of diversity in PJO but it’s not the focus of the story. What brilliance. 😀 I’m totally for more books like these.
BLESS THIS POST.
I am always right. *nods regally*
hehe BUT SERIOUSLY NOW. XD That is a big reason I love PJO! Like they’ve got Canadian/Chinese, Cherokee, and African American and it’s all well represented and there are neat little cultural details but it’s NOT the focus of the story. The stabbing things is. I JUST ADORE THAT.
I agree! Lately, we’ve been getting more diverse books but only if said diversity is the plot. And they are usually only contemporaries. So I feel like we’re not even reaching every reader because not everyone reads contemporary YA! So if they make more diverse fantasy, scifi, historical fiction and so on, a lot more people would read diverse books!
Yesss. TOTALLY AGREE. And if you just read solely fantasy, I bet you’d still be thinking there isn’t much diversity out there. :O WHICH IS SAD. More diversity in more places! HUZZAH.
I’m a bit conflicted about this. Yeah, those kind of books
are awesome but I sometimes wonder if it downplays or misrepresents the impact the “diversity” has on the characters. Like in Percy Jackson, except from being not able to read properly sometimes, I can’t tell they’re ADHD. But then that’s probably the point–not being defined by their (sort of) disabilities. (I must say I love the ethnic diversity in that series though!) See why I’m conflicted?
So. I’m going to play the devil’s advocate and direct you to this article: http://bookriot.com/2015/07/02/lets-stop-saying-just-happens-to-be-gay/
I really want to know your thoughts on this!
Ah, I do get what that article means. But at the same time, I don’t buy the whole “just happens to be = nothing meaningful”. Like if I gathered up the group of people closest to me, there would be a MOTELY of diversity in mental health, disabilities, and ethnicities. So if I put that in a book would I be accused of just writing them in “for the sake of it”? Even though, in actuality, I based it off real life?
I think diversity does define you. But I don’t think it has to be the forefront of your life every. second. minute. And I think sometimes people get really indignant about being part of a minority and believing that they’re ALWAYS going to be attacked. Which isn’t true!! Even if you try to be an ally and support, I feel some minorities kind of disregard that and say “you don’t understand because you haven’t experienced it”. It’s not really fair. 🙁
Most definitely! Sometimes I think we reviewers are a bit too harsh on authors–writing diversity is HARD, and since everyone has different experiences with it, it’s not really fair to say someone else is writing “for the sake of it”. Coming to think of it, the whole WNDB campaign is about writing for the sake of spreading the awareness and all that, so it’s not inherently a bad thing in my opinion. I’d say, include diverse characters, make s/he a protagonist even, but like you said, the diversity doesn’t have to be the focus all the time. Perhaps add in some description ABOUT it here and there, (because smacking a label on someone just for the sake of it AND then not doing anything about it is not cool) but don’t make it the only thing s/he is all about. I agree that just happens to be doesn’t mean not meaningful. Conclusion: writing diversity is HARD.
As for your last point, I think that’s a different topic to discuss, but I guess it’s something both sides need to work on. That’s why WBDB right 😉 ?
I agree, Cait, I think we do need a story that’s just a story, and where a couple of the characters just happen to be what we call diverse. It makes the story much more realistic! And it also makes for a story that includes more than one ‘type’ of reader in the experience.
When I look around me in real life, I see diversity everywhere! Two of my four kids struggle with dyslexia (which is a minor thing compared to many others) In my youngest daughter class (she’s starting 7th grade on Monday) there are 23 students, and they are 19 different nationalities. Among my best friends, I have one lesbian couple and one gay couple. My friends range in age from early twenties to late fifties. I am Norwegian, but live in Switzerland, and I speak three languages fluently. I would love to learn more! So yes, my real life is very diverse. I’m sure most authors actually live diverse lives, too.
I have read some paranormal and fantasy books where the point of the story was a quest or figuring out how to try to make sure different species of paras could get along better, but where there was a woman who only has one arm. In another, two of the characters were gay, but that definitely wasn’t the main focus of the story.
So let’s all do a huge fist-pump and ask for diversity across genres, where the story is the main point but the characters are allowed to reflect society at least to some extent.
That being said, I also enjoy books that explain things to me through the eyes of a character, because walking a mile in someone else’s shoes is always better than just trying to imagine it.
OMG YOUR LIFE IS CERTAINLY VERY DIVERSE AND THAT’S JUST AMAZING AND WONDERFUL TOO. <3 My life is pretty diverse (although probably not as much as yours :P) but see, that just PROVES that people's in-real-life lives can be super diverse and that it SHOULD be represented in books like this!! I want to experience people's journeys, I DO, and understand what it's like to live in certain minorities. But those people can train dragons and fight sorcerers too!! BOOKS NEED GIVE US THIS.
I think diversity is everywhere now! We can travel everywhere, and settle down in most places, thus we get cultural and racial diversity. Even if we just travel somewhere to visit, if we are able to learn something about the cultural and social differences in the place we are visiting, then that’s a new piece of diversity we bring back with us too.
Maybe when you’re my age, your life will be much more diverse than mine is, Cait 😉 And reflecting diversity while not having that be the main focus is something I think we’ll see more and more of.
YES!!! This is what I want to. I love books about diversity and issue books too. BUT I feel like diversity should be represented in all books, because it’s realistic to the world around us. But the thing that makes the person or people diverse doesn’t have to be the focus or the book, or an issue that needs to be addressed. You took the words right out of my mouth!!! 🙂
Yesssss!! I totally know exactly what you mean and agree 100%!! Not being defined by your “condition” but just HAVING it would be perfection. Let’s hope to see more of this coming our way! 🙂
YES WE DON’T WANNA BE DEFINED BY THE “DIVERSE” LABEL ANYWAY!! I want to see people from all walks of life doing the cool stuff and leading books. 😀
Yes, I think I know just what you mean. That’s one of the things I like about the worlds of my fav epic SFF series, like Brandon Sanderson’s Cosmere or the lands of Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time … The casts are diverse and the authors can get creative with “new” races/ethnicities and use this made-up world to address some of the issues in our own, but the overall plots are not actually about diversity. I don’t know if I’m making sense but essentially, I 100% agree with you!
I so need to read more Brandon Sanderson. 😀 I’ve only read one book, but I LOVED it and need more for sure. *nods* And you’re making perfect sense! I think it should be a given that a book is going to represent different ethnicities and health issues and everything. It should just be how books ARE.
This makes perfect sense! (after reading the intro…)
But I get what you mean, subtly including things that make people a little different makes them feel a whole lot more normal and not needing an entire novel dedicated to their ‘tragic’ and ‘unusual’ lives.
YAY I’M GLAD IT MAKES SENSE. xDXD And, tbh, I think we pitch “diversity” as this teeny tiny little sliver of unusualness, but tons of people are diverse!! Books should reflect this! WE ARE ALL SO DIFFERENT. And minorities need be represented all. the. time.
THANK YOU FOR THIS POST. I have a whole rant-type-thing typed up on this subject but have been hesitant to post it. I just don’t think you should read a book because of its diversity–just so you can say you read a diverse book. There should be diversity in books without there being a giant flashing sign saying LOOK I’M DIVERSE READ ME. It should be commonplace…that’s the whole point. Ugh, I better stop before this becomes an entire essay. Seriously awesome post, Cait!
YES AND YES (And now I really really want to read your post. 😀 BE BRAVE!! COME ON NOW!!) heeh, but I agree with you. I think diversity should just be how books are written. I shouldn’t have to screech “OH LOOK YAY A DIVERSE BOOK!” because it should be what all books include.
To me that’s actually the definition of a diverse book. Books about coming out, racism, or cultural oppression don’t count to me as representing diversity. A book can only truly be diverse, if your characters are of different origins and have different sexualities regardless of the plot. It’s way too easy to make a character diverse just because the plot is demanding it. I can only agree here.
Yay! I’m glad you liked my discussion! 😀 It’s getting some super interesting responses!
I understand Cait, I understand I was just never able to put it into words like you did, but yes. No your not a fussy little platypus though you would be so cute, your just wanting for diversity to be treated more normal in books, because hello it is.
I am writing a Post Apocalyptic novel about a sixteen year old, zombie with a conscious, who has suicidal tendencies and depression, he ends up saving a four year old Mexican girl who doesn’t talk. They traverse the world together in search of some humans who can take her in. It has been quite the ride so far.
DUUUUUDE YOUR BOOK THO. It sounds amazing and that’s exactly the kind of book I would pick up in like a snap.
Yes, yes, yes, and yes again! I agree 100%! I love books that dress minorities and are diverse but it would honestly be a dream come true for me to read a book where the whole point isn’t “oh look gay characters!” or “oh look person with a mental illness!”. While I do think it is important for there to be books out there that focus on these things, I think it’s also important that books make it less of a big deal. Make it mainstream! Fantasy adventure where, ooh how exciting, the main character is blind. I personally think that would be amazingly awesome.
YES AND YES!!!! I think we definitely need both kinds of books, but the books that focus on the issues sure out-weigh the ones that don’t. SOMEONE FIX THIS FOR US.
I totally get what you are saying, Cait. There was a relationship in Ink & Bone by Rachel Caine that totally impressed me because the relation just existed. No one said a word about it (okay, I think there was a subtle mention late in the book), but the relationship just _was_. That’s what I want. Just put it in the story, be real about it and don’t call attention to it unless it drives the plot forward.
You’ll have to stop by in a few weeks. I interview Rachel (R.J.) Eliason and I asked her about the LBGT characters in her novels.
Terri M., the Director
Second Run Reviews
AHHHH I’M READING INK AND BONE RIGHT NOW!! 😀 I shall look out for it. (Unless I’ve missed it? I’m like 60% in.) AFJDSKAL I WILL LOOK FORWARD TO READING YOUR UPCOMING INTERVIEW!
I could not agree more, because I would KILL for a book like Skulduggery to exist, but to have like, a main character who has dyslexia, or a downs syndrome, or something that is worthy of mentioning but isn’t the full focus. I want something other than contemporaries that deal with it. OR, like in Trial by Fire when Lily is like allergic to the world, but stops being when she’s in the other world, skip the not being in another world and keep her that way and let her be badass, you know? GOSH PEOPLE, IT’S EASY. Pineapples away, I agree! 🙂
AHHH YAYYY I’M GLAD WE’RE IN AGREEMENT ABOUT THIS. Let us petition ALL THE AUTHORS to make these things happen for us! (And yes, I totally agree about Trial By Fire. I was uber disappointed when Lily didn’t have her allergies anymore, because I have allergies [though nowhere near that bad!!] and it kind of made her just relatable and interesting and yeah. I mean, I don’t WISH pain on her, BUT STILL. It would’ve made the book stand out. I think.)
Okay, this doesn’t quite count because it’s a side character, but one of my favorite mystery series, Reginald HIll’s Dalziel & Pascoe series, features a gay policeman named Sgt. Wield. He goes through quite a bit of character development over the course of the books, including coming out to his bosses (who knew all along) and finding love, but the main thing about him is that he’s this stolid, ugly policeman with great tenacity and skill. He’s not a gay sidekick–he’s a character who is, amongst other things, gay.
I wholeheartedly agree. I don’t mind books about different races or people with illnesses but it’s funner if it’s a side issue and not a main issue for me at least. And books and movies about minorities tend to be about bashing white people with their “white privilege.” I’m white and honestly, tired of my race being made the villain of every other race. 😛
OH MY GOSH YES TO ALL OF THIS!!!
I don’t read many diverse books, but the main reason is that I’m not a contemporary reader, and diverse books are usually contemporaries.
It saddens me greatly.
THIS IS A FABULOUS POST! I’ve been thinking about that a lot lately, with the YA book scene as a whole as well as my own writing. Well done, you put all my thoughts and feelings perfectly into words! And goodness knows, that’s hard to do.
Also, you have a fabulous writing voice. I enjoyed this very much!
Yes, yes to all of this! Like you said, I think it’s so important to read books that are about diversity – so important – but I also really want to read a book in which, for example, the main character isn’t heterosexual, and their story doesn’t revolve around the fact that they aren’t heterosexual. Is that really too much to ask?
Your new design is so wonderful! I’m always jealous about how amazing your blog always looks!
But back to the post at hand…Someone has put my thoughts about diverse books into words! I love this post so much and agree with pretty much all of it. In fact in my latest review, I scrape the surface of this. The Scorpion Rules by Erin Bow was one of those great books that does exactly what your talking about, it’s diverse without being ABOUT being diverse. How the diversity was handled ended up being one of my absolute favorite parts of the book. Sometimes diverse books can get a little preachy if not handled well and feel almost in your face, which takes the attention off the message trying to be sent and the story and all the good stuff. You just end up being frustrated with how obnoxious it was about diversity. I felt like The Scorpion Rules was quite the opposite and I’d say its one of my favorite books when it comes to diversity.
Whoa whoa whoa I wish I would have seen this a week ago when it was first written! Every single time I pick up a book and start reading and it gets to a part where it introduces a “different” character, I shoot out a little prayer that the author won’t be a big deal of the girl with one hand or the intersex kid. Usually my prayers do not reach the ears of the author, however, and that makes me sad.
I agree that Young Adult books are getting better at this, but it’s . . . slow going. I did like Percy Jackson, where it basically went: “Yeah, I mean . . . ADHD, I guess, but there’s a monster over there, so I’ll go fight that instead of talk about my disorder.” Great post! It made me smile and nod, and I think I might have shouted “Amen!” once or twice. Haha.
See you around, Cait!
I actually haven’t thought about this too much before, but I do like the idea of this an awful lot! The diverse books we have are wonderful, but having them as things which are mentioned but don’t overtake the plot is wonderful. Two of the examples you have such as A Game of Thrones and Percy Jackson does them wonderfully! I will say that although Made You Up does have a big focus on her mental illness I did like how that wasn’t the center of the main plot line. The plot line was something different as well.
I SO love this post and completely agree with it. I DO think we’re seeing more of this lately, and I think it’s a wonderful thing. IF I ever manage to finish writing the two books that I have well laid out in my head, they will both be diverse, but not issue books. The book I started writing for NaNo last year has a deaf character (I know that we shared that characteristic), a mixed race character and an Asian character, but only the deafness is really addressed in any way shape or form. I also have an idea for a contemporary where the main character is a black girl who has been adopted into a white family – I plan to have it come up, but NOT be a major focus of the book at all. My son is black and it’s really kind of a non-issue for us and the other families I know who are similar to us. I want to show it that way in a book as well.
*hi fives for writing about deaf characters* xD And also your books sound amazingly fantastic. PLEASE WRITE THEM SO I CAN EAT THEM. *nods* And I do think sometimes we make issues out of “diversity” when it doesn’t even need to be. Why can’t people just BE?!
I agree that diversity in fiction is a bit overused to appeal to more people. But if the story needs it then I don’t see a problem with it. Thanks for writing!
Trackbacks
[…] @ Paper Fury discusses the need for diverse books that aren’t completely centered on the diversity (and I […]
[…] I start, shout out to Cait @ Paper Fury for her post, “I Want Diverse Books That Are NOT About Being Diverse“. I agree entirely. So go read that, and then come back […]
[…] Cait @ Paper Fury also has a wonderful post I Want Diverse Books that are Not About Being Diverse. […]
[…] Note: Also, Cait! Remember how you wanted Diverse books that weren’t about being diverse? It slipped my mind when I read it, but this is completely your book! I know you’ve already […]
[…] Cait from Paper Fury talked about diversity in books that aren’t about being diverse. I NEED THIS. THIS IS THE REASON CAIT WILL TAKE OVER THE WORLD. […]
[…] Cait @ Paper Fury wants more diverse books that aren’t about being diverse. She also gets a rather lovely new blog design. […]
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