This Program Originally Aired on December 23rd, 2020.

As the country’s young population is becoming more diverse, children’s and young adult literature books are struggling with representation. According to a 2019 report on diversity in books, roughly 42% of books feature a white main character. So, what is being done to disrupt this?

This hour on Disrupted, we delve into the world of young adult literature and why it is important to see representation and diversity in books. We’ll hear from Chandra Prasad about writing multi-racial characters and a young author about protesting. We’ll also hear from a local bookstore on what they are doing to bring more representation and inclusion to their community.

Book Recommendations: 
“The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian” by Sherman Alexie
“Speak” by Lauren Halse Anderson
“Kira-Kira” by Cynthia Kadohata
“All American Boys” by Brendan Kiely
“Front Desk” by Kelly Yand
“Damselfly” by Chandra Prasad
“King and the Dragonflies” by Kacen Callendar
“This is My America” by Kim Johnson
“From the Desk of Zoe Washington” by Janae Marks
“This Book is Anti-Racist” by Tiffany Jewell

 

This week's episode was originally produced by Daniela Luna and Catie Talarski. Our team also includes James Szkobel-Wolff and Zshekinah Collier.

This Program Originally Aired on December 23rd, 2020.
As the country&rsquo;s young population is becoming more <a href="https://www.childtrends.org/indicators/racial-and-ethnic-composition-of-the-child-population">diverse</a>, children&rsquo;s and young adult literature books are struggling with representation. According to<a href="https://bookriot.com/diversity-in-childrens-and-young-adult-literature/"> a 2019 report</a> on diversity in books, roughly 42% of books feature a white main character. So, what is being done to disrupt this?
This hour on Disrupted, we delve into the world of young adult literature and why it is important to see representation and diversity in books. We&rsquo;ll hear from Chandra Prasad about writing multi-racial characters and a young author about protesting. We&rsquo;ll also hear from a local bookstore on what they are doing to bring more representation and inclusion to their community.
Book Recommendations:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/banned-absolutely-true-diary-part-time-indian/">&ldquo;The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian&rdquo;</a> by Sherman Alexie</li>
<li><a href="https://www.npr.org/2019/03/16/703814048/20-years-after-speak-laurie-halse-anderson-tells-her-own-story-in-shout">&ldquo;Speak&rdquo;</a> by Lauren Halse Anderson</li>
<li><a href="https://www.rafu.com/2012/12/fiction-kira-kira/">&ldquo;Kira-Kira&rdquo;</a> by Cynthia Kadohata</li>
<li><a href="https://www.brendankiely.com/all-american-boys">&ldquo;All American Boys&rdquo;</a> by Brendan Kiely</li>
<li><a href="https://www.frontdeskthebook.com/books/front-desk/">&ldquo;Front Desk&rdquo;</a> by Kelly Yand</li>
<li><a href="http://chandraprasad.com/damselfly/">&ldquo;Damselfly&rdquo;</a> by Chandra Prasad</li>
<li><a href="https://www.kacencallender.com/books">&ldquo;King and the Dragonflies&rdquo;</a> by Kacen Callendar</li>
<li><a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/608329/this-is-my-america-by-kim-johnson/">&ldquo;This is My America&rdquo;</a> by Kim Johnson</li>
<li><a href="http://www.janaemarks.com/from-the-desk-of-zoe-washington.html">&ldquo;From the Desk of Zoe Washington&rdquo;</a> by Janae Marks</li>
<li><a href="https://www.indiebound.org/book/9780711245211">&ldquo;This Book is Anti-Racist&rdquo;</a> by Tiffany Jewell</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
This week's episode was originally produced by Daniela Luna and Catie Talarski. Our team also includes James Szkobel-Wolff and Zshekinah Collier.

Disruptions are all around us. Some spark joy and possibility. Others move us to take action and re-evaluate our world. Every week on Disrupted, host and political scientist Khalilah Brown-Dean unpacks how big and small disruptions are shaping our lives.

From technology, economics, education, and healthcare to navigating our way through a global pandemic, continued racial inequalities, geopolitical upheaval, and climate change. What can history teach us about the current moment? What can we learn as we prepare for the disruptions yet to come? Who are the people using their voice to reset, reenergize, and create change? What are we learning about ourselves and our society to help us move forward?

Disruptions are all around us. Some spark joy and possibility. Others move us to take action and re-evaluate our world. Every week on <a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/show/disrupted">Disrupted</a>, host and political scientist <a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/people/khalilah-brown-dean">Khalilah Brown-Dean</a> unpacks how big and small disruptions are shaping our lives.
From technology, economics, education, and healthcare to navigating our way through a global pandemic, continued racial inequalities, geopolitical upheaval, and climate change. What can history teach us about the current moment? What can we learn as we prepare for the disruptions yet to come? Who are the people using their voice to reset, reenergize, and create change? What are we learning about ourselves and our society to help us move forward?

Advertisement