The 50 Best Multicultural Young Adult Books of 2021

Last not least! Following our lists of The 100 Best Multicultural Picture Books of 2021, The 30 Best Multicultural Chapter Books of 2021, and The 50 Best Multicultural Middle Grade Novels of 2021, we’re finishing off this year’s ‘Best of’ series with a selection of the best multicultural young adult books of 2021.

Covering a wide range of ethnicities, subjects and styles –from romance to adventure, from graphic novel to fantasy–, there is something for every taste on this extensive list. Enjoy browsing!

The 50 Best Multicultural Young Adult Books of 2021

Last Night at the Telegraph Club
by Malinda Lo

Seventeen-year-old Lily Hu fell in love with Kathleen Miller under the flashing neon sign of a lesbian bar called the Telegraph Club. Suddenly everything seemed possible. But 1954 America is not a safe place for two girls in love, especially not in Chinatown. Red-Scare paranoia threatens everyone, including Chinese Americans like Lily. With deportation looming over her father—despite his hard-won citizenship—Lily and Kath risk everything to let their love see the light of day. Last Night At The Telegraph Club is heartfelt romantic queer young adult novel that is hard to put down. ~ Asian – High School

Fat Chance, Charlie Vega
by Crystal Maldonado

Charlie Vega is smart, funny, artistic, ambitious, and 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 be: smaller, whiter, quieter. Only her slim and popular best friend, Amelia, is always in Charlie’s corner. When Charlie starts a tentative relationship with cute classmate Brian, everything is perfect until she learns that he asked Amelia out first. So is she his second choice or what? Does he even really see her? Fat Chance, Charlie Vega is a sensitive, funny, and painfully honest coming-of-age story that tackles our relationships to our parents, our bodies, our cultures, and ourselves. ~ Hispanic – High School

A Taste for Love
by Jennifer Yen

Smart, kind, and pretty high school senior Liza Yang seems perfect to her friends. But to her mom, she is stubborn, rebellious, and worst of all, determined to push back against all of Mrs. Yang’s traditional values, especially when it comes to dating. The one thing mother and daughter do agree on is their love of baking. Mrs. Yang is the owner of Houston’s popular Yin & Yang Bakery, and Liza agrees to help out at the bakery’s annual junior competition. But it turns out that all of the contestants are young Asian American men her mother has handpicked for Liza to date. A Taste For Love is a delicious romantic novel about first love, familial expectations, and making the perfect bao. ~ Asian – High School

The Wild Ones
by Nafiza Azad

Sold to a man by her mother in exchange for a favour, Paheli escaped and met Taraana—a boy with stars in his eyes. He tossed Paheli a box of stars before disappearing. With the stars, Paheli gained access to the Between, a place of pure magic and mystery. Now, Paheli collects girls as battered as she was, and together they use their magic to travel the world and save other girls — and Taraana. The Wild Ones is a thrilling, feminist fantasy about a group of teenage girls with special powers who band together to save the life of the boy whose magic saved them all. ~ Diverse – High School

The Black Panther Party: A Graphic Novel History
by David F. Walker

Founded in California in 1966, the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense was a radical political organization that stood in defiant contrast to the mainstream civil rights movement. The Black Panther Party explores the significance of the Panthers, from their social, educational, and healthcare programs to uplift the Black community to their battle against police brutality through citizen patrols and frequent clashes with the FBI. With dramatic retellings and illustrated profiles of key figures, this graphic novel captures the major events, people, and actions of the party. ~ African – High School

Roman and Jewel
by Dana L. Davis

Jerzie Jhames wants to land the lead role in Broadway’s hottest new show, Roman and Jewel, a Romeo and Juliet inspired hip-hopera featuring a diverse cast and modern twists. But her hopes are crushed when she learns mega-star Cinny won the lead…and Jerzie is her understudy. Falling for male lead Zeppelin Reid is a terrible idea―especially once Jerzie learns Cinny wants him for herself. But when a video of Jerzie and Zepp practicing goes viral and the entire world weighs in on who should play Jewel, Jerzie learns that while the price of fame is high, friendship, family, and love are priceless. ~ Diverse – High School

Tokyo Ever After
by Emiko Jean

Being Japanese American in a mostly white California town, Izumi Tanaka doesn’t feel she fits in. But then she discovers that her previously unknown father is the Crown Prince of Japan. In a whirlwind, Izumi travels to Japan to meet her father and discover the country she always dreamed of. But being a princess isn’t all ball gowns and tiaras. There are conniving cousins, a hungry press, a scowling but handsome bodyguard who just might be her soulmate, and thousands of years of tradition and customs to learn practically overnight. Tokyo Ever After is a fresh story about an ordinary Japanese American girl caught between worlds, and between versions of herself. ~ Asian – High School

Sequel available in 2022: Tokyo Dreaming

Hani and Ishu’s Guide to Fake Dating
by Adiba Jaigirdar

When popular Hani Khan comes out as bisexual, her friends don’t believe her as she’s only dated guys. Panicked, Hani makes up a relationship with a girl her friends can’t stand – Ishu Dey, an academic overachiever who hopes that becoming head girl will set her on the right track for university. But becoming head girl is a popularity contest, so pretending to date Hani is the only way Ishu stands a chance of being elected. When the two Bengali girls start developing real feelings for each other, they learn that some people will do anything to stop them from achieving their happily-ever-after. Hani and Ishu’s Guide to Fake Dating is a heart-warming queer young adult novel about identity and being true to yourself. ~ Asian – High School

Black Birds in the Sky: The Story and Legacy of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre
by Brandy Colbert

In the early morning of June 1, 1921, a white mob marched across the train tracks in Tulsa, Oklahoma, into the predominantly Black Greenwood District—a thriving, affluent neighborhood known as America’s Black Wall Street. They brought with them firearms, gasoline, and explosives. In a few short hours, they’d razed thirty-five square blocks to the ground, leaving hundreds dead. The Tulsa Race Massacre is one of the most devastating acts of racial violence in US history. But how did it come to pass? What exactly happened? And why are the events unknown to so many today? Black Birds In The Sky seeks to answer these questions in this unflinching nonfiction account of the Tulsa Race Massacre. ~ African – High School

The Taking of Jake Livingston
by Ryan Douglass

Sixteen-year-old Jake Livingston sees dead people everywhere. He can’t decide what’s worse: being a medium forced to watch the dead play out their last moments on a loop or being at the mercy of racist teachers as one of the few Black students at St. Clair Prep. Both are a living nightmare, but things start looking up with the arrival of another Black student—the handsome Allister—and for the first time, romance is on the horizon for Jake. Unfortunately, life as a medium is getting worse when a powerful, vengeful ghost has plans for Jake, and High school becomes a different kind of survival game. The Taking of Jake Livingston is a gripping social thriller in which survival is not a guarantee. ~ African – High School

Within These Wicked Walls
by Lauren Blackwood

Andromeda is a debtera―an exorcist hired to cleanse households of the Evil Eye. She would be hired, that is, if her mentor hadn’t thrown her out before she could earn her license. Now her only hope of steady work is to find a Patron―a rich, well-connected individual who will vouch for her abilities. When a handsome young heir named Magnus Rochester reaches out to hire her, she takes the job without question. Never mind that he’s rude and demanding and eccentric, that the contract comes with a number of outlandish rules… and that almost a dozen debtera had quit before her. If Andromeda wants to earn a living, she has no choice. Within These Wicked Walls is a stunningly romantic and exciting fantasy novel. ~ African – High School

American Betiya
by Anuradha D. Rajurkar

Rani Kelkar has never lied to her parents, until she meets Oliver. The same qualities that draw her in–his tattoos, his charisma, his passion for art–make him her mother’s worst nightmare. They begin dating in secret, but when Oliver’s troubled home life unravels, he starts to ask more of Rani than she knows how to give, desperately trying to fit into her world, no matter how high the cost. When a twist of fate leads Rani from Evanston, Illinois to Pune, India for a summer, she has a reckoning with herself–and what’s really brewing beneath the surface of her first love. American Betiya is a luminous story of a young artist grappling with first love, family boundaries and the complications of a cross-cultural relationship. ~ Asian – High School

The Cost of Knowing
by Brittney Morris

Sixteen-year-old Alex Rufus is trying to be the best employee he can be at the local ice cream shop; the best boyfriend he can be to his amazing girlfriend, Talia; the best protector he can be over his little brother, Isaiah. But as much as Alex tries, he often comes up short. It’s hard to for him to be present when every time he touches an object or person, Alex sees into its future. When he touches a photo that gives him a vision of his brother’s imminent death, he finds himself in a race against time, death, and circumstances. The Cost of Knowing is a gripping novel about a Black teen who must grapple with his past, his future, and what it means to be a young Black man in America in the present. ~ African – High School

Don’t Hate the Player
by Alexis Nedd

Puerto Rican Emilia Romero is living a double life. By day, she’s a field hockey star with a flawless report card. By night, she’s kicking virtual ass as the only female member of a highly competitive eSports team. Emilia masters her two worlds by keeping them completely separate. That’s in part to keep her real-life persona, but also for her own safety, since girl gamers are often harassed. When a major eSports tournament comes to her city, Emilia is determined to prove herself to her team and the male-dominated gaming community. But her perfectly balanced life is thrown for a loop when a member of a rival team recognizes her . . . Don’t Hate The Player is a refershing combo-punch of charming romance and virtual adventure that will win the hearts of gamers and non-gamers alike. ~ Hispanic – High School

We Are Not Like Them: A Novel
by Christine Pride & Jo Piazza

Kindergarten friends Jen and Riley remain close as adults, though their lives have taken different directions. Jen married young, and after years of trying, is finally pregnant. Riley is poised to become one of the first Black female anchors of the top news channel in Philadelphia. But the friends’ deep bond is tested when Jen’s husband, a city police officer, is involved in the shooting of an unarmed Black teenager. Covering this career-making story, Riley wrestles with the implications of this tragic incident for her Black community, her ambitions, and her relationship with her lifelong friend. Told from alternating perspectives, We Are Not Like Them is a poignant exploration of racism in America today and its devastating impact on ordinary lives. ~ African – High School

Off the Record
by Camryn Garrett

For seventeen-year-old Josie Wright writing is the thing that grounds her. So when she wins a contest to write a celebrity profile for Deep Focus magazine, she feels ready. Soon Josie is jetting off on a multi-city tour, rubbing elbows with sparkly celebrities, frenetic handlers, stone-faced producers, and eccentric stylists. She even finds herself catching feelings for the subject of her profile, dazzling young newcomer Marius Canet. Josie’s world is expanding so rapidly, she doesn’t know whether she’s flying or falling. But when a young actress lets her in on a terrible secret, the answer is clear: she’s in over her head. Off The Record is an unflinching testament to the MeToo movement, and all the ways women stand up for each other. ~ African – High School

Aristotle and Dante Dive into the Waters of the World
by Benjamin Alire Sáenz

In Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe, two boys in a border town fell in love. Now, they must discover what it means to stay in love and build a relationship in a world that seems to challenge their very existence. The boys are determined to forge a path for themselves. But when Ari is faced with a shocking loss, he’ll have to fight like never before to create a life that is truthfully, joyfully his own. Highly anticipated Aristotle and Dante Dive into the Waters of the World is an achingly romantic, tender tale of love and identity. ~ Hispanic – High School

Chlorine Sky
by Mahogany L. Browne

“She looks me hard in my eyes / & my knees lock into tree trunks / My eyes don’t dance like my heartbeat racing / They stare straight back hot daggers. / I remember things will never be the same. / I remember things.” With gritty and heartbreaking honesty, Chlorine Sky is a breathtaking novel-in-verse about broken promises, fast rumors, and when growing up means growing apart from your best friend. ~ African – High School

White Smoke
by Tiffany D. Jackson

Phantoms of Marigold’s old life keep haunting her, so the move with her newly blended family from their small California beach town to the Midwestern city of Cedarville might be the fresh start she needs. But the picture-perfect home on Maple Street has its secrets. Household items vanish, doors open on their own, lights turn off, shadows walk past rooms, voices can be heard in the walls, and there’s a foul smell seeping through the vents only Mari seems to notice. Soon Mari learns that the danger isn’t limited to Maple Street. Cedarville has its secrets, too. And secrets always find their way through the cracks. White Smoke is a chilling psychological thriller and modern take on the classic haunted house story. ~ African – High School

We Light Up the Sky
by Lilliam Rivera

Pedro, Luna, and Rafa all attend Fairfax High School but they run in separate spheres. Pedro is often told that he’s “too much” and seeks refuge from his home life in a local drag bar. Luna is pretending to go along with the popular crowd but is still grieving the unexpected passing of her beloved cousin Tasha. And Rafa is a quiet new kid who is hiding the fact that his family is homeless. Pedro, Luna, and Rafa find themselves thrown together when an extraterrestrial visitor lands in L.A. and takes the form of Luna’s cousin. As the Visitor causes destruction, the teens struggle to survive and warn others of what’s coming–because this Visitor is only the first of many. But who is their true enemy–this alien, or their fellow humans? We Light Up The Sky is a captivating story of an alien invasion from the perspective of three Latinx teens. ~ Hispanic – High School

Home Is Not a Country
by Safia Elhillo

“my mother meant to name me for her favorite flower / its sweetness garlands made for pretty girls / i imagine her yasmeen bright & alive / & i ache to have been born her instead.” 15-year-old Nima doesn’t feel understood by her mother, who grew up in a different land, and she doesn’t feel accepted in her suburban town. Nima grapples with the phantom of a life not chosen—the name her parents meant to give her at birth—Yasmeen. But that other girl might be more real than Nima knows. From Sudanese American poet Elhillo comes Home Is Not A Country, a mesmerizing novel-in-verse about one girl’s journey to face the ephemeral girl she might have been. ~ African – High School

A Snake Falls to Earth
by Darcie Little Badger

Lipan girl Nina always felt there was something more out there. She still believes in the old stories. Oli is a cottonmouth kid, from the land of spirits and monsters. Like all cottonmouths, he’s been cast from home. He’s found a new one on the banks of the bottomless lake. Nina and Oli have no idea the other exists. But a catastrophic event on Earth, and a strange sickness that befalls Oli’s best friend, will drive their worlds together in ways they haven’t been in centuries. And there are some who will kill to keep them apart. A Snake Falls To Earth is a breathtaking work of Indigenous futurism that weaves an unforgettable tale of monsters, magic, and family. ~ Diverse – High School

Instructions for Dancing
by Nicola Yoon

Evie Thomas doesn’t believe in love anymore. Especially after she witnesses a couple kiss and is overcome with a vision of how their romance began . . . and how it will end. After all, even the greatest love stories end with a broken heart, eventually. Evie finds herself at La Brea Dance Studio, learning to waltz, fox-trot, and tango with a boy named X who is everything that she is not: adventurous, passionate, daring. X’s philosophy is to say yes to everything–including entering a ballroom dance competition with a girl he’s only just met. Falling for X is definitely not what Evie had in mind but the two dance together, Evie is forced to question all she thought she knew about life and love. In the end, is love worth the risk? Instrucions for Dancing is a romantic page-turner from the author of Everything, Everything and The Sun is Also a Star. ~ African – High School

One of the Good Ones
by Maika & Maritza Moulite

When teen social activist Kezi Smith is killed under mysterious circumstances after attending a social justice rally, her devastated sister Happi and their family are left reeling in the aftermath. As Kezi becomes another immortalized victim in the fight against police brutality, Happi begins to question the idealized way her sister is remembered. Together with her sister Genny she embarks on a journey to honour Kezi in their own way, using an heirloom copy of The Negro Motorist Green Book as their guide. But there’s a twist to Kezi’s story that no one could’ve ever expected—one that will change everything all over again. One Of The Good Ones is a powerful exploration of the lasting impact of prejudice and the indomitable spirit of sisterhood that will have readers questioning what it truly means to be an ally. ~ African – High School

By the same authors: Dear Haiti, Love Alaine

Happily Ever Afters
by Elise Bryant

16-year-old Tessa Johnson has rarely seen herself reflected in the pages of the romance novels she loves. The only place she’s a true leading lady is in her own writing—in the swoony love stories she shares only with her best friend Caroline. But when Tessa is accepted into the creative writing program of a prestigious art school, the words are just…gone. Caroline thinks Tessa just needs to find some inspiration in a real-life love story of her own. And she’s ready with a list of romance novel-inspired steps to a happily ever after. Nico, a brooding artist, is cast as the perfect Prince Charming. But as Tessa checks each item off Caroline’s list, she gets further and further away from herself. Happily Ever Afters is a charming debut romantic comedy filled with Black Girl Magic. ~ African – High School

Anna K Away (Anna K, 2)
by Jenny Lee

How the mighty have fallen. Anna K, once the golden girl of Greenwich, CT, and New York City, has been brought low by a scandalous sex tape and the tragic death of her first love, Alexia Vronsky. At the beginning of the summer, her father takes her to the other side of the world, to connect with his family in South Korea and hide her away. Is Anna in exile? Or could this be her chance to figure out who she really is? Anna K Away follows the fabulous cast of characters from Anna K over the course of the next summer, when new freedoms lead to life-changing adventures, risks, and self-discovery. ~ Asian – High School

Firekeeper’s Daughter
by Angeline Boulley

Eighteen-year-old Daunis Fontaine has never quite fit in, both in her hometown and on the nearby Ojibwe reservation. She dreams of a fresh start at college, but when family tragedy strikes, Daunis puts her future on hold to look after her fragile mother. The only bright spot is meeting Jamie, the charming new recruit on her brother Levi’s hockey team. But when Daunis witnesses a shocking murder that thrusts her into an FBI investigation that seems more focused on punishing the offenders than protecting the victims. As the deceptions―and deaths―keep growing, Daunis must learn what it means to be a strong Anishinaabe kwe (Ojibwe woman) and how far she’ll go for her community, even if it tears apart the only world she’s ever known. Firekeeper’s Daughter is a groundbreaking YA thriller about a Native teen who must root out the corruption in her community. ~ Diverse – High School

A Pho Love Story
by Loan Le

Bao Nguyen describes himself as a rock: steady and strong, but not particularly interesting. His grades are average, his social status unremarkable. Even at his parents’ pho restaurant, he is only his parents’ fifth favourite employee. Linh Mai describes herselfas as a firecracker: stable when unlit, but full of potential for fire. She loves art and dreams of pursuing a career in it. For years, the Mais and the Nguyens have been at odds, having owned competing, neighbouring pho restaurants. But then a chance encounter brings Linh and Bao in the same vicinity and sparks fly. Can Linh and Bao find love in the midst of feuding families and complicated histories? A Pho Love Story is a funny romantic comedy about two Vietnamese-American teens navigating their newfound relationship amid their families’ age-old feud. ~ Asian – High School

Iron Widow
by Xiran Jay Zhao

The boys of Huaxia want to pair up with girls to pilot giant transforming robots that can battle the mecha aliens lurking beyond the Great Wall. It doesn’t matter to them that the girls often die from the mental strain. When 18-year-old Zetian offers herself up as a concubine-pilot, it’s to assassinate the male pilot responsible for her sister’s death. But she gets her vengeance in a way nobody expected—she kills him through the psychic link between pilots and emerges from the cockpit unscathed. After that she survives attempt after attempt on her life, whilst trying to figure out how to stop more girls from being sacrificed. Iron Widow is a a gripping blend of Chinese history and mecha science fiction. ~ Asian – High School

Skin of the Sea
by Natasha Bowen

Simi serves the gods as Mami Wata—a mermaid—collecting the souls of those who die at sea. But when a living boy is thrown overboard, Simi goes against an ancient decree and saves his life. To protect the other Mami Wata, Simi must journey to the Supreme Creator to make amends. But all is not as it seems. There’s the boy she rescued, who knows more than he should. And something is shadowing Simi, something that would rather see her fail . . . Danger lurks at every turn, and as Simi draws closer, she must brave vengeful gods, treacherous lands, and legendary creatures. Because if she fails, she risks not only the fate of all Mami Wata, but also the world as she knows it. Skin of the Sea is the first book in an epic Black mermaid fantasy series in which one mermaid takes on the gods themselves. ~ African – High School

Six Crimson Cranes
by Elizabeth Lim

Forbidden magic runs through Shiori’anma’s veins. Normally, the only princess of Kiata conceals it well, but on the morning of her betrothal ceremony, Shiori loses control. At first, her mistake seems like a stroke of luck, forestalling the wedding she never wanted. But it also catches the attention of Raikama, her stepmother. A sorceress in her own right, Raikama banishes the young princess, turning her brothers into cranes. She warns Shiori that she must speak of it to no one, or her brothers will die. Shiori searches for her brothers, and uncovers a dark conspiracy to seize the throne. Only Shiori can set the kingdom to rights, but to do so she must place her trust in a paper bird, a mercurial dragon, and the very boy she fought so hard not to marry. Drawing from fairy tales and East Asian folklore, Six Crimson Cranes is a fast-paced and gripping fantasy. ~ Asian – High School

We Free the Stars (Sands of Arawiya, 2)
by Hafsah Faizal

The battle on Sharr is over. The Arz has fallen. Altair may be captive, but Zafira, Nasir, and Kifah are bound for Sultan’s Keep, determined to finish the plan Altair set in motion: restoring the hearts of the Sisters of Old to the minarets of each caliphate, finally bringing magic to all of Arawiya. But they are low on resources and allies alike, and the kingdom teems with fear of the Lion of the Night’s return. As the zumra plots to overthrow Arawiya’s darkest threat, Nasir fights to command the magic in his blood. Time is running out, and if order is to be restored, drastic sacrifices will have to be made. Lush and striking, hopeful and devastating, We Free the Stars is the masterful conclusion to the Sands of Arawiya duology. ~ Asian – High School

Kneel
by Candace Buford

For Russell Boudreaux football is the only way out of his small town. He has one goal: to get a scholarship and play on the national stage. But when his best friend is unfairly arrested and kicked off the team, Rus faces an impossible choice: speak up or live in fear. Desperate for change, Rus kneels during the national anthem. In one instant, he falls from local stardom and becomes a target for hatred. But with the help of his best friend and an unlikely ally, Rus will fight for his dreams, and for justice. Kneel is a fearless debut novel that explores racism, injustice, and self-expression. ~ African – High School

The Gilded Ones
by Namina Forna

16-year-old Deka fears the blood ceremony that will determine whether she will become a member of her village. Already different from everyone else because of her unnatural intuition, Deka prays for red blood but on the day of the ceremony, her blood runs gold, the color of impurity–and Deka knows she will face a consequence worse than death. When a mysterious woman comes to her with a choice: stay in the village and submit to her fate, or leave to fight for the emperor in an army of girls just like her, Deka decides to leave the only life she’s ever known. But as she journeys to the capital to train for the biggest battle of her life, she discovers that nothing and no one are quite what they seem to be–not even Deka herself. The Gildes Ones is the first book in a dark feminist fantasy series for fans of Children of Blood and Bone. ~ African – High School

How Moon Fuentez Fell In Love With The Universe
by Raquel Vasquez Gilliland

When her twin sister reaches social media stardom, Moon Fuentez accepts her fate as the ugly, unwanted sister hidden in the background, destined to be nothing more than her sister’s camerawoman. But this summer, Moon also takes a job as the “merch girl” on a tour bus full of beautiful influencers and her fate begins to shift in the best way possible. How Moon Fuentez Fell In Love With The Universe is an irresistible romance starring a Mexican American teen who discovers love and profound truths about the universe while road tripping across the country. ~ Hispanic – High School

Concrete Rose
by Angie Thomas

If there’s one thing seventeen-year-old Maverick Carter knows, it’s that a real man takes care of his family. As the son of a former gang legend, Mav does that the only way he knows how: dealing for the King Lords. With this money he can help his mom, who works two jobs while his dad’s in prison. Life’s not perfect, but with a fly girlfriend and a cousin who always has his back, Mav’s got everything under control. Until, that is, Maverick finds out he’s a father. But it’s not so easy to sling dope, finish school, and raise a child. Concrete Rose is a searing and poignant exploration of Black boyhood that revisits Garden Heights seventeen years before the events of The Hate U Give. ~ African – High School

XOXO
by Axie Oh

Jenny’s never had much time for boys, or really anything besides her dream of being a professional cellist. That is, until the night she meets handsome and mysterious Jaewoo. Jenny spends an unforgettable evening wandering Los Angeles with him before he flies home to South Korea. When Jenny and her mother move to Seoul to take care of her ailing grandmother, who does she meet at the elite arts academy she’s just been accepted to? Turns out, Jaewoo is a member of one of the biggest K-pop bands in the world. And like most K-pop idols, Jaewoo is strictly forbidden from dating. XOXO is a heart-warming romance that proves chasing your dreams doesn’t have to mean sacrificing your heart. ~ Asian – High School

Sugar Town Queens
by Malla Nunn

Amandla’s mother believes her father will come back but in truth, he has long been gone–since before Amandla was born. It’s just one of the many reasons people in Sugar Town give them strange looks–that and the fact her mother is white and Amandla is Black. When Amandla finds a mysterious address in the bottom of her mother’s handbag along with a large amount of cash, she decides it’s finally time to get answers about her mother’s life. What she discovers will change the shape and size of her family forever. Sugar Town Queens is a stunning portrait of a family divided and a powerful story of how friendship saves and heals. ~ African – High School

Written in Starlight
by Isabel Ibañez

Catalina Quiroga has lost the Inkasisa throne, the loyalty of her people, and her best friend. Banished to the perilous Yanu Jungle, Catalina knows her chances of survival are slim. While running for her life, she is rescued by Manuel, the son of her former general. With his help, Catalina could find the city of gold that’s home to the fierce Illari people and strike a deal with them for an army to retake her throne. But the elusive Illari are fighting a battle of their own―a mysterious blight is corrupting the jungle. Catalina must reckon with her duty and her heart to find her true calling, which is key to stopping the corruption before it destroys the jungle completely. Sequel to Woven in Moonlight, Written In Starlight is a breathtaking story full of adventure and romance. ~ Hispanic – High School

Living Beyond Borders: Growing up Mexican in America
by Margarita Longoria

Living Beyond Borders is a collection of short stories, personal essays, poetry, and comics by celebrated Mexican American authors who share the borders they have crossed, the struggles they have pushed through, and the two cultures they continue to navigate. This memorable anthology is at once an eye-opening, heart-wrenching, and hopeful love letter from the Mexican American community to today’s young readers. ~ Hispanic – High School

How We Fall Apart
by Katie Zhao

Nancy Luo is shocked when her former best friend, Jamie Ruan, top-ranked junior at Sinclair Prep, goes missing, and then is found dead. Nancy is even more shocked when she and her friends–Krystal, Akil, and Alexander–become the prime suspects, thanks to “the Proctor” who anonymously incriminates them via the school’s social media app. The four friends must uncover the true killer before The Proctor exposes more than they can bear. How We Fall Apart is an edge-of-your-seat drama set in the pressure-cooker world of academics and image at Sinclair Prep. ~ Asian – High School

Tobyn: The It Girl #4 (Flyy Girls)
by Ashley Woodfolk

Tobyn Wolf’s dreams of becoming seem within reach when she meets Maybe Someday–an incredible all-female band–during a night out with her older sister, Devyn. Joining their band would be the perfect way to show off her amazing vocals. But her mom wants Tobyn to go to college and become a serious musician, not follow in Devyn’s footsteps and wind up a struggling artist. Can Tobyn prove to her mom that she knows what’s best, or will her dreams end up becoming a horrible nightmare? Tobyn: The It Girl is the fourth book in the dynamic Flyy Girls series about four Harlem high-schoolers, each facing a crossroads of friendship, family, and love. ~ African – High School

More in the series: Lux: The New Girl #1 // Micah: The Good Girl #2 // Noelle: The Mean Girl #3

Me (Moth)
by Amber McBride

Moth has lost her family in an accident. Though she lives with her aunt, she feels alone and uprooted. Until she meets Sani, a boy who is also searching for his roots. Moth and Sani take a road trip that has them chasing ghosts and searching for ancestors. The way each moves forward is surprising, powerful, and unforgettable. Me (Moth) is an uplifting novel-in-verse about identity, first love, and the ways that our memories and our roots steer us through the universe. ~ African – High School

For All Time
by Shanna Miles

Tamar is a musician, a warrior, a survivor. Fayard is a pioneer, a hustler, a hopeless romantic. Together, Tamar and Fayard have lived a thousand lives, seen the world build itself up from nothing only to tear itself down again. But in each life one thing remains the same: their love and their fight to be together. One love story after another. But they never get to see how their story ends. For All Time is a vivid, utterly romantic novel about two teens who relive their tragic love story over and over until they uncover what they must do to change their fate. ~ Diverse – High School

House of Glass Hearts
by Leila Siddiqui

Seamlessly blending history with myth, House of Glass Hearts follows a Pakistani-American teen’s ruthless quest to find her missing sibling, even if the truth would reveal her grandfather’s devastating secret and tear her family apart. In a narrative that switches between colonial India and present-day America, this ambitious debut explores how the horrors of the past continue to shape the lives of South Asians around the world. ~ Asian – High School

Rest Easy
by Warona Jolomba

Heartsick from the death of his mother and heartsore from breaking up with his girlfriend, Dee Warrington is barely getting by. Eccentric with mad style, Naya’s had straight As since the seventh grade, and when she makes a pinky promise, she means it. Both find themselves at Salvation Hill Nursing Home, volunteering during their summer break. There they meet Marie Delden―a former aspiring poet with a mysterious backstory. As Dee and Naya read through Marie’s poems, they begin to unravel Marie’s past . . . and discover their own future. Inspired by a true story, Rest Easy is a heartfelt tale of love and loss, and a bond that forms in the unlikeliest of places. ~ Diverse – High School

Beasts of Prey
by Ayana Gray

There’s no such thing as magic in the broken city of Lkossa, especially for sixteen-year-old Koffi, who holds a power within her that could only be described as magic—a power that if discovered could cost her life. Indentured to the notorious Night Zoo, Koffi knows the fearsome creatures in her care and paying off her family’s debts to secure their eventual freedom can be her only focus. But the night those she loves are gravely threatened by the Zoo’s cruel master, Koffi finally unleashes the power she doesn’t fully understand, upending her life completely. Beasts of Prey is richly woven story about two Black teenagers who journey into a magical jungle to hunt down the vicious monster who is threatening their home. ~ African – High School

Why We Fly
by Kimberly Jones

Cheerleaders and lifelong best friends Eleanor and Chanel have a lot on their minds. Eleanor is still recovering from a serious concussion from a failed cheer stunt. Chanel is dealing with the mounting pressure of college applications. But they have each other’s backs―just as always, until Eleanor’s new relationship with star quarterback Three starts a rift between them. The cheer squad’s decision to take a knee at the season’s first football game causes a larger fallout between the girls. As Eleanor and Chanel grapple with the weight of the consequences as well as their own problems, can the girls rely on their friendship? Why We Fly is a powerful story about friendship, privilege, sports, and protest. ~ African – High School

One-Punch Man, Vol. 23
by ONE

Nothing about Saitama screams superhero, from his lifeless expression to his bald head to his unimpressive physique. However, this average-looking guy has a not-so-average problem—he just can’t seem to find an opponent strong enough to take on! Narinki’s private force is now free from Super S’s control. Bushi Drill, Okama Itachi and Iaian plot their escape, but threat level Demon monster Malong Hair appears before they can flee, and a fierce fight breaks out. Elsewhere, their master Atomic Samurai encounters a creepy opponent! One-Punch Man is the 23rd book in this popular Manga comic book series. ~ Asian – High School

Feminist AF: A Guide to Crushing Girlhood
by B. Cooper, C. Craft Tanner & S. Morris

What do you do when you feel like your natural hair is ugly, or when classmates keep touching it? How do you handle your self-confidence if your family or culture prizes fair-skinned womxn over darker-skinned ones? How do you balance your identities if you’re an immigrant or the child of immigrants? How do you dress and present yourself in ways that feel good when society condemns anything outside of the norm? Covering colorism and politics, romance and pleasure, code switching, and sexual violence, Feminist AF is the empowering guide to living your feminism out loud. ~ Diverse – High School

Steelstriker (Skyhunter Duology)
by Marie Lu

As a Striker, Talin was taught loyalty is life. Loyalty to the Shield who watches your back, to the Strikers who risk their lives on the battlefield, and most of all, to Mara, which was once the last nation free from the Karensa Federation’s tyranny. But Mara has fallen. And its destruction has unleashed Talin’s worst nightmare. With her friends scattered by combat and her mother held captive by the Premier, Talin is forced to betray her fellow Strikers and her adopted homeland. She has no choice but to become the Federation’s most deadly war machine as their newest Skyhunter. Steelstriker is the riveting conclusion to the best-selling Skyhunter duet. ~ Asian – High School

The Beautiful Struggle (Adapted for Young Adults)
by Ta-Nehisi Coates

As a child, Ta-Nehisi Coates was seen by his father, Paul, as too sensitive and lacking focus. Paul Coates was a Vietnam vet who’d been part of the Black Panthers and was dedicated to reading and publishing the history of African civilization. When it came to his sons, he was committed to raising proud Black men equipped to deal with a racist society, during a turbulent period in the collapsing city of Baltimore where they lived. Adapted from his adult memoir, The Beautiful Struggle details the author’s challenges of dealing with his tough-love father, the influence of his mother, and the dynamics of his extended family. ~ African – High School

The Awakening of Malcolm X: A Novel
by Ilyasah Shabazz & Tiffany D. Jackson

In Charlestown Prison, Malcolm Little is plagued by nightmares and drifts through the days, unsure of his future. Slowly, he starts to befriend other prisoners, reads all the books in the prison library, and joins the debate team and the Nation of Islam. Malcolm grapples with race, politics, religion, and justice in the 1940s. And as his time in jail comes to an end, he begins to awaken. Written by his daughter, The Awakening of Malcolm X is an intimate and powerful account of the activist’s adolescent years in jail. ~ African – High School