Review! (Graphic Novel Edition!) - Limbo, Volume 1

Title: Limbo, Vol 1

Author: Dan Watters

Artist: Caspar Wijngaard

Genre: Graphic Novel, Fantasy*, Crime*, Horror* (*ish)

Series: Limbo (#1-6)

Amazon: UK - USA

A few starting notes:

I received a free digital review copy of this book via NetGalley. NetGalley provides review copies from publishers in exchange for fair and honest reviews.

This graphic novel sees itself as 'neon-noir' and, well... I just had to find out more!

Premise:

Clay is a private detective. He also can't remember who the hell he actually is.

And, between the femme fatale, the crime-lord, the craziness of Dedande City, and his voodoo priestess room-mate, Clay's going to have a rough couple of days...

Best bits:

This book has a style all its own.

The visuals are really something (and yes, neon-noir is a great way of describing it - think MTV meets Stephen King,) and the whole layers-of-plot, layers-of-being thing? Wow.

Yes, my dearest nerdlets, this gets a bit metaphysical/existentialist. But that's ok.

It's nice to have something with layers of meaning - you gotta love stuff that makes you think.

And it's not pretentious, and does a fair amount of random sh**, just to keep it all interesting! ;)

But back to the visuals - what we have here is the bold touch of monochrome mixed with Las Vegas neons.

I know - it doesn't sound like it makes sense, much less that it should work. It sounds like the epitome of a chocolate teapot.

But it works. Somehow. Someway. It works.

I also like the mix of cultural elements going on here - all of the technology is stuck firmly in the 1980s; I'm talking VHS and cassette tapes, landline phones, y'know - pre-Internet.

Combined with this we have elements of a voodoo-based mythology, and elements of a Day of the Dead style mythology, with a smidge of some other stuff for good luck.

The plot is... well it's certainly unique! Again, I actually really liked the whole layers-upon-layers deal-y going on - levels of meaning and all that jazz!

Not so great bits:

Honesty time - for some people, all of the trippy visuals and bizarre goings-on is going to be just too 'out-there.'

(I wish those people well, but know that I will never be one of them!)

There's also a butt-tonne of swearing, loads of gore/violence, and the odd 'adult' reference. So, y'know, I've done my duty and told you nice folks - up to you what you do with the info.

I did find a little... out of control? loose? - at times. There was just a touch of the sense that the tangles of the plot might be getting out of hand at times.

Largely, with a plot so far-out as this, that isn't much of a problem, though.
(Certainly, if I'd attempted this, it would have devolved into chaos pretty damn quick!)

I also felt like we maybe weren't getting the depth of character required?

Now, I know there was hints of a lot of backstory. But we were left with very little idea of what the backstory was by the end, which, along with the lack of all that much character development, left that side of things a little under-done.

Still, there's the potential for that to improve in future instalments, so s'all good :)

Verdict:

This is... well, there's no two ways about it: this is impressive.

It's ambitious, unique, highly stylised... and I can't wait to read more!

Buy Now UK – Buy Now USA – Goodreads

Liked this post? Try these:

• Review (Graphic Novel Edition!) - Mythic, Vol 1
• Review (Graphic Novel Edition!) - Monstress, Volume 1: Awakening

Nerd Church - Sometimes You Need A Sense of Perspective

The Olympics is great. I said as much last week when I talked about how inspiring it can be.

But there's another side of it.

When Sir Philip Craven announced that Russia would be banned from the Paralympics, he said this:

"...The Russian government has catastrophically failed its para-athletes. Their 'medals over morals' mentality disgusts me. The complete corruption of the anti-doping system is contrary to the rules and strikes at the very heart of the spirit of Paralympic sport.

It shows a blatant disregard for the health and wellbeing of athletes and, quite simply, has no place in Paralympic sport..."





Now, I'm not here to debate the rights and wrongs of the ban, or whether the Olympics should've done the same, or the whole Russian doping controversy, or whatever.

No, what I'm here to talk about is 'medals over morals.'






Because the reason doping happens (and I'm sorry, but it has to be said,) is because people put winning a medal over everything else.

Focus is good. Ambition is good. But, to me, there seems to be no sense of perspective in sport. And athletes desperately need that back.

Someone will always come last. It's physically impossible for everyone to come first.






The reason you are competing should not be to win a medal - as crazy as that may sound. The reason you compete should be to show the possibilities of human achievement - to do the best that you can. And to be proud, whether you come in 1st or 50th.

The problem doesn't just come from the athletes - but from the countries they come from. People like to prove that their country is 'better' - and yes, it's always nice to win medals.

But, in the grand scheme of things, it's not worth the risk to your health of cheating... or the risk to your health of carrying on when you're hurt (something which is permitted, and even admired, when it is oh so stupid.)

If you drop out with injury today, there will still be other races, other matches, other competitions. If you carry on, and do yourself permanent damage (or, heaven forbid, worse,) then you are actually shortening your career, or even your life.

And there are some sports which should be looking after their athletes more generally: boxing being a prime example. Constant blows to the head will cause long-term brain damage.

Blows to the head can kill you. So why, when cyclists wear helmets, don't boxers do the same? Because it's less exciting? Is that really a reason to risk all the damage than can be done?

Long endurance events, if done often enough, can actually damage your heart. Yet we seem to encourage people to do marathons over and over again. When did reaching for the stars start to mean burning your hands?






Yes, yes, yes - we've all heard 'no pain, no gain' and similarly reductionist mantras. I'm not saying we shouldn't try to achieve, to get fit, etc. - of course we should.

What I'm saying is that this loss of perspective - the fact, for example, that we've forgotten that an Olympic medal is not worth your health - is what's led to the corruption and doping in sport.






And this is what needs to be changed if the problem is ever to go away. We have to stop with the at-any-cost 'medals over morals' mentality. It's ok to come last - someone has to.

Like this post? Try these:

• Nerd Church - Step By Step
• Nerd Church - Getting Back Up Again (And Again, And Again, And...)

The 'Lympic Dweam (A Guest Post By Xena-Cat*)

*as interpreted by the hooman who knows which buttons are atchally sposed to be hit on the keyboard.... Oh, and cuddles me and feeds me and stuff.

[Note from the mentioned hooman: thanks for that Xe-Xe.]

My dweam was to be a 'Lympic athlete. I never made any secret of my ambitions. All that twaining! All of that running up and down the stairs at 3 in the mornin'! Wasted!

I hurted my leg (or possibly my paw... I like to keep the hoomans guessing) about a week ago now. No-one is sadder than me 'bout dis. My little dweams of Rio are dashed! And there are sooooo many birds in Brazil! It's not fair!





I'm not even allowed outside into my own garden - because the vet is a big meanie who said I have to stay in until my sprain heals. My husband - Jango - he's allowed out. And he doesn't even know how to play propers without me!

Plus, I can't hit (or kiss) his butt if he's outside and I'm stuck in here. (My man has the bestest butt - it's one of the reasons I love him.) But we have got lots of practice at playing Romeo and Juliet through the window.

Jango's really handsome, he's the bestest Romeo there is.






Anyways, cos of I gots lots of time on my paws, I bin watchin' 'Lympics. I wish I was there, but I can at least critique the silly hoomans who think they're better than me (they're not; as well as an athlete, I'm also a ninja-cat! I cannot be seen in the dark! I has all the twaining!)

I think that the bestest events are the ones with balls. Balls are awesome, and you can watch them going back and fore. Balls are the bestest. Much better than the hoomans - and maybe even better than Jango... but not better than Jango's butt.

The athletics is good cos of people running - and I likes running. But they're not as fast as me!!!!!!!! [Hooman note: Xena likes to run around like an idiot, even though she's still limping (sigh)]






I like the gymnastics - but they don't have enough scratching posts or trees. I mean, silly people, how can you be proper gymnast without trees and garage roofs?

The rowing is good to watch because they have sticks! STICKS! STICKS THAT MOVEEEE!!!!!! I likes sticks >.< [Hooman note: Xena's favourite prey is in fact pieces of plants. To date she has brought home various sticks, and leaves, a berry, and a catkin. Jango is the one who brings dead things; and then she flirts with him and tells him how manly he is.]







Anyhows, all of the events would be bettererer with kitties. Especially me! I may have missed my chance this time, but I'll only be 7 in 2020. Bring it on Tokyo! Meow!

About Xena

Xena is an ex-Cats Protection tortoiseshell cat with a heart of gold and a mind full of mischief. She is the mother of one son, who found his new home before she found hers. She is a sweet little girl who loves to play and kiss her husband, Jango, the love of her life. She's one half of the best pair of cats a nerdgirl could hope for.

Her hobbies include bringing in pieces of trees, 'twaining for the 'Lympics' and blaming Jango when she doesn't get her way.

This is the only time she's ever written a blogpost. The jury is out on whether she'll be allowed to do so again.

Friday Fics Fix - Pure Comfort (With Some Randomness)

If you are a) a human bean and b) old enough to use the computer by yourself, then at some point in your life you will've had the misfortune of having a cold.

(If you're not old enough to use the computer by yourself  then you're definitely too young to read fanfiction. RUN.)

So, this week I've had the misfortune of having a horrible cold - you know the kind that feels like about a hundred hangovers? Yeah, all the pain with none of the fun of doing the actual drinking.

(I blame all the blogging, reading, troll-hunting, and ninja-assassin-princess-ing I was doing last week.

Exhaustion let's viruses in the back-door while the guards are snoozing or relieving themselves around a corner someplace.)

Luckily, when life hands you sh*tty colds, fandom hands you a sick fic.

As I've mentioned before, sick fics are basically pure comfort. They're essentially the fangirling equivalent of a teddy bear and a cup of hot chocolate in front of your favourite film.

Sick fics are when one character in the fanfiction is ill, and basically has to be looked after and waited on hand-and-foot (usually by a hunky dude. See? Perfect wish-fulfilment.)

(Why do fictional characters get all the hunky nurse-maids? Not fair!)

via GIPHY

This sick-fic is a leeettle bit different though ;)

There's still the self-indulgence of a sick fic, but there's also a bunch of superhero-ing and magic gone awry!

And there's a Loki/Avengers love-triangle. Which is awesome, because it is a) awkward and b) well done.

And this definitely verges on crack everywhere in places.

(Fangirling note:

'Crack fics' are pieces of fanfiction with an element of randomness. As in, 'Man, were you on crack?' or 'You'd have to be on crack to come up with that,' or 'Dude, how much crack did you take before writing this?')

Fear not non-fans of crack! There's enough other stuff going on here for you too (and it's actually funny, unlike a lot of crack, which is just disturbing.)

This week's fic then, is:
The Loki Problem by elizamechanicka





...In which Loki catches a cold, his magic goes mental, and chaos ensues.

There's also much swearing, and a bunch of references to sexy-times.






And dude, it made me feel so much better. (Cos my cold's never turned anyone into a guinea pig #Brightside.)

via GIPHY

Like this post? Try these:

• Friday Fics Fix - A Little Remedy
• Friday Fics Fix - It's So Fluffy I'm Gonna Die!

Comics Wrap Up - Gallons of the Stuff

TV Trailers


Here's Netflix's trailer for their adaptation of Marvel's Luke Cage:

Looks pretty cool. Unfortunately, I still don't have Netflix.

And before everyone starts going 'it's only x-pounds per month' let me remind you that I don't have a lot of money. And the money I do have goes on books. 

Luckily, since I live in my parents' house, I mooch off of their Sky+ a lot ;)

Graphic Novels

This week I read Vertigo's First Offenses (UK - US) which is more an anthology of single issues than a graphic novel, but I'm totally putting it in this section (because I feel like it dammit!)

So, like I said, this is made up of single issues. 5 series starters from Vertigo's versatile range of devil-may-care comics:

• The Invisibles #1
• Fables #1
• Preacher #1
• Sandman Mystery Theatre #1
• Lucifer #1

My favourites had to be... Preacher #1 and Lucifer #1.

Both are kind of based in subverted religious iconography - so I really don't know what that says about me! But they were pretty damned good, and I may read more of these series in the future.

All in all, a good little selection - and it really shows the quality of the Vertigo imprint :)

Other Stuff

I've just finished an excellent essay collection - Last Night, A Superhero Saved My Life (UK - US) - edited by Liesa Mignona, about how superheroes make a difference to every-day life. It's great.

I'll be reviewing it soon :)

-0-

I also kind of binge-read all of Linda Sejic's Blood Stain series on DeviantArt - not as convenient as waiting for the collected volume (read my review of vol 1 here) but like the crazy-a*s fangirl dedicated reader that I am, I read the whole thing :)

I also managed to scare my cat (the fluffy white boy-cat, Jango, in case you're familiar with my cats) by laughing at it at a random moment.

And I managed to succeed in being exceptionally awkward and tagging a random instead of Linda on Twitter! (I need the Coffee God now Linda... please?)

Like this post? Try These:

• Review! (Graphic Novel Edition!) - Blood Stain, Vol 1
• Comics Wrap Up - This'N'That

Mini-Review! - Switched by Amanda Hocking

Title: Switched

Author: Amanda Hocking

Genre: YA, Fantasy, Paranormal* (*ish)

Series: Trylle Trilogy #1

Amazon: UK - USA

Verdict:

This book is nuttier than a squirrel's hoard.

OK, so we have mademoiselle-YA-heroine Wendy. Who is completely unlikeable and pretty abrasive. When she's not whining, she's making truly stupid decisions.

But then, she's a YA heroine, and these things happen.

Then Wendy finds out she's a troll (I know - what?!) and a changeling-child t'boot.

She moves in with the other trolls, and we find out that she's about the nicest and least whiny of all of the trolls - who knew?

Everyone continues to make stupid-a*s decisions, although there is a ray of intelligence at the end - which I can't go into, cos, y'know, it'd get spoiler-y.

Sometimes I questioned why I was still reading it but... I just couldn't seem to help myself.

You know when you see an accident? And you know you shouldn't stare, but you can't look away? It's that feeling.

I shouldn't've wanted to keep reading... but I did.

Oh and those of you who hate/love/love-to-hate/hate-to-love love triangles?

Yeah, this book actually has more of a love rectangle/multi-sided shape... comprised mainly of Wendy and countless broody mystery-dudes. (There are a lot of them. Turns out teenage trolls are naturally pi*sy.)

Other girls also fancy various members of the broody-dude-troop. See? Multi-sided love-shape. (I don't even know.)

There's some violence, and eternally-thwarted sexy-times of one type and another. (Troll society is one massive chastity belt as far as Wendy's concerned.)

There might be swearing... but I honestly can't remember, so if there was it passed me by. It's possible that there was the odd 'cr*p' in there, I really don't know.

If you read this, you will enjoy it... you just won't necessarily want to enjoy it.

*Shrugs* - sometimes you need some absolutely crackers YA, if you love it, go for it.

I liked it. I really don't know why.

Buy Now UK – Buy Now USA – Goodreads – Author's Site

Liked this post? Try these:

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• Mini-Review - One by Sarah Crossan

The Bookish Diversity Link List 2016

I'm uber-impressed by how awesome-sauce the discussions about bookish diversity and recommendations for diverse books are all over the bookish nooks and crannies of the interwebs.

So, because I have a tendency to take on enormous tasks (which this time will (hopefully) be beneficial for the bookish community at large,) I decided to put together a link-list of helpful diversity discussion and rec. lists.







Obviously, this list is far from comprehensive (I'm one freaking person!) but with your help, I'm hoping to expand it - I'll keep this list updated until the end of 2016, and will start a new list in 2017 (Just so that it doesn't get too big for me to manage - because anxiety is a b**ch, and I'm already worrying about the size of this task.)

The 2017 list will link to the 2016 list, so you won't miss all the stuff that'll end up in here! (See? Sometimes I'm downright smartical XD )









So what counts? Well, a variety of stuff, but just as an example:

• Discussion YouTube/Booktube videos
• Discussion blogposts
• Lists of authors
• Lists of diverse books
• Goodreads lists
• Articles about diverse books
• Interviews with diverse authors and/or about diversity in books

Some stuff that DOESN'T count:

• Book reviews (although link-ups and lists of reviews are acceptable, this isn't a place for individual reviews)
• Amazon/Goodreads etc. links to individual books
• Non-bookish stuff
• Spam

What counts as diversity?

This is a tough one - and everyone will have their own definitions, but just as a rough guide:

• Person of colour (PoC) authors, protagonists, topics
• LGBTQ+ authors, protagonists, topics
• Disabled characters, authors, topics
• Dealing with themes of mental illness and mental health
• Religious diversity in books (non-Christian religions) (please no sacred texts or evangelism.)
• Traveller and Romani topics and peoples
• Indigenous and native peoples

Doubtless I've missed something out, but just ask if you have a question.









This is a directory - a resource. Pick things that interest you, and check them out, a little at a time. You don't have to check out all of these links.

...Because your brain may very well explode if you try to read all of this at once. Believe me.

This is meant to be somewhere you can come to find out about diverse books - not to become overwhelmed and disengaged; pace yourself! :)

(You may want to bookmark the page so that you can get back to it easily. #JustSaying)

My aim here is to make this a resource where people can enter diversity discussions, and discover diverse books.

I reserve the right to not include, or to remove, links deemed inappropriate, offensive, or overly-negative or aggressive in tone.

I'm aiming for quality, and meaningful discussion, here so if something is incoherent (i.e. so poorly spelt that it's unreadable,) or you wouldn't recommend it to a friend to read/watch/whatever, please don't recommend it here.

I'll try to update the list at least once a month - but please be patient. Remember to check back regularly to see new links.

I am not responsible for the content of external sites. Views don't necessarily reflect my own. I've tried to include a range of views.




(Sorry if there are any mistakes... I've fallen asleep making this list more than once! It's hard work!)

One thing to start:

I would never have had this idea if it weren't for Naz's truly amazing Read Diverse Books* blog. If you want to find out more about diverse books, start there. XD

*2019 - Naz's blog is no longer at that domain.






General

All Our Worlds - Diverse Fantastic Fiction - a resource for diverse Sci-Fi, Fantasy, and Speculative fiction

We Need Diverse Books
We Need Diverse Books (YouTube Channel)

Disability in Kidlit - website dedicated to representations of disability (inc. mental illness, learning disabilities, and non-neuro-typical people,) in Young Adult and Middle Grade (kids') books; ADDED 20TH OCTOBER

Rich In Color - website dedicated to YA by or about People of Colour (PoC) and Indigenous Peoples; ADDED 7TH NOVEMBER







YouTube/BookTube Discussion Videos

General

#Diverseathon: Safe vs. Uncomfortable Choices - excellent video about the choices we make when we read diverse books, and the importance of hearing own voices experience, using two books about Native American peoples as an example; Insert Literary Pun Here; running time - 6.18; ADDED 21ST SEPTEMBER
Bad English Major (aka I Need to Read Diverse Books) - Monica Fumarolo; reasons the BookTuber believes she needs to read more diversely; running time - 4.46
Default: A talk on the lack of diversity in literature | Marsha Niemeijer | TEDxYouth@ISBangkok - discussion of the default image in YA in particular as one of a white, able-bodied, cis-het person; running time - 11.25; ADDED 30TH AUGUST





Indigenous Peoples
(also see People of Colour (PoC))

Native Americans

#Diverseathon: Safe vs. Uncomfortable Choices - excellent video about the choices we make when we read diverse books, and the importance of hearing own voices experience, using two books about Native American peoples as an example; Insert Literary Pun Here; running time - 6.18; ADDED 21ST SEPTEMBER

LGBTQ+

General

LGBTQ+ Representation in Books | Alex Bertie  - Penguin Platform; a guest video on the channel of a major publisher for Pride Month June 2016 about the way LGBTQ+ lives are represented in books; running time - 2.27
The rise of LGBT literature for teens - Newsnight - BBC Newsnight; feature from 2015 on changing attitudes & more acceptance for LGBTQ+ YA fiction - inc. video clips of historical (1980s) homophobia (note: deadnames Juno Dawson due to production being pre-Transition;) running time - 6.30





People of Colour (PoC)
(also see Indigenous Peoples)

General

Coloring Books | Ty Allan Jackson | TEDxAlbany - amazing talk on the importance of PoC characters in children's books; running time - 16.36; ADDED 31ST AUGUST
Diversity in YA || It's Terrible and I'm Sick of It - heyitsolive; a discussion of diversity in YA fiction with a focus on racial diversity; running time - 5.36
Lack of Diversity in YA | Discussion - Paige's Pages; a discussion of racial diversity in YA fiction; running time - 12.06

Lists


Disability
(also see Mental Illness/Mental Health, Non Neuro-Typical/Autistic Spectrum, and Learning Disabilities)




Albinism

Albinism shelf - Disability in Kidlit's Goodreads shelf for albinism; ADDED 23RD OCTOBER

ALS

ALS shelf - Disability in Kidlit's Goodreads shelf for ALS; ADDED 23RD OCTOBER

Alzheimer's Disease (also under Mental Illness/Mental Health)

Alzheimer's shelf - Disability in Kidlit's Goodreads shelf for Alzheimer's Disease; ADDED 23RD OCTOBER

Amnesia (also under Mental Illness/Mental Health)

Amnesia shelf - Disability in Kidlit's Goodreads shelf for Amnesia; ADDED 23RD OCTOBER




Amputees

Amputees (arm/hand) shelf - Disability in Kidlit's Goodreads shelf for books with characters with amputated arms or hands; ADDED 1ST NOVEMBER
Amputees (leg/foot) shelf - Disability in Kidlit's Goodreads shelf for books with characters with amputated legs or feet; ADDED 1ST NOVEMBER




Aphasia (also under learning disabilities)

Aphasia shelf - Disability in Kidlit's Goodreads shelf for aphasia; ADDED 1ST NOVEMBER



Asthma

Asthma shelf - Disability in Kidlit's Goodreads shelf for asthma; ADDED 1ST NOVEMBER



Blindness/Visual Impairment

Blind in One Eye Shelf - Disability in Kidlit's Goodreads shelf for blindness in one eye; ADDED 7th NOVEMBER
Blind/Visually Impaired Shelf- Disability in Kidlit's Goodreads shelf for blind/visually impaired; ADDED 7th NOVEMBER
Blindness in YA - Goodreads list from user Holly; ADDED 12TH NOVEMBER



Brain Injury (also under learning disabilities, and mental health/mental illness)

Brain Injury Shelf - Disability in Kidlit's Goodreads shelf for brain injuiry; ADDED 7th NOVEMBER

Cancer

Cancer Shelf - Disability in Kidlit's Goodreads shelf for cancer; ADDED 7th NOVEMBER




Cardiomyopathy

Cardiomyopathy Shelf - Disability in Kidlit's Goodreads shelf for cardiomyopathy; ADDED 7th NOVEMBER



Cerebral Palsy/CP

Cerebral Palsy Shelf - Disability in Kidlit's Goodreads shelf for cerebral palsy; ADDED 7th NOVEMBER

Chronic Fatigue

Chronic Fatigue Shelf - Disability in Kidlit's Goodreads shelf for chronic fatigue; ADDED 7th NOVEMBER



Chronic Illness

Books for Children with Chronic Illness - Goodreads list from user Diane; ADDED 20TH NOVEMBER

Chronic Illness Shelf - Disability in Kidlit's Goodreads shelf for chronic illness; ADDED 7th NOVEMBER



Chronic Pain

Chronic Pain Shelf - Disability in Kidlit's Goodreads shelf for chronic pain; ADDED 7th NOVEMBER



Congenital Insensitivity to Pain/CIP

CIP Shelf - Disability in Kidlit's Goodreads shelf for CIP; ADDED 8th NOVEMBER





Clubfoot

Clubfoot Shelf - Disability in Kidlit's Goodreads shelf for clubfoot; ADDED 8th NOVEMBER





Colon Disorder

Colon Disorder Shelf - Disability in Kidlit's Goodreads shelf for colon disorder; ADDED 8th NOVEMBER

Colour-Blindness

Colour-Blindness Shelf - Disability in Kidlit's Goodreads shelf for Colour-Blindness; ADDED 10th NOVEMBER

Conjoined Twins

Conjoined Twins Shelf - Disability in Kidlit's Goodreads shelf for Conjoined Twins; ADDED 10th NOVEMBER

Crohn's Disease

Crohn's Disease Shelf - Disability in Kidlit's Goodreads shelf for Crohn's Disease; ADDED 20th NOVEMBER

Cystic Fibrosis

Cystic Fibrosis Shelf - Disability in Kidlit's Goodreads shelf for Cystic Fibrosis; ADDED 20th NOVEMBER



Deafness

Deaf (Hard of Hearing) Shelf - Disability in Kidlit's Goodreads shelf for Deaf (Hard of Hearing); ADDED 20th NOVEMBER
Deaf (One Ear) Shelf - Disability in Kidlit's Goodreads shelf for Deaf (One Ear); ADDED 20th NOVEMBER



Deformity
Deformity Shelf - Disability in Kidlit's Goodreads shelf for Deformity; ADDED 9th DECEMBER

Dementia (also under mental illness/mental health)
Dementia Shelf - Disability in Kidlit's Goodreads shelf for Dementia; ADDED 9th DECEMBER

General

6 Books About Disability I Really Want To Read - list from Ely @ Tea & Titles; ADDED 20TH OCTOBER
Best Gay Romance With A Character(s) Who Has a Disability - Goodreads list from user Michael; ADDED 20TH NOVEMBER
Books Written by Disabled Authors - Goodreads list from user Aubrey; ADDED 12TH NOVEMBER
Honor Roll - A list of recommended books from the Disability In Kidlit website, often updated, with options to filter by age-range, genre, disability, and publication year; ADDED 21ST OCTOBER
Seven MG/YA Novels Featuring Disabled Black Protagonists - list from the Disability in Kidlit Tumblr account; ADDED 21ST OCTOBER
Seven Non-Contemporary Fantasy YA Novels With Disabled Protagonists - list from the Disability in Kidlit Tumblr account; ADDED 8TH NOVEMBER
Stories about Individuals with Disabilities - Goodreads list from user Amy Plaks
Ten Historical MG/YA Novels With Disabled Protagonists - list of kid-friendly historical fiction with disabled protagonists, from the Disability in Kidlit Tumblr account; ADDED 21ST OCTOBER
Ten YA Novels Featuring Disabled Women of Color as Protagonists - list from the Disability in Kidlit Tumblr account; ADDED 1ST NOVEMBER







Eastern European (Both Heritage & Nationality)*

General

Best Novels From Eastern Europe - Goodreads list from user Piet Michael; ADDED 31ST AUGUST

Polish

Polish Books Published In English - Goodreads list from user Kinga; ADDED 31ST AUGUST

* 'Cee, why is this here? Eastern Europeans are largely white, yes? There's lots of white people in literature.'

Yes. Yes there are. Eastern Europeans (particularly from outside of Russia)? Not so much.

Also, this is a group of people increasingly facing prejudice and hate crime in the UK. People are being attacked and killed for being Polish and/or Eastern European. So this is my small contribution to a change in attitude.






General

The Ultimate Diverse Books List - Naz @ Read Diverse Books' master-list of lists from 'The Diverse Books Tag;' he collects them all, so I don't have to! ;)

#YouGotDiverseBooks - The amazing Juno Dawson's YA diversity list
9 Publishers Who Promote Diversity And Uplift Writers Of Color - Blogpost from Naz @ Read Diverse Books
12 Blogs That Promote Diverse Books and Authors - Blogpost from Naz @ Read Diverse Books
12 Diverse Nonfiction Books That Will Educate and Inspire - Blogpost from Naz @ Read Diverse Books - ADDED 23RD AUGUST
A Diverse #SummerReading List For Kids - a list of picture books etc. with diverse characters from NPR
A Search For Diversity - a growing list of diverse books from Jolien @ The Fictional Reader; ADDED 13TH NOVEMBER
Diverse Books Resource List - List of a bunch of lists (not a dissimilar idea to this, actually) from Ava Jae @ Writability
Diversity in Fantasy and Science Fiction - Goodreads list from user Coolcurry
Diversity in Young Adult and Middle Grade - Goodreads list from user Emilia
Diversity Is Not A Trend – 15 Blogs and Websites Committed To Diversity In Literature Year-Round -  Blogpost from Naz @ Read Diverse Books
MG/YA/NA #ownvoices - Goodreads list of Middle Grade, Young Adult, and New Adult books written both about & by diverse authors, from user Dahlia
Looking To Diversify Your Reading History? Read These 20 Books To Get Started. - Blogpost from Naz @ Read Diverse Books; '10 Young Adult and 10 Adult Fiction books for those who are genuinely interested in seeking out diverse voices in literature, but don’t know where to start.'
Ultimate List of Diverse Book Lists - mainly kids book lists; list from Thien-Kim @ I'm Not The Nanny; ADDED 8TH SEPTEMBER

Learning Disabilities
(also see Mental Illness/Mental Heath, Non Neuro-Typical/Autistic Spectrum, and Disabilities)
     

ADHD (also under mental illness/mental health)
      
ADHD shelf - Disability in Kidlit's Goodreads shelf for ADHD; ADDED 23RD OCTOBER

Aphasia (also under disabilities)

Aphasia shelf - Disability in Kidlit's Goodreads shelf for aphasia; ADDED 1ST NOVEMBER

Brain Injury (also under disabilities, and mental health/mental illness)

Brain Injury Shelf - Disability in Kidlit's Goodreads shelf for brain injuiry; ADDED 7th NOVEMBER

LGBTQ+

Asexual

3 on a YA Theme: Asexuality - Bookriot list from Kelly JensEn; ADDED 12TH OCTOBER
5 Tips and Tricks To Writing Asexual Characters - Gay YA post; ADDED 24TH OCTOBER
Asexuals In Fiction - Goodreads list from user Tiffany Rose
Books With Asexual Spectrum F/F Romances - Goodreads list from user Quartzen; ADDED 12TH NOVEMBER


Bisexual

100 Must-Read Lesbian and Bisexual Women Books - excellent list from Danika Ellis @ Book Riot; ADDED 1ST NOVEMBER
15 YAs Celebrating Bisexuality - list from Dahlia Adler @ BNTeenBlog; ADDED 19TH SEPTEMBER

An Alternative School Reading List: Here Is Every YA Novel With Lesbians - from Jill Guccini @ After Ellen; also includes books with bisexual female characters; ADDED 12TH OCTOBER
Bisexual Authors - Goodreads list from user Sylwia
Bisexual Fiction by Bisexual Authors - Goodreads list from user Verity Ritchie
Fiction about lesbian, bisexual, and queer women of color - Goodreads list from user Melinda; ADDED 20TH NOVEMBER
Kick off Bisexual Awareness Week with 12 2016 YA Books - list from Dahlia Adler @ BNTeenBlog; ADDED 20TH SEPTEMBER
Lesbian & Bi Women with Mental Illness - Goodreads list from user Danika at The Lesbrary; ADDED 30TH AUGUST



F/F (lists focussed on female/female romance)


Books With Asexual Spectrum F/F Romances - Goodreads list from user Quartzen; ADDED 12TH NOVEMBER
F/F in Fantasy - Goodreads list from user Liz for F/F in the fantasy genre; ADDED 12TH NOVEMBER
F/F YA w/ happy endings - Goodreads list from user Miriasha Borsykowsy; ADDED 20TH NOVEMBER

Gay

Best Gay Fiction - Goodreads list from user Charlie
Best Gay Romance With A Character(s) Who Has a Disability - Goodreads list from user Michael; ADDED 20TH NOVEMBER
Ten Gay Characters From African Literature That Everyone Should Know - list from Zahrah Nesbitt-Ahmed and Dele Meiji Fatunla @ Whats_On Africa; ADDED 2ND OCTOBER
Young Adult Fiction With Gay/Lesbian Content, 1969 - 2009: A Chronological Bibliography - huge list from Christine A Jenkins; ADDED 13TH OCTOBER




General & Queer


13 Under-the-Radar LGBTQ YA Must-Reads - list from Dahlia Adler @ BNTeenBlog; ADDED 12TH OCTOBER
2015 Over the Rainbow List: 78 LGBT for Adult Readers - list from GLBTRT @ ALA @ Over The Rainbow Books; ADDED 13TH OCTOBER
2015 Rainbow Book List - list of LGBTQ+ books for children and teens from GLBTRT @ ALA @ Rainbow Books; ADDED 13TH OCTOBER
2016 Over the Rainbow List: 68 LGBT for Adult Readers - list from GLBTRT @ ALA @ Over The Rainbow Books; ADDED 13TH OCTOBER
2016 Rainbow Book List - list of LGBTQ+ books for children and teens from GLBTRT @ ALA @ Rainbow Books; ADDED 13TH OCTOBER
8 Middle Grade Books with LGBTQ Characters - Casey @ Autostraddle; ADDED 27TH NOVEMBER
Contemporary LGBTQA Books Dealing With Mental Illness - Goodreads list from user T T Kove; ADDED 12TH NOVEMBER
Fiction about lesbian, bisexual, and queer women of color - Goodreads list from user Melinda; ADDED 20TH NOVEMBER
In Honor of Orlando: 10 Books That Celebrate Queer Latinx Identity -  Blogpost from Naz @ Read Diverse Books
Indian LGBTQ Books - from My Book Jacket @ Books & Strips; ADDED 9TH DECEMBER
QUILTBAG Compendium - list of LGBTQ+ publishers, book blogs, rec lists, resources, agents/editors, and book recommendations from Dahlia Adler @ Daily Dahlia; ADDED 12TH OCTOBER
LGBT in the Middle East - Goodreads list from user Melinda
LGBT Webcomics - Goodreads list from user Potatoe; ADDED 23RD OCTOBER
LGBTQIA+ YA Masterlist - List from GayYA
LGBTQIAP+ Books By and About People who Identify as LGBTQIAP+ - List from Dahlia Adler @ The Daily Dahlia; ADDED 12TH OCTOBER
LGBTQI YA Reads of 2016 - Goodreads list from user Petra (Safari Poet) - ADDED 24TH AUGUST
More YA and YA-friendly Books About LGBT Characters of Color - List by Malindo Lo; ADDED 12TH OCTOBER
Normal Blood Feelings: 5 Dark (and Sometimes Sexy) Queer Vampire Stories - List of queer female vampire stories by Carolyn @ Autostraddle; ADDED 27TH NOVEMBER
Stonewall Book Awards List - FULL list of LGBTQ+ books (fiction and non-fiction) honoured by Stonewall since 1971
YA Books About LGBT Characters of Color - List by Malindo Lo; ADDED 12TH OCTOBER




Lesbian

100 Must-Read Lesbian and Bisexual Women Books - excellent list from Danika Ellis @ Book Riot; ADDED 1ST NOVEMBER
An Alternative School Reading List: Here Is Every YA Novel With Lesbians - from Jill Guccini @ After Ellen; also includes books with bisexual female characters; ADDED 12TH OCTOBER
Best Lesbian Graphic Novels - Goodreads list from user AJ
Chicana/Latina Lesbian Books - Goodreads list from user Danika at The Lesbrary; ADDED 31ST AUGUST
Fiction about lesbian, bisexual, and queer women of color - Goodreads list from user Melinda; ADDED 20TH NOVEMBER
Lesbian & Bi Women with Mental Illness - Goodreads list from user Danika at The Lesbrary; ADDED 30TH AUGUST
Young Adult Fiction With Gay/Lesbian Content, 1969 - 2009: A Chronological Bibliography - huge list from Christine A Jenkins; ADDED 13TH OCTOBER




M/M (lists focussed on male/male romance)

Best Gay Romance With A Character(s) Who Has a Disability - Goodreads list from user Michael; ADDED 20TH NOVEMBER
M/M Books Written by Men - Goodreads list from user Nemesis; ADDED 12TH NOVEMBER

Transgender


Romance Featuring Trans Characters - Goodreads list from user Megan; ADDED 12TH NOVEMBER
Trans Books by Trans Authors - Goodreads list from user Danika at The Lesbrary









Indigenous Peoples
(also see People of Colour (PoC) and International/World-Lit/Geography-categorised)


Australian Indigenous Peoples/Aborigines

Indigenous OzYA poster 1 - YA by/about indigenous peoples in Australia; Danielle Binks @ LoveOzYA; ADDED 3RD NOVEMBER

Indigenous OzYA poster 2 - YA by/about indigenous peoples in Australia; Danielle Binks @ LoveOzYA; ADDED 3RD NOVEMBER

Canadian Indigenous Peoples

Canadian Book Challenge (10th Edition): Indigenous Writers - A list of recs. from Buried In Print who has decided to read indigenous authors for the Canadian Book Challenge; ADDED 17TH AUG



General

10 Books In 10 Months – Exploring The Works Of Indigenous Writers - Blogpost from Naz @ Read Diverse Books



Native American Peoples



10 Books by Indigenous Authors You Should Read - a list of 10 books by Native American authors from Emily Temple @ LitHub; ADDED 1ST DECEMBER
2016 Book Releases by Native Americans To Read Before and After the Year Ends - blogpost from Naz @ Read Diverse Books; ADDED 21ST NOVEMBER
Best Native American/First Nations Fiction - Goodreads list from user El
Happy Native American Heritage Month! - a fantastic list of recommended titles from Weezie Wood @ Wheezie's Whimsical Writings; ADDED 2ND NOVEMBER
Native American Children's Literature Recommended Reading - PDF list from First Nations Development Institute; ADDED 11TH NOVEMBER



Native Hawaiians

Guest Post: Why Indigenous Authors of Hawai'i Matter - Guest post on Reading and Gaming for Justice by Jackie; ADDED 24TH NOVEMBER







International/World Lit/Geography-categorised
(not including Europe, US, Canada, Aus & NZ)

(also see Indigenous Peoples and People of Colour (PoC)) 



Africa

Africa Shelf - CBC Diversity's Goodreads shelf for Africa; ADDED 11TH NOVEMBER
Ten Gay Characters From African Literature That Everyone Should Know - list from Zahrah Nesbitt-Ahmed and Dele Meiji Fatunla @ Whats_On Africa; ADDED 2ND OCTOBER


General

Multicultural Books for Children: 60+ Book Lists - directory of specific PoC/Multicultural lists of kids' books from Pragmatic Mom



India

Fiction/Non-fiction Books About India That Don't Focus on the British Raj - Goodreads list from user Stephanie; ADDED 7TH SEPTEMBER
Indian LGBTQ Books - from My Book Jacket @ Books & Strips; ADDED 9TH DECEMBER


Japan

Mini-List of the Week: Japanese YA Books by Japanese Authors - Robin Talley/YA Interrobang on Tumblr; ADDED 7TH NOVEMBER

Middle East

LGBT in the Middle East - Goodreads list from user Melinda






Mental Illness/Mental Health
(also see Disabilities, Non Neuro-typical/Autistic Spectrum, and Learning Disabilities)

     

Addiction

Addiction shelf - Disability in Kidlit's Goodreads shelf for books which deal with addiction; ADDED 23RD OCTOBER



ADHD (also under learning disabilities)
      
ADHD shelf - Disability in Kidlit's Goodreads shelf for ADHD; ADDED 23RD OCTOBER

Agoraphobia

Agoraphobia shelf - Disability in Kidlit's Goodreads shelf for agoraphobia; ADDED 23RD OCTOBER



Alzheimer's Disease (also under Disabilities)

Alzheimer's shelf - Disability in Kidlit's Goodreads shelf for Alzheimer's Disease; ADDED 23RD OCTOBER




Amnesia (also under Disabilities)

Amnesia shelf - Disability in Kidlit's Goodreads shelf for Amnesia; ADDED 23RD OCTOBER



Anxiety

Anxiety shelf - Disability in Kidlit's Goodreads shelf for Anxiety Disorder; ADDED 1ST NOVEMBER

Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar Disorder Shelf - Disability in Kidlit's Goodreads shelf for Bipolar Disorder; ADDED 7TH NOVEMBER
Bipolar Disorder Shelf - Diverse Reads' Goodreads shelf for Bipolar Disorder; ADDED 11TH NOVEMBER



Brain Injury (also under learning disabilities, and disabilities)

Brain Injury Shelf - Disability in Kidlit's Goodreads shelf for brain injuiry; ADDED 7th NOVEMBER

Depression

Six MG/YA Novels Featuring Protagonists With Depression - list from the Disability in Kidlit Tumblr; ADDED 21ST OCTOBER



Dementia (also under disabilities)
Dementia Shelf - Disability in Kidlit's Goodreads shelf for Dementia; ADDED 9th DECEMBER

General

9 Authors You Can Trust To Be Real About Mental Health - list by Sophie Waters @ Maximumpop! Books; ADDED 9TH NOVEMBER
Contemporary LGBTQA Books Dealing With Mental Illness - Goodreads list from user T T Kove; ADDED 12TH NOVEMBER
Lesbian & Bi Women with Mental Illness - Goodreads list from user Danika at The Lesbrary; ADDED 30TH AUGUST
Picture Books About Mental Health - Goodreads list from user marvellings; ADDED 12TH NOVEMBER
Shattering Stigma Mental Health Event: Books, Books, Books! - intro to blog event by Inge @ Of Wonderland which includes a list of books which deal with mental health issues - ADDED 15TH AUG
YA Book Recs: Novels that Respect Mental Illness - guest post on Blogs of a Bookaholic by Christine @ Girl in the Pages



OCD

YA About OCD - Goodreads list from user Lauren (Lauren Reads YA); ADDED 12TH NOVEMBER



Selective Mutism

Selective Mutism - Goodreads list from user Meaghan; ADDED 12TH NOVEMBER

Non Neuro-Typical/Autistic Spectrum

(see also Disabilities, Learning Disabilities, and Mental Illness/Mental Health)

Autism

Autism Shelf - Disability in Kidlit's Goodreads autism shelf; ADDED 7TH NOVEMBER

People of Colour (PoC)

(also see Indigenous Peoples and International/World Lit/Geography-categorised)


Asian (All; Ethnicity)

Updated List: 150+ Asian Speculative Fiction Authors (With Links) - list on Carrie Cuinn's site - ADDED 15TH AUG



Asian (East; Ethnicity)

#OwnVoices Spotlight: East Asian Authors; Sarah Strange @ YA Interrobang




Bi-racial, Multi-racial, and Mixed Race

11 Middle Grade Books with Mixed Race Girls - list from Thien-Kim @ I'm Not the Nanny; ADDED 8TH SEPTEMBER



Black and African-American

11 Black Comic Artists You Should Know - Troy Wiggins @ Panels - ADDED 10TH AUG
20 Black Women With Killer Bibliographies - Whitney @ Brown Books and Green Tea - ADDED 11TH AUG
20 Exciting 2016/17 YA Books by Black Women | #DiversityBoost - @ The Book Avid - ADDED 25TH AUGUST
30 Black Comic Book Writers You Should Know - Troy Wiggins @ Panels - ADDED 10TH AUG
African-American Shelf - CBC Diversity's shelf for African-American books on Goodreads; ADDED 11TH NOVEMBER
Best African American Books - Goodreads list from user JG (The Introverted Reader)
Black History Month | An Introduction to Welsh Writers - a list of Black writers with connections to Wales; Durre S Mughal @ Wales Arts Review; ADDED 28TH OCTOBER
Black Women As Heroes And Role Models – A Reading List - Blogpost from Naz @ Read Diverse Books
Seven MG/YA Novels Featuring Disabled Black Protagonists - list from the Disability in Kidlit Tumblr account; ADDED 21ST OCTOBER
Top 100+ Recommended African-American Children's Books - list from AALBC; ADDED 8TH SEPTEMBER





General


#ReadPoC: List of Books by Authors of Color - goodreads list from user ReadPOCMoD; ADDED 14TH AUG
2016 Reading List: Women of Color - Goodreads list from user Louise Tripp; ADDED 20TH NOVEMBER
Diverse Chapter Books About Growing Up in the South #ReadYourWorld - list of kids' chapter books about PoC growing up in the South of the USA; Thien-Kim @ I'm Not the Nanny; ADDED 9TH SEPTEMBER
Diversity & Nonfiction: Writers of Color as Experts - a list of 6 books by PoC who are experts in their field; Bina @ If You Can Read This
Fantasy YA Lit List - a list of YA fantasy by/about PoC by Jessica @ Rich in Color; ADDED 10TH NOVEMBER
Feminist Books by Women of Color - Goodreads list from user Melissa; ADDED 20TH NOVEMBER
Fiction about lesbian, bisexual, and queer women of color - Goodreads list from user Melinda; ADDED 20TH NOVEMBER
More YA and YA-friendly Books About LGBT Characters of Color - List by Malinda Lo; ADDED 12TH OCTOBER
Multicultural Books for Children: 60+ Book Lists - directory of specific PoC/Multicultural lists of kids' books from Pragmatic Mom
Ten YA Novels Featuring Disabled Women of Color as Protagonists - list from the Disability in Kidlit Tumblr account; ADDED 1ST NOVEMBER
YA Books About LGBT Characters of Color - List by Malinda Lo; ADDED 12TH OCTOBER





Japanese (Ethnicity)

Mini-List of the Week: Japanese YA Books by Japanese Authors - Robin Talley/YA Interrobang on Tumblr; ADDED 7TH NOVEMBER



Latino/a/x


18 Upcoming and Recent 2016/17 Books by Latinx Authors: Magical Realism, Diversity, and All the Feels | #DiversityBoost - list from The Bookavid; ADDED 15TH NOVEMBER
20+ Books to Read During AND After Latinx Heritage Month - List of books by Latinx authors from Naz @ Read Diverse Books; ADDED 16TH SEPTEMBER
Books written by Latinx authors - List of 10 books by Latinx authors; Tumblr post from ¿Cómo Se Dice Nerd? by thisisnotlatinx; ADDED 6TH SEPTEMBER
Chicana/Latina Lesbian Books - Goodreads list from user Danika at The Lesbrary; ADDED 31ST AUGUST
In Honor of Orlando: 10 Books That Celebrate Queer Latinx Identity -  Blogpost from Naz @ Read Diverse Books
Graphic Novels with Latinx Main Character/s - Blogpost from this site; ADDED 15TH SEPTEMBER
The 'Not New York Times' Summer Reading List - list of books by Latinx authors, from Sabrina Vourvoulias @ Al Día News; ADDED 11TH OCTOBER
The 'Not New York Times' Summer Reading List for TEENS - list of books by Latinx authors, from Sabrina Vourvoulias @ Al Día News; ADDED 11TH OCTOBER

Religious Diversity

Muslims

10 Contemporary Novels By and About Muslims You Should Read - Emily Temple @ LitHub; ADDED 1ST DECEMBER
Muslims Represented in Literature - Goodreads list from user Nuzaifa - Word Contessa
Representing the Muslim American Experience - a discussion of the need for representation of Muslim Americans in books, with a list of recs at the bottom; Laila Alawa @ SLJ

YA Novels with Muslim Characters - list from Zaheerah's site; ADDED 15TH SEPTEMBER

Traveller/Roma

General

Twenty 'Gypsy' Women You Should Be Reading - a list of twenty female authors of Roma or Traveller heritage by Jessica Reidy @ VIDA

Discussion Posts



Disability
(also see Mental Illness/Mental Health, Non Neuro-Typical/Autistic Spectrum, and Learning Disabilities)


Cerebral Palsy (CP)

The One Word I Hate Reading - discussions of language used casually in books which is offensive to people with CP; Lara @ Another Teen Reader; ADDED 27TH AUGUST



General

Disability and Representation - great post from Dina @ Dinasoaur; ADDED 9TH DECEMBER
Why We Need More Disability in YA - great post from Ely @ Tea & Titles; ADDED 3RD SEPTEMBER




General

5 Diversity Myths Debunked - discussion-list from this site about misconceptions surrounding the diversity movement; ADDED 15TH SEPT
Diversity Isn't A Buzzword - Guest Post by The Pewter Wolf #DiversityMonth - excellent guest discussion post by The Pewter Wolf @ Luna's Little Library; ADDED 7TH NOVEMBER

I Can't Even With Librarians Who Don't Read Diversely - the importance of people who work with books reading diversely; Molly Wetta @ Book Riot; ADDED 25TH AUGUST 
Let's Talk About: The Diversity 'Catch-22' - Misrepresentation vs. No Representation - excellent discussion post from CW @ ReadThinkPonder; ADDED 19TH SEPTEMBER

What Does the Term "Diverse" Mean to You? - a discussion of the meaning of diversity by Naz @ Read Diverse Books
Why Do We Need Diverse Books in Non-Diverse Schools? - Guest blogger Taun Wright explains why diverse books benefit all kids on The Open Book
Writing Kitchens [2]: How Can We Write Diversely? - great advice post from Alyssa @ The Devil Orders Takeout; ADDED 19TH SEPTEMBER




Indigenous Peoples

(also see People of Colour (PoC) and International/World-Lit/Geography-Categorised)

Native American Peoples

Magic & Marginalization: Et Tu, JK? :( - an expression of disappointment in Pottermore's history of magic in North America; Righting Red

Native People Respond to Rowling - a discussion of the reaction to issues on Pottermore by Native American peoples; inc. link-list of responses from various Native viewpoints; Debbie Reese @ AICL

Quileute Elder on Quileute Stories - a post about the representation of the Quileute people in the Twilight saga by Debbie Reese @ American Indians in Children's Literature; ADDED 20TH NOVEMBER






LGBTQ+

Asexual

Talktime #13: My Need For Asexual Characters - Sierra @ The Nerdgirl Review talks the necessity of more asexual characters in fiction; includes swearing, because she was in a v bad mood that day (with reason.)



General

The Critical Evolution of LGBTQ+ Young Adult Literature - a look at the history of YA LGBTQ+ from Michael Waters @ The Establishment




Mental Illness/Mental Health
(also see Non-neurotypical/Autistic Spectrum, Disabilities, and Learning Disabilities.)


Depression

[Guest Post] Depression In Fiction: Why It Hurts More Than It Helps - discussion of the perpetuation of misinformation, generalisations, and stereotypes, when depression is discussed in fiction; Nenia Campbell guest-posting @ Of Wonderland; ADDED 15TH AUG

The “Pills are Evil” Trope - discussion of the negative ways anti-depressants are described in YA novels, and how this adds to the stigma of mental illness; Rhiannon Thomas @ Feminist Fiction

Thoughts on Novels About Depression (TM) - how depictions of depression in novels are often unrealistic, and potentially harmful; Rhiannon Thomas @ Feminist Fiction

Non-neurotypical/Autistic Spectrum
(also see disabilities, mental illness/mental health, and learning disabilities)


Opinion: Five things to keep in mind when writing about autism - Laurie Mawlam @ Vancouver Sun; ADDED 20TH NOVEMBER
The Curious Incidence of Autistics In Fiction - Penny Gotch writing at Disability Now; an autistic writer explains the problems with the way autistic people are portrayed in fiction.
Why we need to hear from readers and writers with autism - Corinne Duyvis writing @ The Guardian; ADDED 13TH OCTOBER





People of Colour (PoC)
(also see Indigenous Peoples and International/World-Lit/Geography-categorised)

Black

Black Girls Can Be Magical Too - a post on black women in fantasy by E Wist @ Black and Writerly
Searching For Black Princesses - the importance of black princesses for children; blogpost from Thien-Kim @ I'm Not the Nanny; ADDED 8TH SEPTEMBER

General

It Matters If You’re Black or White: The Racism of YA Book Covers - discussion of 'white-washing' and obscuring race on book covers; Annie Schutte @ YALSA Hub
Race in YA Lit: Wake Up & Smell the Coffee-Colored Skin, White Authors! - discussion of race in YA, and how improvements can be made; Sarah Ockler





Religious Diversity

Muslims

Burka's and Books - personal story about experiences of discrimination by a Muslim reader; thepocobookreader
Representing the Muslim American Experience - a discussion of the need for representation of Muslim Americans in books, with a list of recs at the bottom; Laila Alawa @ SLJ

Diverse Authors Spotlights, Bibliographies, Q&As

Alphabetical*

(* Please let me know if I've made a mistake with someone's name! I try my best, but it's not always clear which names are surnames, and I'm really sorry if I've got something wrong.)



B



Bowles, David

Meet David Bowles, author of 'The Smoking Mirror' - Interview from Sabrina Vourvoulias @ Al Dia News; ADDED 11TH OCTOBER


Bradley, Lisa M

Bibliography Spotlight: Lisa M Bradley - Spotlight from Naz @ Read Diverse Books; ADDED 9TH OCTOBER


M


Machado, Carmen María

The metafictional, liminal, lyrical ways of writer Carmen María Machado - Interview from Sabrina Vourvoulias @ Al Dia News; ADDED 11TH OCTOBER


Moreno-Garcia, Silvia

Q&A With Silvia Moreno-Garcia, Author of "Certain Dark Things" - Interview from Naz @ Read Diverse Books; ADDED 9TH OCTOBER


O



Older, Daniel José

Urban Fantasy Steps Up - Q&A with Daniel José Older from Sabrina Vourvoulias @ Al Dia News; ADDED 11TH OCTOBER


Oliva Arriagada, Felipe

Q&A With Chilean Author Felipe Oliva Arriagada - Interview from Naz @ Read Diverse Books; ADDED 9TH OCTOBER


S

Stone, Lucina

Interview: Lucina Stone, Author of "Santa Muerte" - Interview from Naz @ Read Diverse Books; ADDED 9TH OCTOBER



T

Tarwater, Tristan J

Bibliography Spotlight - Tristan J. Tarwater - Spotlight from Naz @ Read Diverse Books; ADDED 9TH OCTOBER




W

Woodson, Jacqueline

Author Spotlight: Jacqueline Woodson - Spotlight @ Rich in Color; ADDED 7TH NOVEMBER




X

Xavier, Emanuel

A Q&A With Poet, Editor, And Activist, Emanuel Xavier - Interview from Naz @ Read Diverse Books; ADDED 9TH OCTOBER








Advice For Writing Diversity

General

7 Offensive Mistakes Well-Intentioned Writers Make - mistakes to avoid when writing diverse characters; Springhole; ADDED 22ND SEPTEMBER
Writing Kitchens [2]: How Can We Write Diversely? - great advice post from Alyssa @ The Devil Orders Takeout; ADDED 19TH SEPTEMBER

LGBTQ+

Asexual

5 Tips and Tricks To Writing Asexual Characters - Gay YA post; ADDED 24TH OCTOBER

Non-Neurotypical/Autistic Spectrum

Autistic

Opinion: Five things to keep in mind when writing about autism - Laurie Mawlam @ Vancouver Sun; ADDED 20TH NOVEMBER

Stereotypes and Tropes

Not all tropes are bad - far from it, but so many can be used harmfully against marginalised groups.

It's important to learn about tropes and how they affect our perceptions, especially of groups that are all too often stereotyped or dehumanised.

LGBTQ+ Tropes

General and Queer

Homophobia Index - index of Homophobic, Transphobic, etc. tropes from TV Tropes; ADDED 13TH NOVEMBER
Queer as Tropes - List of tropes relating to LGBTQ+ people from TV Tropes; ADDED 13TH NOVEMBER






Prejudice Tropes

General

Homophobia Index - index of Homophobic, Transphobic, etc. tropes from TV Tropes; ADDED 13TH NOVEMBER
Prejudice Tropes - tropes related to prejudice and bigotry from TV Tropes; ADDED 13TH NOVEMBER
Unfortunate Implications - tropes which unintentionally cause offense and are therefore still harmful, from TV Tropes; ADDED 13TH NOVEMBER






Racial and Ethnic Tropes

General

Race Tropes - list of tropes connected to race @ TV Tropes; ADDED 13TH NOVEMBER

Stereotypes and Tropes Navigation - directory to discussions and guides on stereotypes and tropes @ Writing With Color; ADDED 13TH NOVEMBER

Stereotyping Tropes List - list of tropes which stereotype People of Colour (PoC) from Writing With Color; ADDED 13TH NOVEMBER

Let me know of any other links that I can include (particularly in areas with no/less links here!) and I'll get to them when I can :)

(Please be patient! >.<)