Diversity in YA Memoirs

With tons of conversations surrounding Diversity in YA I am happy to see that the Fall 2014/Winter 2015 publisher lists are including real life diversity. Here are six soon-to-be-published memoirs that focus on diverse young adults.

   

We Should Hang Out Sometime: Embarrassingly, A True Story

Josh Sundquist

Little, Brown - January 2015

One legged cancer survivor, Paralympic ski racer, and YouTube star Josh Sundquist recounts his dating follies. 

Taking Flight: From War Torn Orphan to Star Ballerina

Michaela and Elaine DePrince

Knopf books for Young Readers - October 2014

Once an orphan in Sierra Leone, Michaela DePrince grows to become the youngest principle dancer with the Dance Theater of Harlem.

Some Assembly Required: The Not-So-Secret Life of a Transgender Teen

Arin Andrews

Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers - September 2014

Transgender teen Arin Andrews shares his experiences of gender reassignment in high school.

Laughing at My Nightmare

Shane Burcaw

Roaring Brook Press - October 2014

Plainly saying that he knows his disease, Spinal Muscular Atrophy, will take his life Shane Burcaw wants to enjoy the time he has and isn't afraid to laugh about it.

Rethinking Normal: A Memoir in Transition

Katie Rain Hill

Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers - September 2014

At the age of fifteen Luke became Katie. Now she is sharing her story of transition.

Positive: Surviving My Bullies, Finding Hope, and Changing the World

Paige Rawl

Harper - September 2014

Paige was born with HIV. When classmates found out she was bullied endlessly. After a failed suicide attempt she decided she needed to make a change.