Debbie Wiley | Diversity in Fiction and Non-Fiction - Celebrating Black History Month

Black History Month is generally the time readers challenge themselves to read and learn with books centered around the theme of Black History Month. Books such as HIDDEN FIGURES by Margot Lee Shetterley, and the upcoming SHINE BRIGHT by Danyel Smith, shed light on the accomplishments of various black people. Graphic novels such as WAKE by Rebecca Hall, and the MARCH trilogy by John Lewis, offer us a glimpse into the various tribulations black people have encountered in their quest for true equality. More recent books such as STAMPED by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi, BETWEEN THE WORLD AND ME by Ta-Nehisi Coates, and THEY CAN’T KILL US ALL by Wesley Lowery speak more on the issues we are still tackling even today in 2022. There are quite a few splendid nonfiction books about black history, but I’d like to challenge readers to start incorporating more black fiction authors into their reading throughout the year. I recently saw a statistic which indicates that nearly 90% of people don’t have a close friend of another ethnicity or race, and perhaps reading both fictional as well as nonfiction books written by people of color may be a starting place for some.  Here are a few I’ve enjoyed:

MISTER MIRACLE: THE GREAT ESCAPE by Varian Johnson is a young adult graphic novel featuring Scott Free, aka Mister Miracle. Scott Free desperately wants to leave the ironically named Goodness Academy and escape to Earth. Avid readers of DC Comics may already be familiar with Scott Free but MISTER MIRACLE: THE GREAT ESCAPE was a brilliant introduction to this seemingly abandoned superhero trying to survive when he has enemies for a heritage of which he isn’t even aware. Varian Johnson does a fabulous job introducing us to Scott Free and his struggle to escape from Granny Goodness and her horrid academy. MISTER MIRACLE: THE GREAT ESCAPE is a phenomenal graphic novel for fans of superheroes, and I hope we see more Scott Free in the future!

LIKE A SISTER by Kellye Garrett begins with a death. A reality star has seemingly overdosed. However, Desiree Pierce’s half-sister, Lena Scott suspects differently. Despite the two-year estrangement between the siblings, Lena knows Desiree wouldn’t travel to the Bronx where her body was found unless she was coming to see Lena herself - and they haven’t spoken in two years. After all, the neighborhood is far below Desiree’s high society standards and there’s no amount of drugs that would have her think that visiting their aunt, (with whom she regularly called each month) while high, was a wise move. Kellye Garrett crafts a fantastic murder mystery with spectacular character development. I will definitely be reading more books by Kellye Garrett!

WE ARE NOT LIKE THEM by Christine Pride and Jo Piazza may be one of the best books I’ve ever read - which says a great deal considering the volume of books I’ve read and love. Told through the alternating viewpoints of Jen and Riley, we see their friendship challenged by a tragedy that forces them both to examine how their different colored skin impacts both their individual lives, as well as their friendship. Riley is a very successful TV journalist who is potentially in line for an upcoming anchor slot. Jen is finally pregnant after multiple unsuccessful attempts. Riley and Jen haven’t explored their cultural differences over the years. They’ve both shied away from conversations that would address the fact that Riley is black and Jen is white. Now they are faced with something that threatens to shatter their friendship to pieces if they can’t learn to talk about the hard topics. WE ARE NOT LIKE THEM addresses a whole host of cultural and societal issues, asking readers to examine themselves and what they say - as well as what they don’t say - even to friends. Fans of Jodi Picoult’s SMALL GREAT THINGS will appreciate WE ARE NOT LIKE THEM, even as Christine Pride and Jo Piazza dig deeper as they explore how the issues surrounding racism can divide even the closest of friends.

Some other notable books on my TBR shelf include NONE BUT THE RIGHTEOUS by Chantel James, THE ACCIDENTAL PINUP by Danielle Jackson, and A KILLER SUNDAE by Abby Collette. What’s on your reading list?

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Debbie Wiley is a senior reviewer at Fresh Fiction. You can find more of her articles and reviews here.