When you’re looking for your next read, do you like to read about someone just like you, who’s going through the same things you’re experiencing? Or do you like to read about someone totally different, in a part of the world you’ve never seen? Either way is valid. It’s important to have a variety of books on the shelves so all readers can see themselves represented, or learn about something new.

But did you know that out of 3,200 books for young people published last year, only 93 of them were about black people? 69 books were written about Asians or Asian-Americans, 57 about Latinos, and only 34 about Native Americans. Does that seem right to you? (See the full study at the Cooperative Children’s Book Center.)

There’s a grassroots campaign happening to bring awareness of the lack of diversity in youth literature, and we here at the Mission Viejo Library Teen Voice are throwing in our support. We need diverse books!  

Please click to enlarge the following photos and read what our teen bloggers have to say.

Wenqing Z., 11th grade

Nicole G., 10th grade

Allison Tran, Teen Services Librarian

And sometimes, we need the simple wisdom of Success Kid…