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Reviews of Multicultural Speculative Fiction for kids and teens

Here are my reviews of fantasy and science fiction books (266 at the moment) for kids/teenagers featuring central characters of diverse cultures and ethnicities.  I've organized them alphabetically within age groups.  (if you see an obvious book missing from 2014-2019, it's probably because I wrote about it for the B and N Kids blog, RIP, and someday I'll get around to reviewing it again for my own blog!)

Other great lists can be found at Stacy Whitmn's Grimoire (mg) and Poking Badgers With Spoons (YA)

Picture Books  (5)

Bonjour, Lonnie, by Faith Ringgold (1996)

Chalk, by Bill Thompson (2010)

The Rock Maiden, by Natasha Yim (2017)

Rooster Joe and the Bully/El Galo Joe y el Abusõn, by Xavier Gars (2016)

The Secret Box, by Barbara Lehman (2011)


Graphic (or at least heavy on the graphics) Novels for Kids (11)

The Shark King, by R. Kikuo Johnson (2012)

The Adventures of Ook and Gluk, Kung-Fu Cavemen from the Future, by Dav Pilkey (2010)

Captain Underpants and the Terrifying Return of Tippy Tinkletrousers, by Dav Pilkey, (2012)

Astronaut Academy Zero Gravity (2011), and  Astronaut Academy Re-Entry (2013), by Dave Roman

Cleopatra In Space, Book 1: Target Practice  (2014), and Book 2: The Thief and the Sword (2015), The Secret of the Time Tablets (2016)  The Golden Lion (2017), by Mike Maihack

Little Robot, by Ben Hatke (2015)

Sanity and Tallulah, by Molly Brooks (2018)


Early Chapter Book/Elementary/Ages 5-9ish (7)

In Due Time series books 1-3, by Nicholas O. Time (2016)

The Magic Mirror, by Zetta Elliott (2014)

Mouldylocks and the Three Beards, and Little Red Quaking Hood (Princess Pink series), by Noah Z. Jones (2014)

The Phoenix on Barkley Street, by Zetta Elliott (2014)


Middle Grade/Ages 8-12 (138)

Abracadabra Tut, by Page McBriar (2014)

Ambassador, by William Alexander (2014), and its sequel, Nomad (2015)

Archer's Quest, by Linda Sue Park (2006)

The Atomic Weight of Secrets, by Eden Unger Bowditch (2011)

The Astounding Broccoli Boy, by Frank Cottrell Boyce (2015)

Bansi O'Hara and the Bloodline Prophecy, by John Dougherty (2008)

The Battle, by Karuna Riazi (2019)

The Book of Wonders, by Jasmine Richards (2012)

The Book That Proves Time Travel Happens, by Henry Clark (2015)

Breadcrumbs, by Anne Ursu (2011)

Bridge of Time, by Lewis Buzbee (2012)

The Cheerleaders of Doom (N.E.R.D.S. Book 3) by Michael Buckley (2011)

Celia's Robot, by Margaret Chang (2010)

The Chaos Curse, by Sayantani Dasgupta (2020)

Charlie Hernández and the League of Shadows, by Ryan Calejo (2018)

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Flies Again,  (2012), and its sequel, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and the Race Against Time, by Frank Cottrell Boyce (2013 in the US)

Chronal Engine, by Greg Leitich Smith (2012)

Chronicles of the Red King:  The Secret Kingdom (2011) and its sequels, The Stones of Ravenglass (2012), and Leopard's Gold (2013) by Jenny Nimmo

City of Fire, and its sequel, City of Ice, by Laurence Yep (2010, 2011)

City of Islands, by Kali Wallace (2018)

Claws, by Mike and Rachel Grinti (2012)

Cog, by Greg van Eekhout (2019)

Come Fall, by A.C.E. Bauer (2010)

The Conch Bearer, by Chitra Banerjee Divkaruni (2003)

A Crack in the Sea, by H.M. Bouwman (2017)

The Creature Department, by Robert Paul Weston (2013)

The Curse of the Chocolate Phoenix, by Kate Saunders (2016)

The Curse of the Were-Hyena, by Bruce Hale (2016)

Dactyl Hill Squad, by Daniel José Older (2018)

Dayshaun's Gift, by Zetta Elliott (2015)

Dead Air (The Kat Sinclair Files), by Michelle Schusterman (2015)

Defender of the Realm, by Mark Huckerby and Nick Ostler (2017)

The Dragon Egg Princes, by Ellen Oh (2020)

Dragon Magic, by Andre Norton (1972)

Dragons in a Bag (2018), and its sequel, The Dragon Thief (2019), by Zetta Elliott

The Dragon Warrior, by Katie Zhao (2019)

The Dream Stealer, by Sid Fleischman (2009)

The Elsewhere Chronicles, by Nykko (2009)

Explorer Academy: the Nebula Secret, by Trudi Trueit (2018)

The Extraordinary Book of Doors, by Anne E.G. Nydam (2014)

Flashback Four: The Lincoln Project, by Dan Gutman (2016)

The Forgotten Girl, by India Hill Brown (2019)

Freedom Stone, by Jeffrey Kluger (2011)

Galaxy Games: The Challengers, by Greg R. Fishbone (2011)

The Gauntlet, by Karuna Riazi (2017)

Geeks, Girls, and Secret Identities, by Mike Jung (2012)

Ghost Squad, by Claribel A. Ortega (2020)

The Ghosts in the Castle, by Zetta Elliott (2016)

Gloom Town, by Ronald L. Smith (2020)

Greenglass House (2014), Ghosts of Greenglass House (2017), Bluecrowne (2018), by Kate Milford

Hoodoo, by Ronald L. Smith (2015)

Hour of the Bees, by Lindsay Eager (2016)

How Oscar Indigo Broke the Universe (and Put it Back Together Again), by David Teague (2017)

I Lived on Butterfly Hill, by Marjorie Agosín (2014)

The Infinity Ring series (various authors): Mutiny in Time (2012),  Divide and Conquer (2012),  The Trap Door (2013),  Curse of the Ancients (2013) and Cave of Wonders (2013), Behind Enemy Lines (2013)

Jacob Wonderbar and the Cosmic Space Kapow (2011) and Jacob Wonderbar and the Interstellar Time Warp (2013) by Nathan Bransford

Jagger Jones and the Mummy's Ankh (2019), by Malayna Evans

Jinx (2013) and Jinx's Magic (2014), by Sage Blackwood

Jinxed, by Amy McCulloch (2020)

Justice and Her Brothers, by Virginia Hamilton (1978)

Key Hunters--The Mysterious Moonstone and the Spy's Secret (2016), by Eric Luper

The Last Last-Day-of-Summer, by Lamar Giles (2019)

Lavender-Green Magic, by Andre Norton (1974)

Lintang and the Pirate Queen, by Tamara Moss (2019)

Love Sugar Magic-- A Dash of Trouble (2017)  A Sprinkle of Spirits (2019), and A Mixture of Mischief,  by Anna Meriano 

The Magical Misadventures of Prunella Bogthistle, by Deva Fagan (2010)

Mañanaland,  by Pam Muñoz Ryan (2020)

Mars Evacuees, by Sophia McDougall (2015)

The Menagerie (2013), and Dragon on Trial (2014) by Tui T. Sutherland and Kari Sutherland

Midsummer's Mayhem, by Rajani LaRocca (2019)

MiNRS, by Kevin Sylvester (2015)

The Mirror of Fire and Dreaming, by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni (2005)

Monster Matsuri (Takeshita Demons, 3), by Cristy Burne (2012)

The Moon Over Crete, by Jyotsna Sreenivasan (1996)

Moonshadow: Rise of the Ninja, by Simon Higgins (2010)

Mulan: Before the Sword, by Grace Lin (2020)

My Neighbor Totoro (the novel), by  Tsugiko Kubo (2013)


The Night Fairy, by Laura Amy Schlitz (2010)

Night of the Living Lawn Ornaments, by Emily Ecton (2009)

Ninth Ward, by Jewell Parker Rhodes (2010)

Phyllis Wong and the Return of the Conjuror, by Geoffrey McSkimming (2014 in Australia, 2015 in the US)

The Prince of Fenway Park, by Julianna Baggott (2009)

A Properly Unhaunted Place (2017), and  A Festival of Ghosts (2018), by William Alexander

The Remarkable and Very True Story of Lucy and Snowcap, by H.M. Bouwman (2008)

The Secret of Dreadwillow Carse, by Brian Farrey (2016)

Secrets of the Terra-Cotta Soldier by Ying Chang Compestine and Vincent Compestine (2014)

The Serpent's Secret, by Sayanti Dasgupta (2018)

Shadows of Sherwood, and Rebellion of Thieves  (Robyn Hoodlum, 2015 and 2016), by Kekla Magoon

Silverworld, by Diana Abu-Jaber (2020)

Skeleton Man (2003), and The Return of Skeleton Man (2006), by Joseph Bruchac

Sophie Quire and the Last Story Guard (2016), by Jonathan Auxier

Space Case (2014), and Spaced Out (2016), by Stuart Gibbs

The Spider Ring, by Andrew Harwell (2015)

Starry River of the Sky, by Grace Lin (2012)

This Side of Magic (Key Holders Vol. 1), by Debbie Dadey and Marcia Thornton Jones (2009)

The Taker and the Keeper, by Wim Coleman and Pat Perrin (2009)

Thief, by Malorie Blackman (1995)

Time Travelling with a Hamster, by Ross Welford (2016)

The Total Eclipse of Nestor Lopez, by Adrianna Cuevas (2020)
Trapped Between the Lash and the Gun, by Arvella Whitmore (1999)

Turning on a Dime, by Maggie Dana (2014)

Tut: The Story of My Immortal Life, by P.J. Hoover (2014)

The Twelve, by Cindy Lin (2019)

Unidentified Suburban Object, by Mike Jung (2016)

Unusual Chickens for the Exceptional Poultry Farmer (2015), and Are You Ready to Hatch an Unusual Chicken? (2018) by Kelly Jones

The Water Castle, by Megan Frazer Blakemore (2013)

The Way to Rio Luna, by Zoraida Córdova (2020)

The Wells Bequest, by Polly Shulman (2013)

When You Trap a Tiger, by Tae Keller (2020)

Where the Mountain Meets the Moon, by Grace Lin (2009)

Wild Born (Spirit Animals Book 1) by Brandon Mull (2013)

Wish Girl, by Nikki Loftin (2015)

A Wish in the Dark, by Christina Soontornvat (2020)

Woundabout, by Lev Rosen (2015)

The Zero Degree Zombie Zone, by Patrik Henry Ness (2014)

Zombie Baseball Beatdown, by Paulo Bacigalupi (2013)


Middle Grade/Young Adult (books that in my opinion can be comfortably read both teenagers and older middle grade kids.  Which isn't to say the books that are just middle grade won't be enjoyed by some teenagers.  Or grown-ups) (55)

Akata Witch, by Nnedi Okorafor (2011)

The Black Canary, by Jane Louise Curry (2005)

The Boy at the End of the World, by Greg van Eekhout (2011)

Boys of Blur, by N.D. Wilson (2014)

Cat Girl's Day Off, by Kimberly Pauley (2012)

Circus Galacticus, by Deva Fagan (2011)

Cinder, by Marissa Meyer (2012)

City of a Thousand Dolls, by Miriam Forster (2013)

Dragon Keeper, by Carole Wilkinson (2003)

Dragon Pearl, by Yoon Ha Lee (2019)

The Dragon's Tooth, by N.D. Wilson (2011)

Drift, by M.K. Hutchins (2014)

Dust Girl, by Sarah Zettel (2012)

East of the Sun, West of the Moon, by Jackie Morris (2013)

The Freedom Maze, by Delia Sherman (2011)

Gateway, by Sharon Shinn (2009)

The Galahad series, by Dom Testa, of which I've reviewed  The Dark Zone (2011) and The Galahad Legacy (2012)

The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, by Yasutaka Tsutsui (1967, 2011 English translation by David Karashima)

Hammer of Witches, by Shana Mlawski (2013)

Hannah's Winter, by Kierin Meehan (2001, 2009 in the US)

The Heavenward Path, by Kara Dalkey (1998)

House of the Star, by Caitlin Brennan (2010)

I Rode a Horse of Milk White Jade, by Diane Lee Wilson (1998)

The Immortal Fire (Chronus Chronicles) by Anne Ursu (2009)

Little Sister, by Kara Dalkey (1996)

The Lost Hero, by Rick Riordan (2010)

The Jaguar Stones series: Middleworld (2010), The End of the World Club (2010), The River of No Return, and The Lost City (2015) by J. & P. Voelkel

The Order of Odd Fish, by James Kennedy (2008)

The Owls Have Come to Take Us Away, by Ronald L. Smith (2019)

Parched, by Melanie Crowder (2013)

Race to the Sun, by Rebecca Roanhorse (2020)

The Red Pyramid, by Rick Riordan (2010)

Remembering Green, by Lesley Beake (2010)

The Ring of Solomon, by Jonathan Stroud (2010)

The Savage Fortress, by Sarwat Chadda (2012)

Sea of the Dead, by Julia Durango (2009)

The Silver Anklet, by Mahtab Narsimhan (2009)

The Snipesville Chronicles: Don't Know Where, Don't Know When (2007), A Different Day, a Different Destiny (2009)
Look Ahead, Look Back (2012), One Way or Another (2016)  by Annette Laing

Sorrow's Knot, by Erin Bow (2013)

Summer of the Mariposas, by Guadalupe  Garcia McCall (2012)

Spirit Hunters (2017), and The Island of Monsters, by Ellen Oh (2018)

Spirit's Princess, by Esther Friesner (2012)

Tall Story, by Candy Gourlay (2010 UK, 2011 US)

Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky, by Kwame Mbalia (2019)

Watersmeet, by Ellen Jensen Abbott (2009) and its sequel, The Centaur's Daughter (2011)

Zahrah the Windseeker, by Nnedi Okorafor-Mbachu (2005)

The Zodiac Legacy: Convergence, by Stan Lee, Stuart Moore, and Andie Tong (2015)


Young Adult (58)

The Afterlife, by Gary Soto (2003)

Along The River, by Adeline Yen Mah (2010)

Ash, by Malinda Lo (2009)

A Banquet for Hungry Ghosts, by Ying Chang Compestine (2009)

Black Dog, by Rachel Neumeier (2013)

Black Powder, by Staton Rabin (2005)

Bleeding Violet, by Dia Reeves (2010)

The Blending Time, by Michael Kinch (2010)

Bone and Jewel Creatures, by Elizabeth Bear (2010)

The Broken Lands, by Kate Milford (2012)

Chainbreaker, by Tara Sim (2018)

The Demon's Surrender, by Sarah Rees Brennan (2011)

 Diverse Energies, edited by Tobias S. Buckell and Joe Monti (2012)

Dragons of Darkness, by Antonia Michaelis (2010)

The Drowned Cities, by Paolo Bacigalupi (2012)

Echo, by Alicia Brewster (2013)

The Empty Kingdom, by Elizabeth Wein (2008)

Feral Nights, by Cynthia Leitich Smith (2013)

Future Shock, by Elizabeth Briggs (2016)


Gateway, by Sharon Shinn (2009)

The Girl from Everywhere, by Heidi Heilig (2016)

Honor Among Thieves, by Rachel Caine and Ann Aguirre (2018)

Huntress, by Malinda Lo (2011)

The Immortal Rules, by Julie Kagawa (2012)

Libyrinth, by Pearl North (2009)

The Living, by Matt de la Peña (2013)

The Lost Girl, by Sangu Mandanna (2012)

Luminous, by Dawn Metcalf (2011)


Magic Under Glass, by Jaclyn Dolamore (2010)

Magic Under Stone, by Jaclyn Dolamore (2012)

Manifest, by Artist Arthur (2010)

Misfit, by Jon Skovron (2011)

Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit, by Nahoko Uehashi (2008)

The Opposite of Always, by Justin Reynolds (2019)

Orleans, by Sherri L. Smith (2013)

The Other Side of Dark, by Sarah Smith (2010)

Passenger (2016), and Wayfarer (2017), by Alexandra Bracken

Rebel Seoul, by Axie Oh (2017)

Seven Stitches, by Ruth Tenzer Feldman (2017)

Shadow of the Fox, by Julie Kagawa (2018)

Shadowboxer, by Tricia Sullivan (2014)

Shadows on the Moon, by Zoe Marriott (2012)

Shipbreaker, by Paolo Bacigalupi (2010)

Sorrow's Knot, by Erin Bow (2013)

Soul Enchilada, by David Macinnis Gill (2009)

Spindle, by E.K. Johnston (2016)

Stranger, by Rachel Manija Brown and Sherwood Smith (2014)

The Summer Prince, by Alaya Dawn Johnson (2013)

A Thousand Nights, by E.K. Johnston (2015)

Tiger Moon, by Antonia Michaelis (2008 US edition)

Toads and Diamonds, by Heather Tomlinson (2010)

The Tomorrow Code, by Brian Falkner (2008 US edition)

Transcendence,  by C.J. Omololu (2012)

The Way We Fall, by Megan Crewe (2012)

What Goes Up, by Katie Kennedy (2017)

A Wish After Midnight, by Zetta Elliott (2008)

Wolf Mark, by Joseph Bruchac (2011)


Published as adult books, but good cross-overs for YA readers (6)

Alice Payne Arrives, by Kate Heartfield (2018)

The Black God's Drums, by P. Djèli Clark (2018)

Cold Magic, by Kate Elliott (2010)

The Indigo Pheasant, by Daniel Rabuzzi (2012) 

Kindred, by Octavia Butler (1979)

Norse Code, by Greg van Eekhout (2009)