I have been trying to add more diverse books to my reading than I previously was doing. I do read quite a bit of them in general anyway, however, as I mentor more and more children with many cultural differences than mine I want to be able to recommend books that have kids or teens like them in the book. It also helps me understand, a bit, the culture they came from or live in. I have found it creates great conversations and discussions as we discuss the characters in the book, the kids related it to their lives and ask me questions about how my family does things. We both learn. Knowledge, empathy, understanding and compassion all come from dialog. No better way then doing this through discussing books with children for me. It helps them realize we care and are trying to understand. It helps me SEE and HEAR them even better for who they are, and their prospective and why they have they perspective they do. I never ever want to hurt a child with words unintentionally. Reading diverse books has helped me in this way. It has also helped my own children and grandson relate to their peers.
Written in the Stars by Aisha Saeed takes place in America and Pakistan. The main character is a teen girl. It is about arranged marriage amongst other things. The culture differences and beliefs in generations that is true in many of our families, is portrayed well. The rights of girls is brought to light. It was so intense you could not put it down. Because of some of the content of appropriate sexual situation in the book I would say 9th grade and up for reading this book.
Read diverse books!!
Peace.
