Fresh Ink: An Anthology

Fresh Ink: An Anthology edited by Lamar Giles is a collection of diverse stories from some of the best young adult writers. Giles is one of the founders of We Need Diverse Books - a collective of writers who are trying to expand the typical YA character into a better reflection of who is really out there. Their goal is for teens to see themselves in fiction.

Meet Cute by Malinda Lo is the story of a budding relationship at the Denver ComicCon.

Why I Learned to Cook by Sara Farizan is the story of a Persian American young woman learning to cook with her grandmother - to impress the girl she likes.

Super Human by Nicole Yoon features a superhero who, without a mask, would be targeted for harassment by the police.

Other authors include Jason Reynolds, Sharon G Flake, Melissa de la Cruz and Gene Luen Yang.

Giles, Lamar. (2018). Fresh Ink. New York: Crown.

Boxers and Saints

Boxers and Saints by Gene Luen Yang is his two book series about the Boxer Rebellion in China - each from a different point of view.


Boxers is told from the point of view of Little Bao. Bao is from a traditional Chinese village. His first encounter with a foreigner is when a group of men come to "get justice" for someone by stealing vegetables. While they are there they smash a deity who protects the village.

This leads Little Bao to train to fight and eventually form the Society of the Righteous and Harmonious Fist - traveling from village to village defending people. They call upon the spirits of the gods to save China.

Saints is from the point of view of  Four-girl. She never fit in with her family and decides to become a devil. Since she doesn't know how to become a devil, she talks to a man called a foreign devil, who is a priest. When she hears of a group of men roaming the countryside killing missionaries, priests and Chinese Christians she knows she is destined to be a warrior woman like Joan of Arc.

Bao and Four-girl meet twice in the books which tell their stories in parallels. Yang is a master of the graphic novel - capturing so much with so few words and beautiful illustrations. For a study guide visit goodokbad.

Yang, Gene Luen. (2013). Boxers. New York: First Second.

Yang, Gene Luen. (2013). Saints. New York: First Second.

American Born Chinese

American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang is the first graphic novel to win the Printz Award - the American Library Association's Young Adult Literature Award.

This look at stereotypes and learning to be who you are meant to be is a powerful and beautiful novel.
Parallelling the stories of a monkey king and Jin Wang, a young Chinese American boy in San Fransisco, Yang examines the ability to love yourself as you are versus the stereotypes thrown at you. Interwoven with these two stories is a third, the story of Danny, an American boy whose Chinese cousin visits each year in the US. Danny is greatly embarrassed by this cousin who resembles all of the stereotypes about Chinese people.

Beautifully illustrated by Lark Pien, American Born Chinese is a must read for everyone. This novel, along with Maus and Fun Home, have led me to the discovery that I actually enjoy graphic novels.

Yang, Gene Luen. (2006). American Born Chinese. New York: First Second.