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Genre Breakers: BIPOC Voices in Other Genres

I feel like we're not talking enough about genre and authentic voices. When I'm helping students pick out a new book, my first question is, "what are you interested in?" For many of my (and here I'm going to super gender stereotype here) female students, they can point to other texts they've enjoyed. They enjoyed Yolk or Grown or Instructions for Dancing, all amazing texts which can lead to a 100 other recommendations: Off the Record, Love is a Revolution, Kiss & Tell. 

But other kids (and often my male students) will say, "I am looking for fantasy, dystopian, war or historical fiction." And while I have plenty of those titles. Many of those titles are from White authors, and I noticed a lack of other voices: Black, Hispanic, AAPI, Muslim, Jewish, etc. that explore these rich genres. I'm sure that's more to do with publishing companies than the authors themselves, but nevertheless, here we are. Underrepresented but more than worthy of our time.

Whenever someone gives me a list of new YA books, they're rarely in these other genres. I love so many of these books, but most I would just label as "fiction" or "romance."

So today I wanted to highlight 10 YA books from diverse authors that break from expectations. So without further ado.

1. Iron Widow
Genre: Science Fiction / Dystopian
Voice: AAPI
Grade: 8th grade and up

Iron Widow is such a win as a book. Already garnering a lot of accolades, this book delivers not only interesting cultural ideas, it showcases power imbalance in a way that all kids connect. Iron Widow builds its mythos with traditional Chinese concepts (foot binding) and then breaks all conventions when we enter a world with giant gundam like creature. I don't have enough copies to satiate my children.

2. White Smoke
Genre: Horror
Voice: Black
Grade: 7th grade and up

White Smoke is the new hotness in my classroom. As a callback to R.L. Stein, Tiffany Jackson has done what few authors are doing and made herself a name in Horror. Students absolutely love this book, and they're constantly talking about how the book made them worry about every creek and thud in the house.

3. Firekeeper's Daughter
Genre: Thriller
Voice: Indigenous / Native American
Grade: 9th grade and up

Firekeeper's Daughter is the kind of slow churning thriller adults love. Upon seeing a murder, our main character becomes wrapped up in an FBI investigation that is full of surprises. I will note, that this requires a bit of a stronger reader than some of these other texts. The size of the text and the slow nature build asks readers for more commitment, but for those who stick with it, the pay off is well worth it.

4. This Woven Kingdom
Genre: Fantasy / Dystopian
Voice: Middle Eastern
Grade: 8th grade and up

Some authors can do no wrong. Mafi is that author. To me and many of my students A Very Large of Expanse of Sea is a masterpiece. Her return to fantasy is equally impressive. In a world of Djinn's and set class structures, this book manages to surprise with its own unique view of the origin of life and it's genre defining mythos.

5. Cold
Genre: Thriller
Voice: LGBTQ+ / Asian
Grade: 8th grade and up

When you meet Todd, he's dead. Murdered even. And as he narrates this story, the mystery only becomes more sprawling as your alternate perspectives between him and Georgia. Georgia, who never knew Todd, but is much closer to his death than she realizes. This is a personal favorite book of 2022. And at barely 200 pages, it's the kind of book you can binge in a night.


6. Cemetery Boys
Genre: Fantasy
Voice: LGBTQ+ / Latinx
Grade: 7th and up

Gender norms are flipped upside down as trans male Yadriel is told by his parents that he could never be a brujo. In a story of magic, what's the difference between sex and gender, and how does the magical realm react to Yadriel's ghost summoning? For students who are completely over the TERF Rowling, Cemetery Boys checks every box with an equally rich and even more surprising world.

7. Bitter
Genre: Science Fiction / War
Voice: LGBTQ+ / Black
Grade: 9th and up

As a prequel to the brilliant PET, Bitter stands apart from the novel that originated this character. Maybe because we're in a Ukraine war-torn society, but the war vibes here feel all to real. The sense of danger is palpable. Emezi can do no wrong, and this book shows how they're a masterclass in telling a story full of surprises.

8. The Last Cuentista
Genre: Science Fiction / Apocalyptic
Voice: Latinx / Indigenous 
Grade: 6th grade and up

For fans of Project Hail Mary, this is another alternative to the end of the world scenario. Winner of the Newberry award, this story highlights a not perfectly able-bodied 7th grader who wants to be more than the destined scientist she's meant to be. With her love of story telling, she finds her mission to save the world disrupted, and the result is truly fascinating.

9. A Magic Steeped in Poison
Genre: Fantasy
Voice: Asian
Age: 7th and up

I jokingly book talked this book as Hunger Games with tea. And my kids asked, "But do people die?" And I said, "As long as they don't drink the wrong tea." This is another book that students just can't enough of these days. We're eagerly anticipating the sequel this August.



10. Raybearer / Redemptor
Genre: Afrofuturism
Voice: Black
Grade: 7th grade and up

We need more duology's in our lives. I feel like Strange the Dreamer left a hole in my heart, but thankfully Ifueko is here to put me back together. If Black Panther, Game of Thrones and Black Leopard, Red Wolf had a baby, this would be Raybearer. Ifueko does Octavia Butler proud. 

This is just 10 titles, and I had to be catchy like that, but I'd be remiss if I didn't get to mention there are so many other titles like Slay and This Poison Heart. But feel free to comment on your favorite genre book by a BIPOC author underneath this post.

Daniel Valentin teaches English 9, Humanities, and Senior Seminar at Horace Greeley High School. He is currently reading An Arrow to the Moon by Emily XR Pan and is listening to Playing with Myself by Randy Rainbow. He wants his students to feel empowered through books. Follow him on Twitter @DanielJValentin
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