#DiverseBookBloggers: The Diverse Books Tag

Today's tag post is an extension of the #DiverseBookBloggers Twitter movement that is being spearheaded by Naz of Read Diverse Books and Demelza Griffiths of Books ft. Politics. It aims to bring together and lift up the voices of bloggers from marginalized groups as well as allies promoting diverse books (more on this later). 

The Diverse Books Tag is a bit like a scavenger hunt. You are tasked with finding a book (that you have read or intend to) that fits each of the specific criteria listed below. The purpose of the tag is to promote the kinds of books that may not get a lot of attention in the book blogging community.

Muslims Represented in YA Fiction

ISLAM, FICTION AND MEDIA

I can't quite remember a time when I didn't read. I progressed from Ladybird books to Enid Blyton to Nancy Drew to Jeffrey Archer to Jane Austen and then much later to Suzanne Collins. Despite devouring hundreds of book, I can count on one hand the number of times I have seen myself portrayed in these books. 

I identify as a South Asian Muslim. And the handful of books that have portrayed people of color? They have always gotten it wrong.

Misrepresentation is not just a problem relegated to literature. A study released by 416 Labs reveals that the New York Times portrays Islam/Muslims more negatively than alcohol, Democrat, cocaine and cancer (WAIT. WHATTTT?!!) among other benchmarked words. It's no secret that the media often favors sensationalism (who cares about facts and stats, amirite?!) over balanced coverage. But what's surprising is prominent 'feminists' like Tina Fey in Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, a movie that reinforces white superiority, erasure of Afghan women and the role of white saviors in 'rescuing oppressed Muslim women'. Not only are warped representations of Islam and muslims being propagated by media but now racist statements being tossed about in public by fear-mongering politicians. And it doesn't end there. We have Ayaan Hirsi Ali and other pseudo-experts on Islam who perpetuate offensive and untrue ideas about Muslims.

#OwnVoices - Is it my story to tell?

The #WeNeedDiverseBooks campaign initiated in 2014 has brought about a significant shift in publishing trends. This is wonderful.

Except, the stats suggest that things may not be wonderful as they appear to be.

Post Reading: Thicker Than Water - Kelly Fiore

ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: Thicker Than Water

Author: Kelly Fiore

Published: 5 January 2016  by Harper Teen

Source: ARC from Publisher

Add it on Goodreads

Cecelia Price killed her brother. At least, that’s what the police and the district attorney are saying. And although Cecelia is now locked up and forced into treatment, she knows the real story is much more complicated.

Cyrus wasn’t always the drug-addled monster he’d become. He was a successful athlete, but when an injury forced him off the soccer field and onto pain medication, his life became a blur of anger, addiction, and violence. All CeCe could do was stand by and watch, until one day she found a solution.

THE REVIEW

> 15 MILLION - The number of people in the US ALONE who abuse prescription drugs.

50% - The percentage of young adults who believe that prescription drugs are much safer than illegal street drugs.

54.2% - The percentage of prescription drug users who get them free from a friend/relative.

Horrifying. 

As appalling as these stats are, they are also very real.

There's no denying that drug abuse is a prevalent issue among young adults so it is downright shocking to find out that very few YA books address drug and substance abuse. 

A Bibliophile's Fictional Bucket List

“Besides the alternate universe offered by a book, the quiet space of a museum was my favorite place to go. My mom said I was an escapist at heart . . . that I preferred imaginary worlds to the real one. It’s true that I’ve always been able to yank myself out of this world and plunge myself into another.” 

― Amy Plum, Die for Me

I have spoken again and again of the magic found between the pages of a paperback. The kind of magic that happens every time you read an exceptionally brilliant novel. Inspired by Jesse the Reader's Fiction Bucket List Tag vlog, I have compiled my own fictional bucket list.

DISNEY

• Spend a fortnight in Beast's library with Bella.

November Must-Reads: Super Heroes + Murder

Title: Vicious (Vicious #1)

Author: V.E. Schwab  

Publisher: Titan Books

Published: January 10th 2014

ADD ON GOODREADS

MY THOUGHTS:

What distinguishes a hero from a villain? Is it their actions and its effect on society, their past or is it their intentions?  Does doing the right thing for the wrong reasons make you hero? 

One cannot dispute the fact that Schwab is a master storyteller. Her writing style is sheer brilliancy and compels you to turn page after page. I was addicted from page one and couldn't help but be pulled into this insanely twisted tale of ambition, power, betrayal, friendship, heroism and villainy.