Find your next great read for National Reading Month in these award-winning YA books about diversity and multiculturalism.

Books open us to other worlds. We see through the eyes and lives of other characters, and that experience builds empathy. Diverse and multicultural books are important because they hold up mirrors for young readers who might not often see themselves in books, as well as windows for young readers who don’t often encounter students different from themselves.

This list includes many award-winning YA books about diversity and multiculturalism, (as well as a few that haven’t won any awards but were awesome reads). I hope you find something you love here. I did!

Property of Nobody by Khristina Chess

“No one is coming for you. No one is missing you. And no one will mourn you if you’re killed.” ― Khristina Chess, quote from Property of Nobody

Freedom is not free.

Wow! Property of Nobody hooked me from the first page and never let me go!

Teódulo is a compelling and resonant male voice in a genre where boys are underrepresented. What makes Property of Nobody so special is the gripping, slow-boil depiction of how he falls into the trap of debt bondage and can’t escape. I worried about him. I loved seeing his journey and choices as he befriends various characters. This is the kind of thrilling, authentic novel that really shows the dark underbelly of immigration, human trafficking, organized crime, and the desperation of children caught in this web.

If you are looking for YA books about diversity, this one is definitely a page-turner! In fact, Khristina Chess is on my list of Best YA Authors to Binge on Kindle Unlimited because she has so many suspenseful novels.

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

“What’s the point of having a voice if you’re gonna be silent in those moments you shouldn’t be?” ― Angie Thomas, quote from The Hate U Give

I saw this book everywhere and picked it up, wondering what all the fuss is about. Wow. I couldn't put it down. Starr is an amazing character in a perfectly-crafted situation that screams with tension, suspense, and emotion. Her emotions are raw and authentic. You can feel her little-girl timidity in the grand jury testimony and her grief and rage in the scene with Hailey. Her world is vivid and real. The pain of her dual life and the conflict it causes her is palatable. I loved this book. I love this girl. I want to see her again, doing more, making a difference. She's made me believe in her.

The Hate You Give should be at the top of your must-read list of award-winning YA books about diversity and multiculturalism. In fact, after reading this one, I wanted to read everything Angie Thomas has written and also added her to my list of Best YA Authors to Binge on Kindle Unlimited because she’s so amazing! If you’re looking for thought-provoking, outstanding, award-winning YA books about diversity and multiculturalism, Angie Thomas writes some of the best.

We Are Not From Here by Jenny Torres Sanchez

“We are small people, with small names, meant to live small lives. That’s all we’re allowed to live.” ― Jenny Torres Sanchez, quote from We Are Not From Here

We Are Not From Here is a compelling book about a tough topic. Through the lens of fiction, we see a glimpse of some of the difficulties migrants from south America face on their journey to the U.S. Pulga, Pequena, and Chico are three teenagers fleeing violence in their home country. They believe they are prepared for what awaits them, but they are not.

The first third of the book has a slow pace. The author lingers on the character development and circumstances that forced the teenagers to leave home. Once they’re on the road, though, the narrative is gripping and realistic. I burned through the pages quickly, and several events generated emotional tears. These characters are kids. They are forced to grow up too soon. The violence in this novel didn’t surprise me, but the kindness did. Many people helped them along the way. Some turned their backs, but more offered food, shelter, and human decency. I felt like even in the middle of suffering, goodness is within reach.

If you’re looking for award-winning YA books about diversity and multiculturalism, add this one to your reading list.

On the Come Up by Angie Thomas

“That’s when I learned that when people die, they sometimes take the living with them.” ― Angie Thomas, quote from On the Come Up

In On the Come Up, we meet Bri, a complex character facing multiple conflicts in her pursuit of her goal to become a hip-hop star. She wants to save her family, who's struggling for the basics like rent, food, and shoes that aren't falling apart. She wants to make a name for herself that isn't in the shadow of her late, great father. And she wants to do things her own way, with her own voice. She's talented, bold, ambitious, and still very innocent as the adults around her try to manipulate her for their own purposes. Even close friends try to use her experience to push forward their own agendas at school. Through all of this, Bri develops the heart and wisdom she needs to truly become a star.

I loved this book. While reading, I couldn't help comparing it with THUG, but they're completely different stories and characters. I love each novel for different reasons. Angie Thomas is a brilliant author who understands the craft of great storytelling. It's a joy to follow her characters on their journeys.

Check it out. On the Come Up also makes the list of YA books about diversity and multiculturalism that you must read.

The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo

“And isn't that what a poem is? A lantern glowing in the dark.” ― Elizabeth Acevedo, quote from The Poet X

What a surprising and lyrical story!

I wasn’t sure I’d like this book, which is told entirely in verse, but I couldn’t put it down. Xiaomara is a young girl whose traditional Catholic mother prohibits her from doing anything. Xiomara is a good and dutiful daughter. But she wants to participate in the poetry group.

The mother-daughter relationship was well-developed, and there was a powerful moment when the mother did something truly awful. Moments like those between mothers and daughters are the ones that can define the relationship forever. I liked the choices Xiaomara made in response to that. In fact, all of the primary and secondary characters played important roles in her journey. I loved her father, the teacher, the priest; it was refreshing to see so many supportive adults in a young person’s life in a YA novel.

This award-winning YA book about diversity and multiculturalism definitely deserves all the accolades, hype, and great reviews it has received. Check it out!

Bordereless by Jennifere De Leon

Maya lives with her mom in Guatemala and dreams of becoming a fashion designer. She has a real shot, too. Her creations are inventive, and she's going to be in this year's show. I liked the descriptions of her dresses and her approaches to solving design problems. These elements really made her character shine.

On the one hand, Maya seems like a well-grounded, mature teen with "a good head on her shoulders" about her future. On the other hand, she says and does the stupidest things. This makes here relatable as a teenager, but many of the cases felt forced and overblown. I also didn't like the tic where Every. Word. Is. A. Separate. Sentence. Gah! And the exclamation marks! Ugh! :-)

Most of the plot points are realistic and true, especially as events escalated. I won't give spoilers about the ending except to say that it was good.

If you are looking for award-winning YA books about diversity and multiculturalism and the impact of illegal immigration on young adults, this novel is worth picking up.

The Sun Is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon

“The trouble with getting your hopes too far up is: it's a long way down.” ― Nicola Yoon, quote from The Sun Is Also a Star

I loved Nicola Yoon’s Everything Everything, so when The Sun Is Also A Star released, I couldn’t wait to read it. This novel is a star-crossed love story between two teens of different backgrounds: Daniel Jae Ho Bae (a middle-class US citizen of South Korean descent) and Natasha Kingsley (a Jamaican girl who is being deported at the end of the day).

The timeline of the novel is 12 hours, and in that time, the characters fall in love. With every page, I kept hoping that something would change and something would stop the inevitable from happening. Because it wasn’t fair. Daniel and Natasha just found each other.

You won’t want to miss this heartbreaking, bestselling, and award-winning YA book about diversity and multiculturalism.

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

“We all have to find our own ways to say good-bye.” ― Sherman Alexie, quote from The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

Junior Spirit is a courageous boy who dares to leave the reservation, his school, and his best friend to seek a different life. His story is funny, heartbreaking, inspiring, and brave. I loved his quirky voice, his cartoons, and I cheered so hard for him in his basketball game.

This novel highlights the contrast between extreme poverty and wealth, as well as racial differences. These themes are handled with humor and sensitivity.

In a list of award-winning YA books about diversity and multiculturalism, this novel shines.

Trafficked by Kim Purcell

Although Trafficked did not win any big awards, it is a little-known but powerful YA book about diversity and multiculturalism about characters not often seen in fiction.

Trafficked an absorbing YA novel that shows how an orphaned teenager from Moldova easily becomes a victim in human trafficking. Hannah was easily duped into leaving her home for the promise of a better life in the United States, a salary, and a chance to study English. Instead, she became a slave, forced into being an unpaid nanny and a maid, fighting off sexual advances of the husband of the house and his male associates, and being beaten and verbally abused by the wife. She is young, slow to realize her situation, and not great with English.

The plotting of Trafficked was thrilling. There were plenty of twists to keep me invested. For example, there is a backstory about how Hannah was "chosen" by this family that is revealed little by little.

I was rooting for Hannah to find a way out and take charge of her life. I worried about her because I knew the odds were not in her favor.

I’ve included Hannah’s heartbreaking and thought-provoking story in this YA books about diversity and multiculturalism list because human trafficking is a real, modern problem across the world. You won’t want to miss Hannah’s story. She begins the novel in a state of naïve innocence in her home country, and by the end, she has become mature and wise to the adult world. It’s a realistic and sad tragedy.

All the Crooked Saints by Maggie Stiefvater

In this multicultural and multi-generational YA book about a Mexican American family of “saints,” pilgrims from everywhere arrive at thier ranch in search of miracles.

I almost abandoned this book. It has a really long, slow, meandering warm up that seems to be going nowhere, and then around page 170, I was suddenly delighted me with this passage:

"It may seem like madness for a young woman to chase a runaway horse, as a galloping horse travels at twenty-five miles an hour and a galloping woman only travels at fifteen. But runaway horses rarely have a purpose, and young women chasing them often do." ― Maggie Stiefvater, quote from All the Crooked Saints

The scene that followed was full of language that made me smile and action that finally drew me into the story. More lovely moments followed. The remainder of the book was magical, mysterious, and ultimately transformative for the characters. I wish the pacing for the first half had been different.

You’ve Reached Sam by Dustin Thao

This book has a great premise: what if you had a second chance at saying goodbye?

However for a lot of reasons, the main character didn't seem all that likeable to me, so I wasn't able to connect with her grief at a gut level. The flashbacks to the romance between Julie and Sam didn't help me to fall in love with this couple and their relationship, and instead, I found myself skimming over passages to finish. There were some engaging plot points to drive the narrative forward, but they often lost momentum. I'm glad I pushed to the ending because it was a good resolution.

The cover on this novel is fabulous, though, isn't it? It's the reason I picked up the book.

I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika Sanchez

“She has compared me to my sister every single day of my life, so why should I expect that to change now that she’s dead?” ― Erika L. Sanchez, quote from I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter

I loved the cover on this novel, and with so many stars and enthusiastic reviews, I figured I would love this story. There is an interesting mystery about what happened to Julia’s older sister Olga, who died in front of a truck. There is an interesting view into Mexican culture.

But.

The mother-daughter relationship (which is the title of the book) is not the real focus of the story. The mother is portrayed as traditional and strict, but she’s also mostly a shadow and underdeveloped character. Julia, the daughter, is a hard character to like because she has so many hard edges, and I never reached a point of real empathy or connection with her—even though she is a grieving person. Instead, I felt like the book was a checklist of YA book “issues” without any depth or focus on any of them: immigration, depression, first-time sex, death of a sibling, food, Mexican culture, drug usage, attempted suicide, rape… The list could continue.

You will probably feel differently. Literally thousands of readers on Goodreads loved this book.

Still, this YA book about diversity and multiculturalism definitely belongs on the must-read list for books in this category. It was a finalist for the National Book Award, after all.

Other YA Books about Diversity and Multiculturalism

If you are looking for other YA books about diversity and multiculturalism (best-selling, award-winning, or otherwise), check out the YA Multicultural Books and YA Diversity Books lists on Goodreads. You might also be interested in my post, Other Good Reads, which has a comprehensive list of reviews of YA books.

Do you have any personal favorites to recommend to me? I’m always looking for another great read in this category.

Khristina Chess is the award-winning author of several YA novels about troubled teens turning corners. You can find her on Amazon, Goodreads, and Twitter as an active daily contributor in the #5amwritersclub.