Fantasy has always been a popular genre for teens. Just look at Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, and Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. All amazing, popular series that deal with the more magical side of life. That being said, one of the things that is often missing from young adult fantasy is diverse characters. Thankfully, over the past few years we have started to see more and more diverse fantasy titles. One of them is our Teen Read of the Month: The Belles, by #WeNeedDiverseBooks author, Dhonielle Clayton. The first book in a new dystopian fantasy series, The Belles features a main character of color, Camellia Beauregard.
The novel follows a group of young women who are born with the gift to give others beauty in a world where people are cursed with ugliness. The Belles, as they’re called, are revered, celebrated, and highly valued. One of them, Camellia, wishes to be the favorite chosen by the queen to be the Belle to the royal family. Yet, when she finds herself in the position, it’s not all glitz and glamour. She unwittingly becomes the pawn in a dangerous power game and discovers that all she has been taught about the Belles and their gifts may not be all true. If this title interests you, place your hold here! You can also check out the many diverse fantasy titles below.
- The Wrath and the Dawn, by Renee Ahdieh
- The Game of Love and Death, by Martha Brockenbrough
- The Reader, by Traci Chee
- The Belles, by Dhonielle Clayton
- Labyrinth Lost, by Zoraida Cordova
- Of Fire and Stars, by Audrey Coulthurst
- Forest of a Thousand Lanterns, by Julie C. Dao
- Half Bad, by Sally Green
- The Library of Fates, by Aditi Khorana
- Huntress, by Malinda Lo
- Reign of the Fallen, by Sarah Glenn Marsh
- Before She Ignites, by Jodi Meadows
- Mask of Shadows, by Linsey Miller
- The Rest of Us Just Live Here, by Patrick Ness
- Prophesy, by Ellen Oh
- Akata Witch, by Nnedi Okorafor
- Shadowshaper, by Daniel Jose Older
- Beasts Made of Night, by Tochi Onyebuchi
- Poison’s Kiss, by Breanna Shields
- All the Crooked Saints, by Maggie Stiefvater
- An Ember in the Ashes, by Sabaa Tahir
