Stories of profound courage in the face of unfathomable circumstances pepper the memories of generations past. Though they can sometimes be difficult to talk about, these important accounts keep history alive in the hearts of modern humans. I have had the fortune of talking with my grandparents about their experiences in the Korean War and witnessing Japanese internment camps, and these stories help me understand the past and how these events shaped both their lives and my ow

Allergies and skin conditions are no joke, and they are a reality for people all over the world. From taking medication to carrying EpiPens, ailments like these can be even more difficult to manage because they are not always visible. Though great strides are being made in combating food allergies and other chronic conditions, they nonetheless remain a constant struggle for people experiencing them. Itch is a #ownvoices book that tells the story about a boy named Isaac. Havin

The island of Sri Lanka is a beautiful place, filled with creatures and foods that are not found everywhere else on the planet. One of the many benefits of reading books is the ability to be transported to and learn more about places that might otherwise be unfamiliar or difficult to visit. In a #ownvoices debut, The Girl Who Stole an Elephant takes readers to the fictional land of Serendib, where the landscape of Sri Lanka becomes palpable to readers even if they live elsewh

Dystopian stories are one of the most frequent I have read, both as a teenager and as an adult. Something about the angst of the teen characters having to find their places in the world gets me, and I still find myself rooting for that angsty teen living in my own past. The latest in the dystopian YA novels I’ve read is Tracker220, a #ownvoices debut novel about a Jewish girl living in a world dominated by technology. Kaya’s religion is a unique addition to the canon of sci-f