#WeNeedDiverseBooks

I’m sure a lot of you are familiar with the recent #WeNeedDiverseBooks campaign that’s circulating the book community. I think it’s a fantastic way to celebrate differences.

When brainstorming LORE, that’s what we were doing–specifically capturing as many cultures as possible from all over the world.

And it resonated with a reader!

Quote (bolding added):

(Click HERE to read the entire review.)

There is one aspect of this anthology that stands out above all the others and that is its diversity. As the synopsis might already betray, the editors managed to collect six retellings of folklore from all over the world. There is the selkie and fae mythology from Ireland and Northern Europe in Shimmer, Brinda Berry, and The Barricades, Cate Dean, there is Arabian influences mixed with a lesbian romance in Between, Karen Y. Bynum, Native American folklore in Sunset Moon, Laura Diamond, a modern twist on the Yiddish Gole in The Maker, Jayne Knolls, and finally a throwback to Mayan culture in A Beautiful Mourning, Theresa DaLayne. Although it can be argued how successful each adaptation or retelling is, there is no doubt that the editors and authors put some thought into making this anthology reflect as many different cultures as possible. Published in April, this anthology’s publication slightly predated the #WeNeedDiverseBooks campaign, but would have served as an amazing example of how different cultures can be combined into one book and how each character, may they be male or female, black or white, is relatable and important.

Thank you so much, Juli R, for highlighting an aspect of this anthology that is so very important. 🙂

#WeNeedDiverseBooks