In the last year or so, Kirkus reviews changed their review policy to try and better identify diverse books for readers. In an article by Vicky Smith from last may, (https://www.kirkusreviews.com/features/unmaking-white-default/) she writes "But as the conversation surrounding diversity in children’s literature has heated up, I’ve felt more and more that naming race and identity is one of the duties of a reviewer." I understand her point. Covers and plot descriptions of novels are not necessarily indicators of race or sexuality, and for those who are seeking books with diverse characters, this makes discovery a challenge. On the other hand, I also think that there has to be a measure of how relevant or important those details are to the story, and whether or not it's necessary to call attention to it.
Discussing Race/Sexuality in Reviews
Discussing Race/Sexuality in Reviews
Discussing Race/Sexuality in Reviews
In the last year or so, Kirkus reviews changed their review policy to try and better identify diverse books for readers. In an article by Vicky Smith from last may, (https://www.kirkusreviews.com/features/unmaking-white-default/) she writes "But as the conversation surrounding diversity in children’s literature has heated up, I’ve felt more and more that naming race and identity is one of the duties of a reviewer." I understand her point. Covers and plot descriptions of novels are not necessarily indicators of race or sexuality, and for those who are seeking books with diverse characters, this makes discovery a challenge. On the other hand, I also think that there has to be a measure of how relevant or important those details are to the story, and whether or not it's necessary to call attention to it.