Every other week, we post a diversity roundup — a collection of interesting links around the web relating to MG/YA books and diversity issues. If you have a link that you think we should share, please email us!

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Nerds Heart YA

Nerds Heart YA, a book tournament for underrepresented YA books, is now open for nominations! You have until March 7th to nominated YA titles that were published in 2010 and feature characters (or are written by authors) who fall within seven categories, including people of color and LGBT. Go here for all the details!

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C.O.L.O.R.: Coalition of Librarians and Online Readers

Ari of Reading in Color announced her awesome (previously secret) project, which matches up libraries that need books with readers who want to donate books, especially books featuring people of color. Donors can consult a wish list at the Book Depository, choose a book to donate, and send it directly to the library in question. First up is the Arlington Community High School Library in Indianapolis. Go here for all the details!

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Of Note

• 28 Days Later at the Brown Bookshelf celebrates Black History Month by profiling 28 African American authors and illustrators. You can already read profiles of Ebony Joy Wilkins, Hope Anita Smith, Christopher Grant and more. Go here to read them all.
• It’s time for more YA for people of color — The Kirkus blog spotlights 15 recent YA books that feature teens of color.
• “To only put forward stories of marginalized people suffering nobly or weathering hardship, to the exclusion of other types of stories, is where we once again risk falling into the trap of what Chimamanda Adichie terms the “single story” trope.” — Author Neesha Meminger (Jazz in Love, in “An Equal Place at the Table” at The YA YA YAs
• “Let’s face it, there’s a lack of ethnic characters in children’s fiction, certainly in the mainstream. … I didn’t want my book to be one with an agenda but one that simply reflects the world I live in, which is ethnically diverse.” — Author Sarwat Chadda (Dark Goddess) in an interview with Cindy Pon at The Enchanted Inkpot

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In Review

• “The story touches on many interconnected themes; life, change, growing up, sickness, death and rebirth are just a few.  But it doesn’t dwell on any one theme or preach any morals; the reader is left to figure out the meaning for herself.  I appreciate that this book can be thought-provoking without being heavy-handed.” — What If Books Etc. on Shadow Speaker by Nnedi Okorafor
• “I think that one of the greatest aspects of Jazz in Love is how even though Jazz’s problems basically stem from her Indian heritage, the mode in which they are presented and dealt with are universal: because everybody, no matter the background, can relate to family pressure and expectations, to wanting to find love, to figuring out stuff about sex, about friendship and loyalty.” — The Book Smugglers on Jazz in Love by Neesha Meminger
• “His insights are blunt, honest, and true and he is the kind of character that you love to love; the kind of character that you respect for his integrity and wish you could have a conversation with.” — Cristina Mitra on Marcelo in the Real World by Francisco X. Stork, at YALSA’s The Hub
• “It tells a story we don’t get to read much of here in YA land, and it tells it with grace, warmth and not a little humor.  When I read the last page, it was with happy tears in my eyes as I wished Marisa – and therefore myself – happiness and success in all her new adventures.” — Forever Young Adult on What Can’t Wait by Ashley Perez