Crystal Paul

Remember a couple of years back when the call for a Year of Reading Women made the rounds to push back against the extremely male stock on the bookstore shelves? Well, it’s time to push back more and continue to make room on the shelves for a more…

The world we live in today is more and more mixed up.... in more ways than one. The world is smaller than ever with more and more people making connections across cultural lines and continents. While multiracial people have been around for a long…

Although she’s most famous for her award-winning YA novel in verse Brown Girl Dreaming, author Jacqueline Woodson has long been dedicated to the mission to make the world of young adult and children’s books more inclusive. She’s written books about…

In case you didn’t know it, we’re right in the middle of National Arab American Heritage Month! That’s right the whole month of April in the U.S. is dedicated to the celebration of Arab American history, culture, and contemporary voice. And what…

The reasons for the glaring lack of inclusiveness in the book world are multifaceted. It could be that many readers erroneously believe they "can't relate" to books by and about underrepresented communities. There are also few people of color in…

Despite popular belief, poetry isn’t exclusively the realm of stodgy white guys in tweed jackets waxing nostalgic about blades of grass and such. As one of the most visceral and versatile forms of literature, poetry is a natural medium for writers…

I can only remember having two non-white teachers during my time in school. From my early years at underfunded public schools comprised mostly of black and Latino students to my later years at private schools with largely white populations, my…

Whether you love cooking or loathe every minute you have to spend in a kitchen, listening to a good food-themed audiobook can go a long way towards adding a little zest to your dinner routine. With your hands busy stirring, chopping, seasoning, and…

Graphic novels haven't always had the best reputation when it comes to what is considered “good literature." Comics and graphic novels are generally considered great for entertainment value or for kids, but, until recently, not really suitable for…