There’s a lot of talk going around right now about the white-washing of book covers, specifically YA and MG book covers. I encourage you to go read those posts, which discuss these issues and present a number of different opinions.

For now, I’m just going to say thank you:

To the folks who are making these conversations happen. I’m glad people are raising their voices and talking about this, even though it might not be a comfortable discussion. We need to talk about this.

To the people who are taking action: writing letters to publishers who put white faces on books that feature non-white characters. Or super-skinny models on the covers of books about normal or overweight characters.

To the writers from all backgrounds working on putting more diversity into their books. I’m grateful there are people willing to risk getting it wrong (no matter how hard they try), in the hopes of getting it right. I am grateful to the writers who are giving readers of all colors and backgrounds the message that it’s okay to be who they are. That they are not less than others.

To my editor, my publisher (Holt) and artist Brandon Dorman for creating a beautiful cover for my next novel that accurately depicts my brown-skinned main character.

To all these people for the positive steps they are taking to create change. I hope we can all keep it up.

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