6 Novels in Verse for Teens author Jacqueline Woodson, concurs. “Adult shame is what affects conversa- tions, not kids” (First Book 2019). For more from Nikki Grimes, Jason Reynolds, and Jacqueline Woodson, see the Author/Title Index. Another example of a counterstory within a novel in verse is Saving Red by Sonya Sones. The protagonist, Molly, searches the streets for homeless people for a school assignment. One girl, Red, stands out to her. Molly quickly realizes that Red appears to be mentally ill and there is a lot more to her story than homelessness alone. This is a terrific springboard to discussions about mental health with teens, and a mirror for those who need to find some of their own characteristics in books. What appears to be posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia are all addressed via multiple characters. To find more about Saving Red, go to the Author/Title Index. Beverly Tatum’s ABC framework of inclusive learning (Ask, Bridge, Culti- vate) requires scrutinizing youth literacy and identity (Tatum 2000). This is detailed further by Kumasi and Hughes-Hassell (2017, 16), as they extend it with a critical lens, adding these important questions: “A—Ask: Who is left out of the picture in our collections and services . . . who is being misrepresented or under-represented in our services and resources? B—Bridge: How might we bridge the disconnects for those whose voices and cultures are missing or underrepresented in our services and resources? C—Cultivate: How might we cultivate new voices or be agents of change who challenge the status quo?” As noted in Jewett (2017), “If what we read forms group identity and defines common values, and if what we read excludes stories by and about people of color, then is it no surprise that as a culture we do not identify with or value the bodies and minds of people of color.” Jewett continues by wondering if Trayvon Martin might still be alive if George Zimmerman had read books by and about Black people in high school. Additionally, she ponders if reading such books may have affected the verdict in Zimmerman’s murder trial, result- ing in a conviction, if the jurors on the case had read them. We Need Diverse Books We Need Diverse Books (WNDB) is a grassroots, nonprofit organization of lovers of children’s books that advocates for important changes in the pub- lishing industry to produce and promote literature that authentically reflects and honors the lives of all young people. Founded in 2014, the mission of WNDB is to put more books featuring diverse characters into the hands of all children. Its main goal of creating a world where all children can see
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