Although editors, copyeditors, and proofreaders are expected to flag problematic portrayals and instances of biased language, they, like the author, can’t know what they don’t know. Publishers hire sensitivity readers who share lived experience with certain characters or situations to ensure the portrayal is accurate and presented in an unbiased way.
diversity in publishing
An Interview with Connie King Leonard
By Kristen Ludwigsen
Connie King Leonard is the author of Sleeping in My Jeans, a YA novel about a teen girl who has to live out of her car with her mother and young sister. I had the pleasure of sitting down with Connie to discuss what inspired her to write a book about being homeless, what message she hopes it will send, and the unique protagonist at the center of it all—Mattie Rollins.
Lack of Body Diversity in Young Adult Literature
By Alyssa Hanchar
According to my Goodreads account, I’ve read approximately 240 books, most of which were young adult literature. One of the broadest genres, YA covers a lot of ground. So why is it so hard to find a plus-sized protagonist? I’ve been overweight most of my life, and I’ve searched through all the book racks for […]
Diversifying My Reading in 2015
By Emily Goldman
Diversity is a never-ending conversation within the publishing industry. I say never-ending because, despite the repeated conversations about the importance of representation within books, as well as the diversity of authors published and books reviewed by various media outlets, the industry continues to be slow to institute real change addressing the glaring lack of representation […]