The best books of fiction in which the protagonist has an ethnic or sexual identity other than that of the writer

Years of research into Japanese life, culture, and history went into the preparation for writing this totally believable and lyrical work of fiction that takes the reader through the life of a Geisha from orphaned child to old woman. As Sayuri is groomed for a life of elegant slavery we see the glittering world of the Geisha through her eyes with its demands, emotional loneliness, and pathos. And we accompany her at a time when the Geisha houses are forced to close during World War II and she must reinvent herself. The book is peopled by compelling characters but there is none more convincing than the protagonist in this exacting cultural and historical experience. I found it to be an exceptional depiction of a multi-faceted woman by a male author. It moved me to be as exact as possible when developing a character of another culture.

This is a moving middle grade novel in verse in which the protagonist, a young Syrian girl who flees to America with her mother, must leave devoted family members behind and in danger. Written by an American-born woman with patriarchal roots in Jordan and a few Syrian friends, she has nevertheless given us a vivid picture of the war in Aleppo, Syria, and the difficulties encountered by Jude who must come of age during a very difficult and confusing time in her own life and the life of her country. Young people will be able to relate to this on many levels including the wish to belong, homesickness for what was known, and what it is to come of age in such a completely unfamiliar setting. For someone who has moved many times, this story was particularly affecting.

Parrotfish is a very early and stunning YA about what it is for a pre-pubescent child to transition from a girl to a boy written by a woman who prepared for this by learning as much as possible from the experiences of a close transgender friend. Because of these efforts, the problems faced by such young people and their families are sensitively dealt with in this story of Gabe's heartwrenching journey which, at times, is also hilarious. Instructive as well as entertaining, it gently schools the reader in compassion and understanding for anyone who chooses to make such a difficult journey. This was my first in-depth view of the difficulties and yearnings of a transgender youth.

Nhamo is the remarkable twelve-year-old heroine in this engrossing book who bravely sets out to escape an arranged marriage to a cruel man. Summoning uncommon courage, she builds a raft and launches it upon an enormous lake where she must war against enemies both seen and unseen as well as the threat of drowning and starvation. Mystical African beliefs come alive in this book written by a white woman who is deeply versed in the culture and customs of Mozambique and Zimbabwe. Skillfully rendered, it is often cited as a classic adventure story for young people and was one of the catalysts that convinced me to write my adventure stories.

This winner of the Newbury Medal is another book that gave me the courage to write a book that includes my own invented tribe. The author, Scott O'Dell, also spent his early years in Southern Calif. as did I and much of the described island flora and fauna is reminiscent of Santa Catalina Island. After hunting for otters Karina's tribe misses the first boat that was to take them back to the mainland. When she misses the second one because of an act of bravery, she is fated to survive many years alone which she does with unimaginable courage and tenacity.