Books with Characters of Color

Last updated: September 15, 2025

While people of color are still underrepresented in books for kids and teens, we've found lots of great reads with diverse main and supporting characters in all sorts of genres, including mystery, fantasy, romance, adventure, sci-fi, graphic novels, historical fiction, novels in verse -- you name it! In fact, we've gathered well over 100 books to recommend for readers of all ages. These fantastic books promote diversity and inclusion and teach readers about different cultures. And on top of that, they offer tons of positive roles models, especially for kids of color. For more great reads, check out our Books About Racism and Social Justice and Latino Books.