The Diverse Baseline - Reading Challenge
The Diverse Baseline Challenge (#TheDiverseBaseline) created by @bookish.millennial & @themargherita.s (on instagram)
MISSION: read a minimum of 3 books by nonwhite and mixed race authors per month, for the entirety of 2024 (to make a minimum of 36 books), in order to help form the habit of reading and supporting books by nonwhite and mixed race authors.
Each month, there will be three prompts (A, B, C).
You can choose which books to read, as long as they each fit one of the prompts.
You can’t use one book to fit two prompts—they need to be three different books.
If you prefer to read at a slower pace, make the effort to read at least two books a month (for a total of 24).
If you’re a fast reader and finish the three books before the end of the month, you’re welcome to read more books fitting the prompts.
All books need to be written by nonwhite and mixed race authors. Books with nonwhite and mixed race main characters written by white authors do NOT fit the brief.
Readers and influencers are welcome, and encouraged, to share recommendations, as well as sharing at the start of each month which books they plan to read during that month, and adding those books to the official Storygraph Challenge.
It does not end with simply reading these books: remember to share them and review them. If you liked the books, don’t be shy and talk about them.
This challenge is following the example of 23for23 and many others, in hopes of continued change in the reading (and publishing) community.
PROMPTS:
JANUARY
A: A collection of poetry
B: Latine Author
C: A book with a fat main character
FEBRUARY
A: Black Author
B: Historical Fiction
C: A book with found family
MARCH
A: A translated book
B: Indigenous Author
C: Different religious background than you
APRIL
A: About chronic illness/pain
B: Southwest Asian and North African (SWANA) author
C: A book about colonization
MAY
A: East Asian, Native Hawaiian, or Pacific Islander Author
B: Desi or South Asian Author
C: A book with a teenage main character
JUNE
A: Queer Author
B: Indie Author
C: A novella
JULY
A: Disabled author
B: Neurodivergent author
C: A book with real people/models on the cover
AUGUST
A: Book by a biracial or mixed-race author
B: An anthology
C: A retelling or re-imagining
SEPTEMBER
A: Fantasy/Science Fiction
B: Memoir
C: A picture/children’s book
OCTOBER
A: Horror, Thriller, or Mystery
B: Trans Author
C: Book of your choice
NOVEMBER
A: Literary fiction
B: Surrealism, Fabulism, or Magical Realism
C: A graphic novel or comic book
DECEMBER
A: About intersectional feminism
B: A holiday romance
C: A cozy mystery
This is not a comprehensive list. It’s a starting point for people to get used to picking up (and reading) books by nonwhite and mixed race authors.
On the official website you can find graphics for instagram to help you share your reading choices and your reviews.
About the creators:
Brittany is a bookish content creator from the San Francisco Bay Area. She can be found on instagram and tiktok.
Margherita is a reader and indie author from Italy. Xe can be found on instagram, tiktok and medium.