Representation on the shelves

I’ve read hundreds of books over the past several years and I’ve noticed a sparking trend. Authors are doing more to diversify the people in their books.

When looking for a diverse book, typically people think race, ethnicity or sexual orientation. Those are ways authors can make their books more rich and representative of the world we live in.

But recently, I’ve noticed a new kind of diversity — a kind that shows diseases and medical conditions, mental health struggles and more. But these characters aren’t victims. They fall in love, battle on dragons, save lives and do all the things your “normal” protagonists can do.

“Fourth Wing,” the book of 2023 by Rebecca Yarros, features Violet Sorrengail as its main character. Though not called out by name in the fantasy novel, Sorrengail has Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome.

The illness affects the tissue that supports and protects other tissues and organs in the body, also known as connective tissue. It mainly affects the skin, joints and blood vessel walls. For example, joints might be too loose and able to move too far, or skin might be stretchy and might not heal well after injury.

As a cadet training in the deadly Basgiath War College to be an elite dragon rider, she must hide this syndrome so her peers don’t think her a weak link. Though she must do things differently, she is able to prove she can do anything they can do.

As with many authors, Yarros wrote her own struggle into Violet’s story. Yarros suffers from Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, making signings and fan events a challenge.

“Fourth Wing” is closing on 1.5 million reviews on Goodreads in its first 10 months on the shelves. That represents an entire population of people now aware of the challenges this syndrome causes a person.

“I too have EDS, and reading ‘Fourth Wing’ brought me so much comfort and joy,” one reviewer posted. “I’ve never read a main character living with my struggles while also doing bad ass things.”

Another person said, “I don’t have EDS, but I do have a chronic illness and it was so refreshing to see a character like this not get magically fixed by dragons or something. I just kept waiting for it to happen and it didn’t.”

One of the first books I read with social diversity was “The Kiss Quotient” by Helen Hoang. This contemporary romance is diverse in a variety of ways. The main male character, Michael, is Vietnamese, while our main female character, Stella, is on the autism spectrum.

There is an unfounded belief that those with autism or down syndrome may never live on their own or find a romantic relationship unless it’s with someone else on the spectrum.

This book, and others, help change that narrative. Regardless of “disorder” or “syndrome,” with the right person, everyone is able to find love. “The Kiss Quotient” was a super cute romance showing the hurdles Stella overcomes to go after what she wants.

As someone with anxiety, I love the next representation. “Yours Truly,” by Abby Jimenez features the main male character with anxiety and a character in kidney failure.

I think “Yours Truly” showed anxiety struggles I have on a daily basis. Dr. Jacob Maddox has quirks he uses to navigate his anxiety like looking up the menu of a restaurant before going and picking out several options.

He also worries about where he will park at a new place. He will even drive by the day before to scope out the parking situation. These scenes make me feel seen (no pun intended).

While I don’t go so far as to drive past the place, I will look up where I’m going on Google Maps and look at the view where I can see the parking situation. I also need to know what door I’m going in and then where to go from there. When we moved to Creston, I made my husband go to the post office with me to show me where to do everything.

It’s not that I think I won’t be able to figure it out. Jacob and I are smart people, but the anxiety is irrational. I think someone will notice I don’t know what I’m doing. They will laugh and then tell the whole room I’m an idiot. See? Irrational.

This makes being a journalist difficult because I’m constantly going to new schools. I walk in the front door and panic. But I figure it out. I, like Violet Sorrengail, can clear my hurdles and be just as successful as anyone else.

At the That’s What She Read book club in Mount Ayr, we read “Two Wrongs Make a Right” by Chloe Liese. The main female is on the spectrum while the male has anxiety. It was highly rated by our members and is another representative read.

Next week we have our annual Progress Report in the Monday, Wednesday and Friday editions of the paper. This year’s theme is on diversity. We explore the many ways our differences give us fresh perspectives.

From physical disabilities to recovered drug addicts — diversity is the only thing we have in common.