If I Was Your Girl, by Meredith Russo

Cover:

Bibliographic Information:

Title: If I Was Your Girl

Author: Meredith Russo

ISBN:  978-1250078407

Publisher: Flatiron Books

Copyright: 2016

Reader’s Annotation:

Sometimes, your very life and safety, depends on keeping who you are a secret.

Summary:

After having had a difficult time in her last school, Amanda now finds herself moving in with her father, a man who has not been around much lately, and starting a new school.  Part of the reason Amanda had such a hard time at her last school is she came out as trans, and began transitioning.  Now, at a new school, she has a fresh start, a chance to make new friends, and to be herself without her past overshadowing her.  Amanda meets a boy named Grant and they begin dating.  She tries to tell him about herself in the form of a letter, but he tears it up, saying it does not matter.  When jealous prompts one of Amanda’s friends to out her to the whole school at a dance, the peaceful sanctuary Amanda has built for herself in this new place is destroyed.

Critical Evaluation:

While this book contains aspects of various YA genres (contemporary realistic fiction, romance, drama), I am focusing on it as an LGBT title, simply because this book inhabits such a unique space within that genre.  Amanda is a trans female, who has transitioned in high school.  As a character, Amanda is very unique, and genuine.  She talks openly of her struggle to accept her gender identity, back when she was still known as Andrew, including a past suicide attempt.  It is so important for teens to see characters like Amanda in YA literature.  Her experience as a trans female is presented in a way that is honest, including the dark parts, without being fetishized.

The setting of the book is Texas, which certainly has an impact on the story.  In one scene, Amanda goes to church with one of her friends.  Amanda has to prove that she is a good Baptist by talking about her favorite Bible passages.  In such a religious environment, Amanda is even more at risk as a trans female.  The setting adds another layer of difficulty to Amanda’s situation.

An important aspect of the story is how people in Amanda’s life deal with her gender identity.  Some people, mostly the other females in the story, are fine with the situation, supportive even.  It is the males in the story, such as Amanda’s father or the boys at school, who have greater difficult with it.  I think this speaks to the underlying misogyny that accompanies transphobia. 

In short, Russo has created a work that occupies a unique, and important, place in YA LGBT literature.  Her experience as a trans woman shows through in her writing, especially in the authentic voice she has given to the character of Amanda.

Author Biography:

(from author’s Amazon page)

Meredith Russo is a trans woman from Chattanooga, Tennessee, where she currently lives. She is a mother to two wonderful children, an incorrigible geek, and kind of a basket case. You would think, given her interests, that she'd be writing fantasy door stoppers or hard sci-fi examinations of the nature of humanity, but for some reason stories about being queer in the South keep calling out to her. She is the author of If I Was Your Girl.

Genre(s):

LGBT fiction

Curriculum Ties:

Pennsylvania State Standard CC.1.3.9-10.K
Read and comprehend literary fiction on grade level, reading independently and proficiently.

Booktalk Ideas:

A discussion on challenges that transgender teens face

A discussion on how transgender rights are not at the national forefront

          

Reading Level:

Lexile 770

Interest Age: 

14 and up

Challenge Issues: Could be challenged based on scenes involving teen substance use, violence, and teen sexuality.

  If this book were challenged I would:

·         Listen to the concerns of the person raising the challenge

·         Consult the library’s collection development policy

·         Explain how this work meets a library need based on the collection development policy 

·         Consult YALSA’s Dealing with Challenges to Young Adult Materials

·         Consult reviews on VOYA, Amazon, Common Sense Media, and Kirkus

·         Discuss any awards or notable commendations the book received

·         Explain the library’s commitment to intellectual freedom as discussed in the ALA Library Bill of Rights

·         Give the patron the procedure for a formal challenge should they seek to pursue it

Why was this book selected:

While YA LGBT literature has vastly improved over the past 10-15 years, there are still disparities over who is represented in the literature.  Trans people continue to be underrepresented in YA literature, which is what prompted me to include this in my collection.  Additionally, it was written by a trans woman, which means not only is an authentic voice presented in the work, but trans teens see themselves represented not only in the work but in its creator (additionally, a trans model was used for the cover!). I got a chance to see Meredith speak at the 2016 YALSA symposium, and after that, I knew I had to include this book in my collection for this class.

Angus, Thongs, and Full-Frontal Snogging: Confessions of Georgia Nicolson, by Louise Rennison

Cover:

Bibliographic Information:

Title: Angus, Thongs, and Full-Frontal Snogging: Confessions of Georgia Nicolson

Author: Louise Rennison

ISBN:  978-0064472272

Publisher: HarperTempest

Copyright: 1999

Reader’s Annotation:

Read one girl’s adventures in romance, in her own words.

Summary:

Georgia and her friends at her all-girls school are at the perfect age to become boy crazy.  Georgia’s friend Jas starts to Tom, a boy in town, so Georgia helps gather information on Tom.  Along the way she meet’s Tom’s brother Robbie, and develops a crush of her own.  Robbie has a girlfriend however, so Georgia looks for other boys, including Peter, who teaches Georgia how to kiss, and Mark, another boy from the neighborhood.  Georgia worries about the state of her parents’ marriage, as her father is off in New Zealand, leaving Georgia with her mother, younger sister Libby, and ridiculous cat Angus.  Georgia’s father is looking for work, possibly moving the family to New Zealand if he is successful.  In the meantime, Georgia is successful in breaking up Robbie and his girlfriend, and starts pursuing him herself.

Critical Evaluation:

The book is set up as Georgia’s diary, so we, the readers, are privy to her personal and uncensored thoughts.  I have to admit, I did not care for Georgia as a character.  Rennison has written her in a manner that is wholly self-absorbed, immature, and disrespectful.  For example, Georgia is very fixated on the ranking the girls give each other in certain areas and physical traits.  However, I expect that these are very similar to the thoughts of most teen girls, and that is what makes this book so popular.  Despite the fact that I do not care for Georgia as a character, she is incredibly well developed.  I can practically picture her in my mind as I read the book.

The plot moves very quickly, keeping the reader engaged throughout.  Georgia is very comical, and gets involved in lots of hi-jinks, included the time she shaves off her eyebrows.  The ending is slightly ambiguous, in part because this is the first in a series about Georgia’s romantic adventures.  However, the book also functions quite well as a standalone story. 

Because the setting is British, there are some slang terms and spoken syntax that may seem odd to American teens reading the book.  However, the book does address this up front, and includes a handy glossary.  Still, there are some cultural differences that may also present challenges for teen readers.  Most American teens do not have to wear uniforms to school, for example.

All in all, Rennison has written an engaging, humorous story about one girl’s journey through teenhood.  Georgia is not only a well-developed character, she is a very honest narrator to the story, even honest to the point where she is a little unlikable.

Author Biography:

(from author’s website)

*Note- Louise Rennison died in February, 2016.  Her website bio has not been updated to reflect this.

Louise Rennison lives in Brighton, a place that she likes to think of as the San Francisco of the south coast. Which is sad as it is nothing like San Francisco, being mainly pebbles and large people in tiny swimming knickers who have gone bright red in the sun. Although she lives in Brighton in reality, in her mind she lives somewhere exotic with a manservant called Juan.

Genre(s): 

Romance, Chick Lit, Humor

Curriculum Ties:

Pennsylvania State Standard CC.1.3.9-10.K

Read and comprehend literary fiction on grade level, reading independently and proficiently.

Booktalk Ideas:

A discussion on British slang

A discussion about dating etiquette

          

Reading Level:

Lexile 700

Interest Age: 

12 and up

Challenge Issues: Could be challenged based brief discussion of sexuality, and parental disrespect.

  If this book were challenged I would:

·         Listen to the concerns of the person raising the challenge

·         Consult the library’s collection development policy

·         Explain how this work meets a library need based on the collection development policy 

·         Consult YALSA’s Dealing with Challenges to Young Adult Materials

·         Consult reviews on VOYA, Amazon, Common Sense Media, and Kirkus

·         Discuss any awards or notable commendations the book received

·         Explain the library’s commitment to intellectual freedom as discussed in the ALA Library Bill of Rights

·         Give the patron the procedure for a formal challenge should they seek to pursue it

Why was this book selected:

I had seen this book in our library, along with other titles by Rennison, and never paid much attention to them.  This book still circulates well at the library.  However, romance is not really a book genre I enjoy reading.  It was not until I saw this title featured in the group presentation on YA romance and chick lit did I realize I probably need to expand my reading for the sake of my patrons.  I wanted to be sure to include at least one romance/chick lit title in my collection.

Les Miserables Cosette's Fate Video Game, by Anuman Interactive

Cover:

Bibliographic Information:

Title: Les Miserables Cosette's Fate

Developer: Microids

Publisher: Anuman Interactive 

Released: 2016

Reader’s Annotation:

Will poor Cosette be doomed to this sad existence? 

Plot Summary:

Cosette is the young daughter of Fantine.  Fantine is unable to care for her daughter, so she leaves her in the care of the Thernardiers.  The Thernardiers are cruel, and treat Cosette like a slave.  Cosette longs to hear from her mother, so she hopes to find a letter from Fantine hidden in the house, in order to escape the Thernardiers and go to her mother's address.  The game play centers around solving small puzzles that will assist in Cosette's escape to seek out a better future.

Critical Evaluation:

The game art is done in a somewhat cartoon manner.  While the images are visually appealing, they are not the sharp graphics many teens would be used to in modern game play.  The style is somewhat more reminiscent of games from about a decade ago- less sophisticated than even those found on a Nintendo Wii.  Teens who play a lot of puzzle style computer games may be somewhat disappointed in the graphic quality.

Similarly, the game mechanics themselves are overly simplistic.  While game play does involve navigating through various scenes, combining tools, and solving mini-puzzles.  I encountered minor glitches with several of the interactive scenes, which resulted in frustration and prevented me from really enjoying the game very much.

Author Biography:
Not applicable

Genre(s): 

Video Game

Curriculum Ties:

Not applicable

Booktalk Ideas:

A brief discussion on the general story of Les Miserables, and its various representations in popular media.

A discussion on what makes for a good video game

          

Reading Level:

Not applicable

Interest Age: 

12 and up

Challenge Issues: Could be challenged intimations of mild violence within the game.

  If this game were challenged I would:

·         Listen to the concerns of the person raising the challenge

·         Consult the library’s collection development policy

·         Explain how this work meets a library need based on the collection development policy 

·         Consult YALSA’s Dealing with Challenges to Young Adult Materials

·         Consult reviews on VOYA, Amazon, Common Sense Media, and Kirkus

·         Discuss any awards or notable commendations the game received

·         Explain the library’s commitment to intellectual freedom as discussed in the ALA Library Bill of Rights

·         Give the patron the procedure for a formal challenge should they seek to pursue it

Why was this game selected:

Hidden picture games appeal to a different kind of gamer than shooter style games.  In order to have a well rounded collection, I wanted to include a game that was more puzzle oriented.  I especially liked that this game was based on a classic work of literature.  Another aspect that made me select this game is it is available for free download through OnePlay, which is part of the e-resource collection at many of the libraries in my area.  This means the game could either be added to the library's computers for in house use, or patrons can download it for free to their own computers as part of the services and resources provided through the library.  I want to stress that this game can either be purchased as a stand alone piece of software or as part of the OnePlay package, this is not a free internet game.  The library would be investing materials money to acquire this game.  I was disappointed that the game was not more enjoyable.

My Friend Dahmer, by Derf Backderf

Cover:

Bibliographic Information:

Title: My Friend Dahmer

Author: Derf

ISBN:  978-1419702167

Publisher: Abrams ComicArts

Copyright: 2012

Reader’s Annotation:

You never know who your high school classmates will turn out to be.

Summary:

A strange boy is seen collecting a dead animal carcass, and wanting to dissolve it in acid.  That is how we first meet Jeffrey Dahmer.  Derf recounts his first encounters with Dahmer, and the fact that for the most part, Dahmer was a loner at school.  When Dahmer’s parents split up, he began acting out at school, in ways that amused his classmates.  As high school continued, Dahmer began drinking, and eventually starting coming to school drunk.  He continued to be a clown around his classmates, to the extent that he became a caricature.  He tries to fit in, even attending his senior prom, but he has no real friends, and no place where he fits.  Shortly after graduating from high school, Dahmer commits his first murder.

Critical Evaluation:

This is vastly different from the other graphic novels in this collection.  First off, this graphic novel is based on a real person, a scary person, one Jeffery Dahmer.  Derf Backderf does an amazing job recreating his youthful encounters with Dahmer on the page.  The subject matter is strange, and dark; it makes the reader uncomfortable.  You know when a book begins with a dead cat, the tone is going to be somber.  Even in the scenes where Dahmer is cutting up for his friends, impersonating his mother’s decorator, there is an air of sadness.  It is clearly established that Dahmer is a loner, and is trying so hard to find a place to fit, with people who will not abandon him.  This is a desire that will push him to do horrific things as the story progresses.

Visually, the book looks quite different as well.  There is no use of color; all the drawings done in black, white, and shades of grey.  As an artistic choice, I think this makes a strong statement.  This indicates how stark Dahmer’s life truly was, even in his earliest days.  Any color, even muted colors, would have detracted from the story.  The drawing style leans toward caricature, which also fits the story, give Dahmer’s cartoonish behaviors in high school.

Learning you grew up with a serial killer must be a chilling experience, one that impacts your psyche.  By channeling that experience into art, Derf Backderf has provided readers a window into something they will hopefully never experience otherwise.  The result is a powerful and unsettling story, as stark as the black and white drawings that comprise it.

Author Biography:

(from author’s website)

Derf sold his first cartoon, a nude portrait of his sixth grade teacher, for $2 dollars to a classmate who used it for unspeakable purposes. Today he is one of the most widely-read indy comix creators.

The writer-artist, who works out of an unheated, attic studio in his Cleveland home, grew up in a rural, small town in Ohio, an experience that was the inspiration for his graphic novels TRASHED, PUNK ROCK & TRAILER PARKS and the international bestseller, MY FRIEND DAHMER.

An art school dropout, Derf worked on a garbage truck before deciding to give cartooning a try. He attended Ohio State University on a journalism scholarship, where he drew political cartoons for the school paper for three years and caused such controversy school officials put a 1-year limit on all future cartoonists. After graduation, he landed a similar position on a paper in South Florida but was fired after two years for, as the editor put it, "general tastelessness." He moved to Cleveland and THE CITY comic strip debuted in the now-defunct Cleveland Edition in 1990. A year later, he began selling it to other alternative papers. The strip appeared in over 140 publications during it's 20-plus years, including The Village Voice, Chicago Reader and The Los Angeles Reader. THE CITY was retired in 2013 so Derf could concentrate on books.

Derf's images have also graced t-shirts, posters and cd & record covers. His manic illustrations have appeared in all manner of publications, ranging from Guitar Player magazine to the Wall St. Journal.

His work has been displayed in museums and galleries worldwide. He has been nominated for two Eisner Awards (the Oscars of comix), as well as Harvey, Ignatz and Rueben Awards. He was the recipient of a pretigious Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award for political cartoons in 2006 and an Angoulême Prize for My Friend Dahmer in 2014. The Derf Collection, comprized of three decades of original art and papers, is part of the Billy Ireland Cartoon Museum at Ohio State University.

Genre(s):

Graphic Novel

Curriculum Ties:

Pennsylvania State Standard - CC.1.2.11-12.L
Read and comprehend literary non-fiction and informational text on grade level, reading independently and proficiently.

Booktalk Ideas:

A discussion about high school friendships and what happens to them after high school

A discussion about how, at some point, every person who has done something bad was once just a kid

          

Reading Level:

AR Reading Level 3.6

Interest Age: 

14 and up

Challenge Issues: Could be challenged based on scenes involving teen substance use, violence, and teen sexuality.

  If this book were challenged I would:

·         Listen to the concerns of the person raising the challenge

·         Consult the library’s collection development policy

·         Explain how this work meets a library need based on the collection development policy 

·         Consult YALSA’s Dealing with Challenges to Young Adult Materials

·         Consult reviews on VOYA, Amazon, Common Sense Media, and Kirkus

·         Discuss any awards or notable commendations the book received

·         Explain the library’s commitment to intellectual freedom as discussed in the ALA Library Bill of Rights

·         Give the patron the procedure for a formal challenge should they seek to pursue it

Why was this book selected:

As a fan of true crime and horror related graphic novels, I have to admit that I had a personal interest in reading this book and including it in the collection.  However, this is also an award winning graphic novel, and it is about to be adapted into a film, so there is real value to having this in the collection.  As more and more teens are becoming interested in crime and horror related materials, I anticipate that many would be interested in this graphic novel.

To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee

Cover:

Bibliographic Information:

Title: To Kill A Mockingbird

Author: Harper Lee

ISBN:  978-0446310789

Publisher: Grand Central Publishing

Copyright: 1960

Reader’s Annotation:

Sometimes kindnesses can be found in the most unlikely places.

Summary:

Scout is a young girl living with her father, Atticus, and her brother, Jem, in Maycomb, Alabama.  During the summer, her friend Dill comes to visit, staying with a relative in town; Scout, Jem, and Dill are fixated on the town recluse, Boo Radley.  Fall comes, and Scout goes to school.  Scout has some difficulties in school, because her father is a lawyer, and is represented Tom Robinson, a black man who is accused of rape.  Eventually, Tom’s case goes to trial.  Scout and Jem sneak in to see the action.  Tom ends up getting convicted, and the town is left divided.  The father of the girl allegedly raped by Tom begins hassling Atticus.  As Scout and Jem return home after a Halloween program at school, they are attacked, and rescued by the most unlikely person.

Critical Evaluation:

The setting of this book, the south in the 1930s, is integral to the story.  It explains a lot of the poverty the characters encounter, as well as the racism that runs throughout the plot.  Lee does a wonderful job setting the scene; the text states that nothing much changes, with the same families having been around for years.  It results in a setting that feels isolated from the rest of the world, where things are much slower (or more resistant) to change.

Scout serves as the story’s narrator, which means we get to know her quite well over the course of the story.  She, much like many of the other characters in the book, is developed in a way that feels so genuine.  Her narration, from her perspective as a small child, is very honest, even if that means she sometimes does not always understand the gravity of the injustices going on.  We, as the reader, are still able to ascertain the things like the injustice in Tom Robinson’s fate.

A large portion of the plot deals with the trial of Tom Robinson, so readers may anticipate that the story will end there.  However, the injustice and inequality in the story are not limited to Tom Robinson and his situation.  There will be fall-out from the trial, which we see in the story’s climax and conclusion.

Harper Lee has created a vivid story that has staying power.  For many years, this was the only book Lee had released, yet she is still regarded as one of the most loved American writers of the 20^th century.  This is due, in part, to the strength of the setting she created, and the realistic way in which she developed her characters.

Author Biography:

(from author’s Amazon page)

Harper Lee was born in 1926 in Monroeville, Alabama. She is the author of the acclaimed novels To Kill a Mockingbird and Go Set a Watchman, and was awarded the Pulitzer Prize, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and numerous other literary awards and honors. She died on February 19, 2016

Genre(s):

 Adult Crossover, Historical Fiction,

Curriculum Ties:

Pennsylvania State Standard CC.1.3.9-10.K

Read and comprehend literary fiction on grade level, reading independently and proficiently.

Booktalk Ideas:

A discussion on racism from a historical perspective, how far we have come, and how far we have to go.

A discussion comparing the book to the movie adaptation.

          

Reading Level:

AR Reading Level 5.6

Interest Age: 

14 and up

Challenge Issues: Could be challenged based scenes of violence, descriptions of rape, and racism/racist language.

  If this book were challenged I would:

·         Listen to the concerns of the person raising the challenge

·         Consult the library’s collection development policy

·         Explain how this work meets a library need based on the collection development policy 

·         Consult YALSA’s Dealing with Challenges to Young Adult Materials

·         Consult reviews on VOYA, Amazon, Common Sense Media, and Kirkus

·         Discuss any awards or notable commendations the book received

·         Explain the library’s commitment to intellectual freedom as discussed in the ALA Library Bill of Rights

·         Give the patron the procedure for a formal challenge should they seek to pursue it

Why was this book selected:

I wanted to include one YA/Adult crossover title in my collection.  This title was one we used in the library this year as a part of the NEA Big Read, and it continues to be a favorite among patrons.  Additionally, this is a title that is frequently taught as a part of high school AP or honors English classes, so I think it is important to include it.  It also paints a good historical picture of institutionalized racism.

American Born Chinese, by Gene Luen Yang

Cover:

Bibliographic Information:

Title: American Born Chinese

Author: Gene Luen Yang

ISBN:  978-1596433731

Publisher: First Second

Copyright: 2006

Reader’s Annotation:

Often accepting one’s identity is a long and complicated journey.

Summary:

We open with the story of the Monkey King, who has been excluded from a banquet for all the gods; he attempts to gain entrance, and is forced to deal with the fact that he is being mocked for being a monkey.  We then begin the story of Jin, a young Chinese boy born and raised in America.  Jin goes to school, where he is mocked for being Chinese. Eventually, another Asian child arrives, Wei-Chen, from Taiwan.  Jin and Wei-Chen become friends, despite the fact that Jin is somehow bothered by Wei-Chen’s overt Asian-ness.  A third story is introduced, involving a white boy named Danny, and his (racist) stereotypical Asian cousin, Chin-Kee.  Chin-Kee comes to visit, and ends up embarrassing Danny.  The rest of the book involves parallels between the three stories.  The monkey king tries to increase his own power and standing, Jin tries to date a while girl and assimilate, and Danny’s life is ruined by Chin-Kee.  Eventually, all the stories intermingle with into one resolution.

Critical Evaluation:

One of the hallmarks of great art is that it evokes emotion; that does not always mean it evokes a positive emotion.  Yang has crafted a story that, at times, makes readers highly uncomfortable.  The portions of the story that feature Chin-Kee, for example, are difficult to read.  Chin-Kee represents common Asian racial stereotypes.  It is not common that we see these types of stereotypes today, but they serve as important commentary for the struggles Asian Americans have endured socially. 

The writing style is unusual, in that there are three parallel stories, each with its own setting and cast of characters.  At first it is difficult to see how the stories fit together, particularly the story of the monkey king, but as the book moves toward its conclusion, we see how all three stories are, at their heart, about accepting one’s identity and learning to feel comfortable in one’s own skin.

Visually, the book also exhibits a few different styles.  The sections about the monkey king see more cartoon like and fantastic, while the two stories featuring the boys are, for the most part, more realistic.  The one exception to this is Chin-Kee.  He is drawn as a caricature, so as to best isolate the absurdity of the stereotypes he represents.  Throughout the book, the colors are soft and subdued, which give an impression of there being distance placed between the book and the readers.

In this title, Yang has confronted racism head on.  By weaving together three seemingly unrelated stories into one main theme, he has given readers a meaty story on which they can reflect.

Author Biography:

(from author’s Amazon page)

Gene Luen Yang is currently serving as the Library of Congress' fifth National Ambassador for Young People's Literature. His 2006 book American Born Chinese was the first graphic novel to be nominated for a National Book Award and the first to win the American Library Association's Michael L. Printz Award. It also won an Eisner Award. His 2013 two-volume graphic novel Boxers & Saints was nominated for the National Book Award and won the LA Times Book Prize. Gene currently writes Dark Horse Comics' Avatar: The Last Airbender series and DC Comics' Superman. Secret Coders, his middle-grade graphic novel series with cartoonist Mike Holmes, teaches kids the basics of computer programming.

Genre(s):

Graphic Novel

Curriculum Ties:

Pennsylvania State Standard CC.1.3.9-10.K

Read and comprehend literary fiction on grade level, reading independently and proficiently.

Booktalk Ideas:

A discussion on what teens consider different aspects of their own identities

A discussion on things teens have done to fit in, even if it did not really match their identity

          

Reading Level:

Lexile 530

Interest Age: 

14 and up

Challenge Issues: Could be challenged on the inclusion of some racist language.

  If this book were challenged I would:

·         Listen to the concerns of the person raising the challenge

·         Consult the library’s collection development policy

·         Explain how this work meets a library need based on the collection development policy 

·         Consult YALSA’s Dealing with Challenges to Young Adult Materials

·         Consult reviews on VOYA, Amazon, Common Sense Media, and Kirkus

·         Discuss any awards or notable commendations the book received

·         Explain the library’s commitment to intellectual freedom as discussed in the ALA Library Bill of Rights

·         Give the patron the procedure for a formal challenge should they seek to pursue it

Why was this book selected:

The first time I encountered this graphic novel was in this class, and I immediately began recommending it to teens.  While the story focuses on the experience of fitting in from an Asian American perspective, it is a theme to which so many teens can relate, regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, or any other defining feature.  Almost all teens feel like outsiders at some point.  However, I also thing that it is important for my collection to include a work featuring Asian characters, written by an Asian author.  I really wanted to find ways to make my collection diverse.