YA Wednesday: Religion in YA Novels

‘Tis the season of Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa. But did you know it’s also the season of Ashura, an optional fast day for Muslims, Bodhi Day when Buddhists recall that Siddhartha Gautama vowed to sit under a tree and not to rise until he was enlightened, and Yalda, the Zoroastrian celebration of the winter solstice?

In this time when religion divides us more often than it unites us, it is especially important to promote religious tolerance. And what better place to start than with young adult books. But while there have been great strides in making YA more diverse, there is still room for more diversity when it comes religion.

Do you know of any good YA novels that address the religious life of teens?

Comments
  • Bonnie Waltch

    Great post, Emily! I actually have a scene in a church and a brief discussion about religion in my YA book – hopefully that’s a good thing!

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