Stranger Masterpost
This book is set several centuries after an apocalyptic event. Despite this, it’s very optimistic in tone. The main setting is an incredibly diverse and close-knit community full of super-powered mostly dedicated to protecting each other from the may threats outside which is a welcome alternative to the usual grimness. You’re more likely to have heard of the controversy over how long it took to find a publisher due to the writers’ unwillingness to straighten out a gay character.
Character: Ross Juarez
Representation: Racial (First Nation), PTSD, Disability (Hand Deformity), Polyamorous
Their Importance: As one of the authors is a therapist who specializes in treating PTSD his trauma symptoms and his attempts to cope with them are particularly realistic as is the drawn-out recovery period after maiming his hand in the opening chapter. Even before his recovery begins he’s shown to be physically competent with strong survival skills despite his lack of education. Even he isn’t entirely sure of his racial make-up due to losing his family at a young age through towards the end he’s confirmed to be Fist Nation (tribe unknown).
Character: Mia Lee
Representation: Korean, Asexual, Demisexual, Polyamorous
Their Importance: Her mechanical knowledge is vital for keeping her community running and she also plays an active role in defending the town during the climax. She notes that she’s never felt attraction to anyone else and though she’s insecure and worried that it means something’s wrong with her she spends far less time angsting about it than most YA protagonists would. She becomes romantically attached to Ross, with the implication of sexual attraction while still being largely uninterested in sex, implying she’s specifically demisexual.
Issues: It is kind of frustrating that no asexual concepts/terminology have survived while a lot of other cultural knowledge has.
Character: Yuki Nakamura
Representation: Japanese, Gay
Their Importance: His relationship with Paco is completely normalized and isn’t a source of particular drama though they get some sweet bonding moments. We also get some emotionally realistic descriptions of the alienation he feels as a result of living in a different culture from the one he was initially raised in (having been orphaned and set adrift as a child) though he clearly loves his adoptive family.
Character: Riley
Representation: Black, Polyamorous
Their Importance: Despite her young age she’s a respected teacher. Also, the averted love triangle between her, Mia, and Ross is particularly refreshing. Instead of the two friends backstabbing and angsting over a boy as they would in most stories the trio tries a polyamorous relationship. There’s no indication this is unusual and it isn’t sexualized. It’s even more significant considering how uncommon it is for polyamory to be mentioned at all, particularly in a positive way especially considering that Stranger is a YA book.
Character: Elizabeth Crow
Representation: Racial (First Nation)
Their Importance: Nobody makes any fuss over an older First Nation Crow Tribe woman being in one of the highest positions of power in the town. She’s invariably calm and efficient in the face, instantly getting to defend the town from invaders. Despite the fact that her powers have deformed half of her face she has no trouble finding several potential partners.
Thanks to anon for the write-up!