School library

Missing Pages Library

A Teach First community library, full of recommendations for more diverse English literature lessons

At Teach First we believe the books taught in schools should reflect the many perspectives and backgrounds that make up our country’s diverse population.
This library is a collection of book recommendations from our community and the public, full of works by ethnic minority authors they wish they’d had a chance to study at school. We want to inspire teachers, school leaders and exam boards to diversify the English literature texts they celebrate.
This library follows the publication of Missing pages: increasing racial diversity in the literature we teach. The report explores why representation matters, and how four English teachers are celebrating racially diverse authors in their classrooms.
Is something missing? If you have a great idea for the library, tweet us @TeachFirst using #MissingPages, with a short sentence about why your book should be added.
Today a pupil can leave school without reading a single book by an ethnic minority author. Together we can change that.  

There is a high chance of studying

no Black authors

in UK schools

98% of all teachers

believe it's 'important' or 'very important' to study ethnic minority authors in secondary schools.

Contents

1. South Asian Heritage Month

2. British Fiction

3. International Fiction

4. Non-fiction

South Asian Heritage Month

South Asian Heritage Month (18 July to 17 August) is an annual event dedicated to celebrating South Asian history and culture. We’re marking it by celebrating the work of South Asian authors. Here's a list of book recommendations from our community for you to explore during this month and beyond.

Missing Pages

Maps for Lost Lovers

Nadeem Aslam
More info
Missing Pages

The Girl Who Stole an Elephant

Nizrana Farook
More info
Missing Pages

Rumaysa: A Fairytale

Radiya Hafiza
More info
Missing Pages

A Thousand Splendid Suns

Khaled Hosseini
More info
Missing Pages

The Kite Runner

Khaled Hosseini
More info
Missing Pages

Hani and Ishu's Guide to Fake Dating

Adiba Jaigirdar
More info
Missing Pages

The Love and Lies of Rukhsana Ali

Sabina Khan
More info
Missing Pages

A Fine Balance

Rohinton Mistry
More info
Missing Pages

Anisha, Accidental Detective

Serena Patel
More info
Missing Pages

The Boy at the Back of the Class

Onjali Q. Raúf
More info
Missing Pages

Kololo Hill

Neema Shah
More info
Missing Pages

Bravo Anjali

Sheetal Sheth
More info
Missing Pages

Billy and the Beast

Nadia Shireen
More info
Missing Pages

Malala's Magic Pencil

Malala Yousafzai
More info
Showing

British Fiction

Home-grown stories from some of the best ethnic minority writers in the UK.

Missing Pages

The Black Flamingo

Dean Atta
More info
Missing Pages

GIrl, Woman, Other

Bernadine Evaristo
More info
Missing Pages

The Long Song

Andrea Levy
More info
Missing Pages

Small Island

Andrea Levy
More info
Missing Pages

When We Speak of Nothing

Olumide Popoola
More info
Missing Pages

(Un)arranged Marriage

Bali Rai
More info
Missing Pages

The Lonely Londoners

Sam Sevlon
More info
Missing Pages

Teaching My Mother How to Give Birth

Warsan Shire
More info
Missing Pages

White Teeth

Zadie Smith
More info
Showing

International Fiction

Groundbreaking titles from some of the most influential writers from around the world.

Missing Pages

You Must Be Layla

Yasmin Abdul-Magied
More info
Missing Pages

Things Fall Apart

Chinua Achebe
More info
Missing Pages

Americanah

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
More info
Missing Pages

Purple Hibiscus

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
More info
Missing Pages

Children of Blood and Bone

Tomi Adeyemi
More info
Missing Pages

The Sellout

Paul Beatty
More info
Missing Pages

Kindred

Octavia Butler
More info
Missing Pages

Nervous Conditions

Tsitsi Dangarembga
More info
Missing Pages

Second Class Citizen

Buchi Emecheta
More info
Missing Pages

A Raisin in the Sun

Lorraine Hansbury
More info
Missing Pages

The Book of Night Women

Marlon James
More info
Missing Pages

Sister, Outsider

Audrey Lorde
More info
Missing Pages

Beloved

Toni Morrison
More info
Missing Pages

Norwegian Wood

Haruki Murakami
More info
Missing Pages

Under the Udala Trees

Chinelo Okparanta
More info
Missing Pages

Persepolis

Marjane Satrapi
More info
Missing Pages

Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry

Mildred D. Taylor
More info
Missing Pages

The Hate U Give

Angie Thomas
More info
Missing Pages

The Color Purple

Alice Walker
More info
Missing Pages

The Piano Lesson

August Wilson
More info
Showing

Non-fiction

Essays and books exploring issues and experiences surrounding ethnic minority communities.

Missing Pages

Loud Black Girls

Various Authors (Edited by Yomi Adegoke and Elizabeth Uviebinené)
More info
Missing Pages

Natives

Akala
More info
Missing Pages

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings

Maya Angelou
More info
Missing Pages

I Am Not Your Baby Mother

Candice Brathwaite
More info
Missing Pages

Between the World and Me

Ta-Neishi Coates
More info
Missing Pages

Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People About Race

Reni Eddo-Lodge
More info
Missing Pages

Talking to Strangers

Malcolm Gladwell
More info
Missing Pages

Brit(ish)

Afua Hirsch
More info
Missing Pages

The Good Immigrant

Various Authors (Edited by Nikesh Shukla)
More info
Missing Pages

Men We Reaped: A Memoir

Jesmyn Ward
More info
Showing

Further resources

Lots of other organisations have fantastic resources which can help students, families, teachers and school leaders engage with more diverse literature. Take a look below at some of the resources we've found and loved:

Read now

Video: We Need To Talk About Racism in Education

Watch our latest video on how racial inequality persists in our education system - and what we can do about it.

Copy to clipboard caution chat check-off check-on close cog-off cog-on down first-page home-off home-on info last-page mail minus mobile more next pdf person play plus prev question radio-off radio-on return search trail up filter facebook google+ LinkedIn twitter YouTube Instagram Share This TF_ECEF_lock-up_full col_RBG