The following authors of color are among those who will debut middle grade or young adult fiction in 2016.  I believe this list contains two males, two people of African descent, four Latinxs and no Native Americans. The last debut Native American author I can remember is Eric Gansworth in 2013.

It’s dicey judging ethnicity on names and appearances and it’s dicey judging ethnicity when Native Americans and people of color really are all in this together. I do take note of how representation evolves in kidlit and what groups may not be getting as much representation.

I’ve done all I can to the list, but I’m hoping it’s not done. I’m hoping to hear of lots of wonderful new authors I’ve missed.

I wish you all exciting and prosperous careers!

Roshani Chokshi: The Star Touched Queen (MacMillan/St. Martin’s Griffin) March
Twitter: @NotRashKnee
GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13695109.Roshani_Chokshi

Traci Chee: The Reader (Putnam/Penguin). September
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TraciCheeAuthor/
GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/tracichee
Twitter: @tracichee

Aya de Leon: Uptown Thief (Kensington Books) July
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Aya-de-Leon-409759779111035/?fref=ts
Twitter: @ayadeleon

Alexandra Diaz: Of All Stupid Things (Paper Lantern Lit) September
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alexandratdiaz
Twitter: @alexandratdiaz

Sarah Everett: Every One We’ve Been (Random House/Knopf) October
Twitter: @heysaraheverett
Tumbler: http://saraheverettbooks.tumblr.com/

Mia Garcia: Even if the Sky Falls (HarperCollins/Katherine Tegen Books) 10 May
Twitter:@MGarciaWrites
Tumblr: http://thatsnotwhatiheard.tumblr.com/
GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/11666262.Mia_Garcia

Heidi Heilig: The Girl From Everywhere (Greenwillow Books) February
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/heidiheiligauthor?fref=ts
Twitter: @heidiheilig
Tumblr: http://avajae.tumblr.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ava_jae/
GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/Heidi_Heilig

Ava Jae: Beyond the Red (Six Pony Press) March
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AvaJae
Twitter: @Ava_Jae
GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/Ava_Jae

Rahul Kanakia: Enter Title Here (Disney Hyperion) August
Twitter: @rahkan
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Rahul.Kanakia

Aditi Khorana: Mirror in the Sky (Razorbill) June
Twitter: @aditi_khorana

Julie Leung: Mice of the Round Table (HarpersChildren) October
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jleung531
Twitter: @jleungbooks
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jleungbooks/
GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/jleungbooks

Bethany Morrow: The Last Life of  Avrilis (Month 9 Books) 2016
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BethanyCMorrow
Twitter: @BCMorrow
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bcmorrow/
GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/BethanyCMorrow

Jenn Nguyen : The Way To Game The Walk Of Shame  (Swoon Reads/Macmillan) 7 June
Twitter: @JennP_Nguyen

Lygia Day Peñaflor: Unscripted Joss Byrd (Macmillan/Roaring Brook) 23 August
Twitter: @lygiaday

Randi Pink: TOYA ((FSG/Feiwel and Friends) Fall
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/randi_pink/

Riley Redgate: Seven Ways We Lie (Abrams/Amulet) 8 March
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ReallyRileyRedgate
Twitter: @RileyRedgate
GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14053196.Riley_Redgate

Erin L. Schneider: Summer of Sloan (Disney Hyperion) May
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ErinLSchneiderYAAuthor
Twitter: @ErinLSchneider1
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/erinlschneider/

Evelyn Skye: The Crown’s Game (Balzer+Bray) May
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/e.skye
Twitter: @EvelynSkyeYA
Tumblr: http://evelynskyebooks.tumblr.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/evelyn_skye/
GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/evelynskye

Tarun Shanker: These Vicious Masks (co-authored with Kelly Zekas)  (Macmillan/Swoon Reads) February
Twitter: @tkshanker
GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/10811406.Tarun_Shanker