Any time we read a book or encounter any story in our lives, there are ways that the main character is like us and ways that they are not. When a reader can see qualities of the main character in themselves, that book acts like a "mirror" for the reader. When a reader sees mainly a main character that is different from them, that book acts like a "window" for the reader. Usually, a book is a blend of both "mirror" and "window."
The metaphor of "Mirrors and Windows" was first created by school librarian (now Ohio State University professor) Rudine Sims Bishop. Her original paper about the concept can be found here:
And if you'd rather watch a video about it, here's two good explanations:
Grace Lin - "The Windows and Mirrors of Your Child's Bookshelf" (about 12 minutes long)
Rudine Sims Bishop - "Mirrors, Windows and Sliding Doors" (about 2 minutes long)
As you start to understand the concept of "Mirrors and Windows," ask yourself these two questions:
What might be good and what might be bad if a person were to read ONLY or MOSTLY books that are "Windows"?
What might be good and what might be bad if a person were to read ONLY or MOSTLY books that are "Mirrors"?
Make a list of the last five books you read.Â
Think about the main characters of those books, and think if those characters were more like you or more not like you (where they grew up, what they look like, their culture, family, beliefs, etc.)
For that list of five books - are those books more "Mirror" or more "Window" for you?
Think about all the books you've read in your lifetime in the same way. Do you read more "Mirrors" or more "Windows"?
The challenge is to balance the "Mirrors and Windows" you read in your life (as well as the movies you see, TV you watch, and other stories you experience). This can look different to each person, but here are a couple resources to help you think about challenging the books you read and the genres you favor:
"Comfort Zone" - a short comic by author Gene Yang, who created the "Reading Without Walls Challenge"
A list of "Challenge Genres"
Here are a few book recommendations from Mr. Laman, appropriate at the middle level, but also wonderful reads for older students and adults!
"American Born Chinese" by Gene Yang
"Copper Sun" by Sharon Draper
"Luna" by Julie Anne Peters
"The Circuit" by Francisco Jimenez
"The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian" by Sherman Alexie
"The Watsons go to Birmingham" by Christopher Paul Curtis
If you are interested in the more academic level of this subject, please feel free to read the paper I wrote in graduate school on the subject. Of particular note in the paper are the texts that are approved for instruction at the middle school and high school level in BVSD, with author and character demographics.
March 2023 - Comparison between NEW Reserved Titles list and the old (December 2016) list
Mr. Laman's paper - "Examine the Canon - Multicultural Literature" (December 2016)