[pwalker8]

The over all point that political correctness has taken over the literary world and more specifically the YA world is very true. I read a fair amount of YA fiction and if you look at my favorite author list, it's pretty obvious that the vast majority are to the left of the political scale. I really don't worry too much about the political leaning of an author as long as they stay true to the story. I believe as much in empathy and doing good as I do in the traditional values of truth, hard work, honor and loyalty.

I just finished The Magnus Chase series by Rick Riordan. Rick Riordan is a talented writer, but that particular series was so politically correct that it was hard to stay in the flow of the narrative. The main character is a homeless kid who lives in the streets, his protectors a gay dwarf and elf couple (the elf is mute). The supporting cast are a black union soldier, a "gender fluid" person of Mexican decent who Magus eventually falls for, and a Arabic girl who happens to be a Valkyrie. Hum, this is based on Nordic mythology. So what's missing from this picture? Maybe someone a little Nordic? At least his bi-Apollo in the most recent Gods of Olympus has the advantage of being true to the mythology.

I really like Riordan's other books, which do tend towards political correctness, but this was just so over the top.