Books about: Characters with a notable difference from the people around them

[Pony]

Hello!
I'm looking for book recommendations with characters who have a notable difference from the people around them. This could be at a school they attend, or a neighborhood/community they're a part of, or a country/kingdom they're in, or even a family they're fostered by or adopted into.
Some examples of the types of differences I mean:
- A different race, ethnicity, or nationality
- A different religion
- A different gender/sex
- A different culture or cultural background
- A different social class or status
- A different accent, dialect, or language

And if there are any other classifications similar to the ones above that you can think of, feel free to think outside the box.
I'd like for this difference to be a prominent plot point, although it doesn't have to be the sole focus of the story. Just so long as it ties into the story or really pushes the plot along, either for good or bad - whether the character is mistreated because of it or treated especially well or becomes popular because of it or whatever.

I'm predominantly interested in reading Young Adult Fiction, but I won't reject Middle Grade or Adult Fiction suggestions.
Any genre is fine (so for example, if it's a fantasy, the difference could be something like a human among elves, a vampire among werewolves, a non-magic user among magic users, etc.)
I tend toward reading about male protagonists, but I won't reject suggestions with other genders.
I'm specifically thinking of fiction, but if you have a good nonfiction memoir/autobiography recommendation go ahead and shoot it my way.

Thank you SO much in advance for any and all suggestions!

[Bookworm McClain]

The Son by Jo Nesbo. It's a great mystery/thriller that fits your criteria.

[Pony]

@Bookworm - Whoa, that sounds very engaging! 😳 I'm intrigued. Thank you so much.

[Pamela]

Dragonsong / Dragonsinger

[Pony]

Thank you, Pamela! Those are beautiful book titles!

[Karen]

The maid series by Nita Prose with the lead Molly being different.

[Rainbowheart]

Body of Water
Finding My Place
Finding My Voice
The Color of a Lie
How to Be Invisible
Brown Boy Nowhere
Black Boy White School
When the Black Girl Sings
In the Neighborhood of True
The Only Black Girls in Town
Don't Ask Me Where I'm From

[Pony]

@Karen - Thank you for the recommendation! I've seen those books on a few Goodreads lists lately, but I haven't tried them yet.

[Pony]

@Rainbowheart - Thank you so much! My heart gets really happy when I see a list of books to check out!

[Wil]

-Echo by Pam Muñoz Ryan (Middle Grade Fiction, but has genuinely stuck with me for almost a decade now)

-Dragon Mage by ML Spencer (YA/Adult Fantasy, I could see it as both tbh)

-Darius the Great is Not Okay by Adib Khorram (YA Fiction)

[Pony]

Thank you, Wilbur! Those sound awesome!

[Pony]

Just for my own link convenience:
The Son
The Maid
Echo
Dragon Mage
Darius the Great Is Not Okay

[Rainbowheart]

Blended
Misdirected
Epitaph Road
The Staircase
Stealing Home
Sister Mischief
A Girl Like You
Full Cicada Moon
Henry Hoey Hobson
Hold Fast to Dreams
Heretics Anonymous
On Yonder Mountain
Drummers of Jericho
Last Days in Africville
The Length of a String
Who Put This Song On?
The Only Girl in School
American as Paneer Pie
Love, Dance & Egg Rolls
You're Welcome, Universe
The Last Boy at St. Edith's
Nothing Wrong with a Three-Legged Dog

[Pony]

Thank you so much, Rainbowheart!! 🤩 🤗

[Rainbowheart]

You're super welcome! I love suggesting books.

[Sarah]

North of Beautiful by Justina Chen - This has two characters with differences: the main character Terra, who has a large wine stain birthmark on her face and Jacob, who is a goth Asian teen adopted by a white family.

[Pony]

Thank you so much, Sarah! Sounds like a good book.