Betty Miles, a writer whose books for children and young adults addressed real-life issues like sexism, racism and censorship after she had thrown off the conventions of the 1950s to become a feminist, died on July 19 at her home in Shelburne, Vt. She was 90.

Her death was confirmed by her daughter Ellen Miles.

In many of her more than two dozen books, Ms. Miles aimed to entertain young people while also helping them navigate the complex realities of society.

“In my books I want to present characters who can serve as models — not because they are exceptionally brave or righteous, but precisely because they are ordinary kids dealing with everyday worries and embarrassments,” she wrote in the autobiography series “Something About the Author.”