Whether reading about other countries
around the world, or their cultures as lived right here in the United States,
it is fun to step outside our own backgrounds and see what others think. Here’s
a group of fascinating characters who will draw you in and have you laughing,
crying, or sometimes in suspense as you share their experiences.
Call
Me Maria by Judith Ortiz Cofer. YFIC ORT
In this short
novel of letters, poems and prose, we are introduced to Maria, a Puerto Rican
teen, and her friends, including the wild but delightful Whoopee and the romantic
Papi-Lindo. It is a thoughtful look at a community whose members seem to want
to be back on the island, but who are struggling to make it in New York.
Begging
for Change by Sharon Flake. YFIC FLA
When her mother is hospitalized
after being hit on the head by a troubled teen, Raspberry Hill is desperate to
find some sense of security. She thinks that money will solve all her problems,
but she goes about getting it in a deceitful way. Fearful that she will end up
just like her drug-addicted father, she must confront her fears and own up to
her actions.
No
Laughter Here by Rita Garcia-Williams. YFIC WIL
What
happened to Victoria? She came back from a visit to her grandmother in Nigeria
completely changed -- quiet, withdrawn, unable to laugh -- and her best friend
Akilah doesn't understand. This story of friendship deals with the issue of female
genital mutilation and the far-reaching effects it can have.
Born
Confused by Tanuja Desai Hidier. YFIC DES
Seventeen-year-old
Dimple Lala has spent most of her life rejecting her Indian culture and trying
to be as American as possible. When her parents introduce her to a "suitable
boy" she labels him as a "shockingly average boy who is also a computer
geek." As Dimple learns to appreciate her heritage and family, she worries
that it might be too late to convince that "suitable boy" that
she doesn't find him so geeky after all.
The
Namesake by Jhumpa Lahari. FIC LAH
Gogol Ganguli is
born in America to traditional Bengali parents and is named for his father's
favorite writer, the Russian Nikoli Gogol. With influences like these it is
no wonder the boy's life is one of conflict and confusion as he tries to bridge
the gap between generations and cultures.
Garbage
King by Elizabeth Laird. YFIC LAI
Life in the city is
never easy. It is even harder when you are a poor street kid in a developing nation
like Ethiopia. This story about Mamo, who loses his family and eventually joins
a gang of street kids, is sometimes scary and sometimes eye-opening in its portrayal
of courage and generosity.
Finding
Our Way by René Saldaña, Jr. YFIC SAL
In these short stories you’ll meet Ruthie and Andy, who have been “boyfriend-girlfriend”
forever, but Andy doesn’t realize Ruthie still wants to be asked to the
prom. Melly Otero must decide whether to jump off a bridge – literally –
to prove she’s cool. Arturo writes his autobiography from an alternative
school – it’s his last chance to figure out if he’s got options
in his life. The teenagers in these stories discover themselves as they deal with
situations involving their families, first dates, the prom, and getting expelled
from school.
Sammy & Juliana in Hollywood by Benjamin
Alire Saenz. YFIC SAE
Set in a rough New Mexico barrio in the latter
1960s, this story embraces a first true love and its loss, racism, homophobia,
war, street violence, family and community…in other words, “life.”
The prose is at times breathtaking in its poetry and at others jarring in its
truths. Sammy’s voice lingers long after the book closes, leaving the reader
thoughtful.
Persepolis
by Marjane Satrapi. B SATRAPI 2003
An unforgettable portrait of
daily life in Iran: the bewildering contradictions between home life and public
life, and of the enormous toll repressive regimes exact on the individual spirit.
It shows how we carry on, through laughter and tears, in the face of absurdity.
(Graphic Novel)
Finding
My Hat by John Son. YFIC SON
Jin-Han Park’s parents,
his Ahmah and Ahbah, are from Korea. They moved to MiGook, America, when Jin-Han
was two. This book tells Jin-Han’s story of growing up in two cultures as
he’s caught at times between being a dutiful Korean son who enjoys kimchee
and helps take care of his younger sister, and trying to fit in with the rest
of the kids in his schools as he and his family move from Chicago, to Memphis,
to Houston. His crazy dad likes to sing Elvis songs as he drives the family from
city to city. This is the story of an ordinary boy growing up in America.
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Last Modified:
Friday, June 27, 2008
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