Williams-Garcia, R. (2010). One Crazy Summer. New York, NY: Amistad Press.
This book presents a very different perspective on the American Civil Rights movement. Rather than focusing on Martin Luther King Jr as many do, Williams-Gracia takes the angle of the Black Panthers. Eleven-year-old Delphine and her two younger sisters are sent from Brooklyn to California to spend the summer with their mother. Unsure what to expect, but full of resentment towards their mother, the girls spend the summer learning about the movement their mother is a part of and how the Black Panthers are seeking to improve the conditions of African Americans. The story explores the Black Panther movement, entangled family relationships, and growth as Delphine learns about her community, her race, her family, and her mother.
High School Books
Abdel-Fattah, R. (2008). Does My Head Look Big in This? New York City, NY: Scholastic.
This is a fun book about a teenage girl at a crossroads of whether she wants to wear the hijab. Told from the perspective of an Australian-Middle Eastern Muslim teen, it is laced with realistic scenarios and a witty sense of humor. As she makes her decision she has to decide if she has the inner strength to handle being called names, look at differently, and being rejected. She finds out what she really believes and who are her true friends.
Alexie, S. (2009). The Absolute True Diary of a Part-time Indian. Columbus, GA: Little Brown Books for Young Readers.
This is the story of Junior, a young man growing up on the Spokane Rez (reservation), who chooses to leave the Rez school to attend an all-white farm school for a better opportunity. Junior experiences bigotry and ignorance as he adapts to his new school environment while struggling with tribal issues back home. Semi-autobiographical, Alexie is famous for his literature that highlights the ongoing struggles of Native American trying to better themselves and yet tied to their cultural heritage. The story is funny, heartbreaking, and real
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Jiang, J. (1997). Red Scarf Girl: A Memoir of the Cultural Revolution. New York, NY: Harper Collins.
Unlike the other books in this list, this book is not fiction, but based on the real-life experiences of the author in communist China. Ji-li is just twelve years old when Chairman Mao decides to launch the ambitious Cultural Revolution. Part of the Revolution means renouncing the old ways of Chinese tradition. Because her family is considered suspect, Ji-li is pushed to renounce her family. As she struggles with loyalty to family or loyalty to the state, Ji-li witnesses first hand the brutality of the communist dictatorship.
Yang, G.L. (2008). American Born Chinese. Square Fish, NY: Square Fish Publishing.
Another book that uses humor to address serious culture issues, this book takes the form of a graphic novel. Students love this book because the illustrations tell just as much about the story as the words and dialogue. Jin Wang is the only Asian kid at his school, and he’s trying to fit in. Scenarios such as having a lunch of traditional Asian food in a cafeteria of burgers and fries highlight some of his challenges. At the same time, Jin Wang likes girls, gets embarrassed by his parents, and experiences other common teenage angst. It’s a great read and promotes conversation about our commonalities more than our differences.