Fiction
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
Junior is sick of being just another Indian on the reservation-- he wants to escape, and have a life in the outside world. Determined to get out, Junior transfers to a school outside of the reservation. He finds himself torn, trying to find a balance between his family and his friends at the new school.
Grades 7-10
American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang
In this graphic novel, Yang tells the stories of Jin Wang, an Asian American middle school student, the Chinese folk hero Monkey King, and of Danny, an American teen who transfers schools just to escape the embarrassing association with his Chinese cousin, Chin-Kee.
Grades 9-12
American Eyes: New Asian-American Short Stories for Young Adults by Lori Marie Carlson
Collection of short stories by ten Asian-American authors. Stories are about conflicts that protagonists face while torn between their traditional native cultures and the current American society that they are also a part of.
Grades 7-9
Grades 7-10
American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang
In this graphic novel, Yang tells the stories of Jin Wang, an Asian American middle school student, the Chinese folk hero Monkey King, and of Danny, an American teen who transfers schools just to escape the embarrassing association with his Chinese cousin, Chin-Kee.
Grades 9-12
American Eyes: New Asian-American Short Stories for Young Adults by Lori Marie Carlson
Collection of short stories by ten Asian-American authors. Stories are about conflicts that protagonists face while torn between their traditional native cultures and the current American society that they are also a part of.
Grades 7-9
Born Confused by Tanuja Desai Hidier
Dimple Lala is too American for her Indian life and too Indian for her American life. She is constantly feeling confused and like a disappointment to her parents. In this story, Dimple goes on a quest to find an identity that belongs to herself.
Grades 9-12
Does My Head Look Big in This? by Randa Abdel-Fattah
Sixteen-year-old Amal decides to start wearing the hijab full-time despite what others think about her. She faces reactions from her parents, her friends and strangers all around.
Grades 7-10
Estrella’s Quinceañera by Malín Alegría
Estrella lives in two worlds. Between her San Jose barrio and her "scholarship" private school, she finds herself divided. When it is time for her Quinceañera, she fears that her two worlds are about to collide.
Grades 7-10
After fleeing the Dominican Republic, these four sisters must adjust to their new American home. They are caught between their new world and their old and the expectations of their parents and their own.
Grades 9-12
Kiffe, Kiffe Tomorrow by Faiza Guene
Doria is a fifteen-year-old girl from Morocco. After being deserted by her father, she and her illiterate mother live in a Parisian-housing project. Doria faces poverty along with other conflicts that arise from her Muslim culture and the clashing surroundings.
Grades 9-12
Mexican Whiteboy by Matt de la Peña
Half-Mexican, Half-white, sixteen-year-old Danny searches for his identity. Whether he is at his mostly-white school, or with his Mexican family, he feels like an outsider. By deciding to spend the summer with his Mexican father's family, he hopes that he will learn to be more "real" in his identity.
Grades 9-12
Moccasin Thunder edited by Lori Marie Carlson
Collection of ten short stories about American Indians. Each story tells a different tale of how the story of the American Indian is still relevant in a modern and changing world.
Grades 9-12
Nothing but the Truth (and a Few White Lies) by Justina Chen Headley
Half-white, half-Asian, Patty Ho feels like she does not fit in anywhere. When her mom makes her enroll in a summer math camp at Stanford University, she is very concerned about finding friends to hang out with. When she finally starts to find her own place, her mom arrives at camp and threatens to pull her out because she is not focusing enough on math.
Grades 9-12
Tyrell by Booth Coe
Tyrell is surrounded by bad examples. His father ran off and his mother is past the point of caring for him or his little brother. In this story Tyrell faces many situations that threaten his future, and he is forced to choose which life he will live.
NonfictionMexican Whiteboy by Matt de la Peña
Half-Mexican, Half-white, sixteen-year-old Danny searches for his identity. Whether he is at his mostly-white school, or with his Mexican family, he feels like an outsider. By deciding to spend the summer with his Mexican father's family, he hopes that he will learn to be more "real" in his identity.
Grades 9-12
Moccasin Thunder edited by Lori Marie Carlson
Collection of ten short stories about American Indians. Each story tells a different tale of how the story of the American Indian is still relevant in a modern and changing world.
Grades 9-12
Nothing but the Truth (and a Few White Lies) by Justina Chen Headley
Half-white, half-Asian, Patty Ho feels like she does not fit in anywhere. When her mom makes her enroll in a summer math camp at Stanford University, she is very concerned about finding friends to hang out with. When she finally starts to find her own place, her mom arrives at camp and threatens to pull her out because she is not focusing enough on math.
Grades 9-12
Tyrell by Booth Coe
Tyrell is surrounded by bad examples. His father ran off and his mother is past the point of caring for him or his little brother. In this story Tyrell faces many situations that threaten his future, and he is forced to choose which life he will live.
Grades 9-12
Latino in America by Soledad O’Brien and Rose Marie Arce
This book depicts the life of CNN reporter Soledad O’Brien. Despite being a Native born Latin American, she still faced the struggles of being a Latino born in an American culture.
Grades 9-12
The Lost Boys of Sudan by Mark Bixler
Starting in 2000, thousands of refugees began entering the United States as the result of one of the longest civil wars in African history. Because of this, a massive group of young men who were separated from their families were implanted into various American cities such as Atlanta. These boys became known as the “Lost Boys.” This book tells the story of four refugees finding their way in a foreign country and culture.
Grades 9-12
We Beat the Street: How a Friendship Pact led to Success by Sampson Davis, George Jenkins, Rameck Hunt, and Sharon Draper
This is the story of how three boys came together and made a pact that they would reach their dreams by staying out of trouble. In this true account, Sampson, George, and Rameck recall significant events of their youth that helped shape who they are today.
Grades 7-10
Burnt Sugar edited by Lori Marie Carlson and Oscar Hijuelos
Collection of bilingual Cuban poetry.
Cool Salsa edited by Lori Marie Carlson and Oscar Hijuelos
Collection of bilingual poetry about the pressures faced by Hispanic immigrants in America.
Red Hot Salsa edited by Lori Marie Carlson and Oscar Hijuelos
Collection of bilingual poems on growing up Latino in the United States
