Tell Me Who You Are by
In this deeply inspiring book, Winona Guo and Priya Vulchi recount their experiences talking to people from all walks of life about race and identity on a cross-country tour of America. Spurred by the realization that they had nearly completed high school without hearing any substantive discussion about racism in school, the two young women deferred college admission for a year to collect first-person accounts of how racism plays out in this country every day--and often in unexpected ways.
When Can We Go Back to America? by
Beginning with the bombing of Peal Harbor, chronicles the attack's effects on Japanese American citizens, with essays detailing official government reactions and policies and personal accounts of unfounded bigotry and racism and the effects of internment experienced by those of Japanese origin and descent.
Every Falling Star by
Presents the true story of North Korean boy Sungju Lee, who was separated from his parents at age twelve and forced to fend for himself on the streets and face hunger, arrest, prison, and possible execution. Relates the harrowing story of how Sungju eventually escaped the country.
Somewhere in the Unknown World by
Compiles fifteen stories describing the experiences of refugees from around the world who have settled in Minnesota. Describes their home countries, their journeys to America and to Minnesota, the challenges they faced, those who helped them and those who did not, and the obstacles they overcame to begin new lives.
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SHS | Libby
From a Whisper to a Rallying Cry by
Chronicles the events leading up to and following the murder of Chinese American Vincent Chin in 1982 which sparked the Asian American movement and led to the United States' first federal civil rights trial in connection with an Asian American citizen.
Farewell to Manzanar by
During World War II a community called Manzanar was created in the high mountain desert country of California. Its purpose was to house thousands of Japanese Americans. Among them was the Wakatsuki family, who were ordered to leave their fishing business in Long Beach and take with them only the belongings they could carry. Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston, who was seven years old when she arrived at Manzanar in 1942, recalls life in the camp through the eyes of the child she was.
The Latehomecomer by
Kao Kalia Yang tells the story of her family's journey from a Hmong refugee camp in Thailand to St. Paul, Minnesota, and life in America. Yang -- cofounder of "Words Wanted," an immigrant-services company -- left Thailand in search of a better life for her family. Like many other refugees, Yang worked very hard to give her children an education as well as the opportunity to contribute to society.
The Latinos of Asia by
The Filipino story demonstrates how immigration is changing the way people negotiate race, particularly in cities like Los Angeles where Latinos and Asians now constitute a collective majority. Amplifying their voices, Ocampo illustrates how second-generation Filipino Americans' racial identities change depending on the communities they grow up in, the schools they attend, and the people they befriend. Ultimately, The Latinos of Asia offers a window into both the racial consciousness of everyday people and the changing racial landscape of American society.
From Here by
Luma Mufleh, founder of Fugees Family, a nonprofit that supports refugee children in the United States, provides a memoir of her experiences as a refugee. Growing up as a Muslim in Jordan, Luma knew as a preteen that she was attracted to girls, but didn't have words for her homosexuality. After getting accepted into college in the United States, Luma came out to her parents, but they wanted her immediately returned to them. Knowing she could be killed, Luma applied for asylum in the United States and began the long journey to becoming a citizen where she could live as her authentic self, while simultaneously loving her heritage and helping her family accept who she is.
Minor Feelings by
Cathy Park Hong, poet and professor at Rutgers University, highlights the racial consciousness of America today, and examines the state of the Asian American identity in the twenty-first century. Presents the shame and confusion many Asian Americans feel that leads to what Hong calls "minor feelings" as well as the "model minority" myth.
Crying in H Mart by
Chronicles the life of Michelle Zauner, the indie rock musician known as Japanese Breakfast, and explores her complicated relationship with her mother. Details her early life, struggles to live up to her mother's expectations, grief following her mother's cancer diagnosis and death, and challenges breaking into the music scene.
How Does It Feel to Be a Problem? by
In this captivating book, seven young Arab and Muslim people living in Brooklyn share their experiences of misunderstandings and discrimination after the events of September 11. Readers will learn how workplace discrimination, government surveillance, cultural misunderstandings and threats of violence all play a role in the young people's “struggle to find themselves” (PW).
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Lucky Child by
Ung begins in 1980 where her first memoir, "First They Killed My Father," left off. She escapes a devastated Cambodia at age 10 and begins again in Vermont, where she embraces American life. Although she enjoys America, she can never truly leave her Cambodian life behind. She and her eldest brother escaped, but their other three siblings were still there. The book parallels the lives of Ung and her sister, Chou, during the 15 years it took them to reunite. Readers get a close look at the differences between the two worlds and the things each girl must struggle with in her life.
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