List
Under-Told Histories of Racism and Immigration
"Why isn't this taught in our history books?!" Adults and children alike cry out when they learn about an injustice that the historical canon often does not discuss. While these injustices may not be taught in history books, they are being discussed today by many different authors. These books examine specific events in our time and in the recent past that deserve our attention. For kids ranging from about 7 to 17 and their families.
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Stolen Words
2017 by Florence, MelanieGet this itemCanada's residential system of schools for indigenous children stripped a little girl's grandfather of his language. When the little girl learns this, she sets out to help him regain his language. Ages 4-8
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Islandborn
2018 by Díaz, JunotGet this itemLola has to draw a picture of the island she where she was born for class. The only problem is that she doesn't remember it. So she asks her family and neighbors what they remember about the island, learning both the good and the bad things about her homeland. Ages 5-8
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Lubna and Pebble
2019 by Meddour, WendyGet this itemLubna is a refugee. She lives in a world of tents with her best friend Pebble. Pebble is always there for Lubna and gives her strength when she needs it. One day, when a boy arrives to the world of tents, Lubna realizes that he may need Pebble more than she does. Ages 4-8
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The Night Diary
2018 by Hiranandani, VeeraGet this itemDuring the partition of India, 12-year-old Nisha is forced to flee with her Hindu family and make sense of the new chaotic world she finds herself in by writing to her deceased Muslim mother in her diary. Ages 8-12
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Sachiko: A Nagasaki Bomb Survivor's Story
2016 by Stelson, Caren BarzelayGet this itemSachiko is just six years old when the bombs are dropped over Hiroshima and Nagasaki. She and some other kids are only a half mile away from the hypocenter of the Nagasaki bomb drop. As Sachiko grows up, the effects of the bomb remain with her, her family, and her country for the rest of their lives. Ages 10+
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Surviving the City
2018 by Spillett, TashaGet this itemTwo Native American girls--Dez and Miikwan--try to survive in an unforgiving city in which native women go missing with regularity. When Dez learns that her grandmother is too sick to continue taking care of her, Dez disappears. Miikwan is devastated remembering the disappearance of her own mother. It is now up to Miikwan and the rest of the community to find Dez before it is too late. Ages 13+
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The Other Side: Stories of Central American Teen Refugees Who Dream of Crossing the Border
2019 by Villalobos, Juan PabloGet this itemThese stories depict the experiences of 10 Central American teens who crossed the border. To protect their identities, the names of the teens have been changed. Each experience is written in a narrative format that highlights the struggles the teens had to endure in their home countries as well as their experiences traveling across the border and in immigration detention centers. Ages 12+
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A Few Red Drops: The Chicago Race Riot of 1919
2018 by Hartfield, ClaireGet this itemIn July 1919, five black kids swimming in Lake Michigan unintentionally float too close to the "white" beach. After an angry white man throws stones at them, killing one, racial conflicts across the city erupt, shaking Chicago to its core. Ages 12+
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The Weight of Our Sky
2019 by Hanna AlkafGet this itemOn May 13, 1969, Melati is thrown into a world of chaos when the race riots between the Chinese and Malays begin. The violence of the riots sends Melati’s OCD into overdrive, making it nearly impossible for her to do anything but count (her compulsive tick). She is forced to find her inner strength in order to stand up for what she believes in, find her mother, and protect the people she loves. Ages 13+
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