Booth, Coe. Tyrell.
15-year-old Tyrell is homeless, after his mother’s refusal to work and their failed welfare time. Their stay in the shelter is problematic, as Tyrell resists the love he feels for another resident, tries to ignore the easy money in drug-dealing, and cares for his younger brother.
Bertrand, Diane Gonzales. Sweet Fifteen.
This story explores a family coming to grips with the death of a father and a husband all with the help of a family friend. Everyone must learn to adapt to their new family roles in this novel that centers on the quinceanera, a Hispanic coming of age tradition for girls.
Bode, Janet. Beating The Odds.
These are the stories of real teenagers struggling with cultural issues related to growing up in an ever changing, complicated environment. The powerful stories are sure to inspire readers to overcome obstacles and succeed.
Carlson, Lori M., and Oscar Hijuelos. Cool Salsa: Bilingual Poems on Growing Up Latino in the United States.
This is a poetry collection about Latino Americans and their lives in America. It shares the positive and negative aspects of their experiences. This collection speaks about the difficulties of Latino people trying to adjust to a different culture and a different language than they were accustomed to in their home country.
Crew, Linda. Children of the River.
Fleeing Cambodia with family, Sundara and her family, escape the Khmer Rouge army. Four years later she continues to struggle to fit in at her Oregon high school and to be "a good Cambodian girl" at home. Sundara meets Jonathan an extraordinary American boy and both are powerfully drawn to each other. With this new attraction in her life, Sundara wonders if her hopes for happiness and new life in America disloyal to her past and her people?
Hobbs, Will. Far North.
This wonderfully written fiction book is about a boy named Gabe and his new roommate Raymond. After landing in a bush plane to admire a waterfall in Canada’s Northwest Territory, the engine quits. The boys find they are stranded in the arctic cold. The two 16 year olds boys learn to rely on each other for survival despite the fact they grew up in different places Gabe from Texas, and Raymond a native.
Levine, Ellen. A Fence Away From Freedom.
During 1941 Japanese American’s were put into camps as a result of the bombing of Pearl Harbor. In 1941 Japanese American’s were forced to give up their belongings and live within the worst conditions. These are stories told by those children who survived this ordeal in 1941.
Nye, Naomi Shihab. This Same Sky: A Collection of Poems from around the World.
These poems from a wide variety of cultures are organized into categories which reflect the aspects of our shared humanity. They are; Words and Silences, Dreams and Dreamers, Families, This Earth and Sky in Which We Live, Losses, and Human Mysteries.
Rana, Indi. The Roller Birds of Rampur.
Sheila has always considered herself to be English but after a run in with her boyfriend’s disapproving mother she begins to wonder. She travels to India to stay with relatives and to discover her Indian side. After several conversations with her grandfather Sheila begins to find out who she really is.
Salisbury, Graham. Under the Blood-Red Sun.
Tomikazu (Tomi) Nakaji's biggest concerns are baseball, homework, and a local bully, until life with his Japanese family in Hawaii changes drastically after the bombing of Pearl Harbor in December 1941. Tomi experiences many hard times that he must work through because of the war.