A Suitcase of Seaweed and Other Poems

A Suitcase of Seaweed and Other Poems

Written by: Janet Wong

"With a sense of pride in her Korean, Chinese, and American background, Janet Wong's poetry reflects some of the differences between Chinese and Korean customs and culture and the American way of life. Divided into three sections – Korean, Chinese, and American – and with the author's own explanation as to how the poems developed from experiences in her own life, these poems speak directly and simply to young people of many ethnic backgrounds."

Publishers Synopsis

Web Resources:
http://www.janetwong.com/books/suitcaseofseaweed.cfm

Seesaw Girl

Seesaw Girl

Written by: Linda Sue Park

"Life in 17th-century Korea is not easy for a girl, even for the daughter of a wealthy family. Jade Blossom must learn to do the laundry, sew the clothes back together after each washing, help in the kitchen, and embroider flawlessly. Her world is circumscribed by the walls of the Inner Court where she will spend her life until she marries and then will be confined to the Inner Court of her husband's household. However, when her aunt and best friend since childhood gets married, Jade is determined to see her again."

School Library Journal Review

Online Resources:
http://www.lindasuepark.com/bio.html

Weedflower

Weedflower

Written by: Cynthia Kadohata

Set in California and Arizona during the 1940's Kadohata introduces us to Sumiko and her Japanese-American family who enjoy spending time together working on their flower farm. Sumiko and her family's life changes forever when Japan bombs Pearl Harbor on December 7th, 1944. They are taken to a Japanese internment camp in Arizona where Sumiko and her family begin living life as prisoners in their own country. Sumiko is a strong character who students who have ever felt discriminated because of their race or National origin will be able to identify. This piece of historical fiction is an important read for teachers and students.

Jennie's Review

Online Resources:
http://suzyred.com/2007weedflower.html
http://www.pbs.org/childofcamp/history/index.html

Grandfather's Journey

Grandfather's Journey

Written and Illustrated by: Allen Say

"Through compelling reminiscences of his grandfather's life in America and Japan, Allen Say gives us a poignant account of a family's unique cross-cultural experience. He warmly conveys his own love for his two countries, and the strong and constant desire to be in both places at once."

Publishers Synopsis

From the Author:
"I am striving to give shape to my dreams--the old business of making myths--the fundemental force of art. And so, GRANDFATHER'S JOURNEY is essentially a dream book, for the life's journey is an endless dreaming of the places we have left behind and the places we have yet to reach."--Allen Say (Caldecott Medal Acceptance Speech )

Online Resources:
http://faculty.salisbury.edu/~elbond/grand.htm

The Road From Home: The Story of an Armenian Girl

The Road From Home: The Story of an Armenian Girl

Written by: David Kherdian

"David Kherdian re-creates his mother's voice in telling the true story of a childhood interrupted by one of the most devastating holocausts of our century. Vernon Dumehjian Kherdian was born into a loving and prosperous family. Then, in the year 1915, the Turkish government began the systematic destruction of its Armenian population."

Online Resources:
http://www.cobblestonepub.com/resources/cob0005t.html

Kings and Queens of Africa

Kings and Queens of Africa

Written by: Sylviane Anna Diouf

"Each book in this series -- West, Central, Southern and East Africa-- looks at different eras to show how the region evolved through time and the most significant rulers of the region. Some were more famous than others, and some well-known figures do not appear here. I have presented social, political, and cultural innovators who connected their kingdoms to a much larger world, or brought various groups together into one people. These rulers left important legacies."

Online Resources:
http://www.sylvianediouf.com/kings_and_queens_of_africa_3753.htm
http://www.mrrudy.com/kingsandqueens.htm

No Turning Back: A Novel of South Africa

No Turning Back: A Novel of South Africa

Written by: Beverley Naidoo

"The setting of this book is Johannesburg, South Africa, on the eve of the election of Mandela. In a setting of burnings and police raids, a homeless boy searches for help in a city shelter. The author develops both the complexities associated with the political settings and the personal conflicts as people are caught in the social unrest. After reading the book, students begin to realize the complexities of political conflicts."

Publishers Description

Online Resources: