TBH, I don’t even know how to start this post off. I wish the world was a better place and I wish everyone could just agree that we all deserve to be treated as humans and equals instead of shitting on the existence of entire groups of people. I am trying to use this space to promote books that we should all be reading right now and to get people to support more diverse (& #ownvoices) content. So here is a list of 10 Books about Immigrant/1st Gen Experiences.
1. Written in the Stars by Aisha Saeed
MC is a first gen Pakistani-American and the book is #ownvoices. Also deals with arranged marriage and has a jaw-dropping gorgeous cover.
2. American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang
I think people who exist in diaspora will definitely relate to this wonderful graphic novel. #ownvoices and forever one of my favorite books within the scope of this reality.
3. The Arrival by Shaun Tan
TBH, someone just needs to read this fucking graphic novel to flail with me over its brilliance. There are only pictures and no words but the art is amazing and the graphic novel is so intricately designed. Author is Asian-Australian and the graphic novel is about immigration experiences.
4. The Radius of Us by Marie Marquardt
Not #ownvoices. Has a latinx main character from El Salvador.
5. American Street by Ibi Zoboi
MC is an immigrant from Haiti. #ownvoices.
6. Something in Between by Melissa De La Cruz
MC is a first gen Filipino-American character. #ownvoices
7. Does My Head Look Big in This by Randa Abdel-Fattah
Another book that literally changed my life when I was a bb-8. 100/10, would recommend reading. MC is a first gen Australian-Palestinian. #ownvoices
8. Tell Me Again How A Crush Should Feel by Sara Farizan
MC is lesbian and Persian-American. #ownvoices.
9. Like Water on Stone by Dana Walrath
Written in verse. About three siblings trying to survive during the horrific Armenian Genocide of 1915 just as the Ottoman Empire was crumbling. Incredibly heartbreaking.
10. The Secret Side of Empty by Maria E. Andreu
MC is an undocumented immigrant from Argentina. #ownvoices.
Feel free to share some of your own recs in the comments below!
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Thank you for recommending these books! I’m adding them to my TBR for sure. I appreciate that you mention a wide range of story types and the emphasis on #ownvoices.
Jordan @ForeverLostinLiterature
Wonderful list of recommendations, I definitely want to look into a lot of these! You have such a wide variety and I glad to see you sharing these. 🙂 Great post!
Morgan @ Gone with the Words
What an excellent list of books! I have a few of them on my TBR already that I really want to get to: Does My Head Look Big In This, Tell Me How A Crush Should Feel, and American Street.
Amanda @ Vivalabooks
Awesome list of recommendations! I feel like immigrant/1st gen stories aren’t as big as they could be in YA, and I’m always glad to learn about more.
Tiffany @ I Was Angelized_1st
Wow, all of these sound fantastic! Thanks for posting!
Anisha @ Sprinkled Pages
CANNOT WAIT TO READ WRITTEN IN THE STARS AND THE RADIUS OF US! They both sound amazing and hopefully they don’t let me down!
Sarah J.
Thanks so much for these recommendations! I’m definitely going to check out several of these novels!
Shannon @ It Starts at Midnight
This is a phenomenal list, love. I had no idea that Like Water on Stone was historical- I had seen it around, but now I MUST read it. Also, I need to read Written in the Stars so badly, and American Street, and The Radius of Us. And fine, probably all of them, but definitely those like, NOW. Thank you SO much for sharing these!!