I think we are all aware the world is a pile of crap and yet this past week, it seems like all of that is escalating. From refugees running away from human traffickers being turned away by Italy to prove a point to incredibly young children being separated from their parents after escaping unimaginable horrors, the world truly sucks. Sometimes it can be incredibly overwhelming when many of us sit in the protection of our own homes feeling like we are unable to do anything. There is always something you can do though. Whether it is calling your representatives (no matter how shitty they are) or donating your time/money.
Authors Margaret Stohl and Melissa de la Cruz put together the “Kid Lit Says No Kids in Cages” campaign. Donations will go to 6 different organizations working to support detained immigrants. You can donate and find more information out HERE.
Five Books About Immigration Experiences You Should Read
I am also sharing a short list of books about immigration experiences you should read. I made a list of 10 books last year you can also check out here.
1. Something in Between by Melissa de la Cruz
Jasmine de los Santos’ world is turned upside down when in the process of applying to scholarships for college, she discovers that their visas expired ages ago.
2. Weedflower by Cynthia Kadohata
Following the events of Pearl Harbor, Sumiko and her family is shipped off to an internment camp while her grandfather and his eldest brother are separated from them to be ‘questioned’.
3. The Arrival by Shaun Tan
This graphic novel is one of my all-time favorites and one that captures the immigrant experience so beautifully.
4. The Radius of Us by Marie Marquardt
This is the only book I know of that has an MC from El Salvador (or a Central American country in general) and it touches on immigration issues and racism in America.
5. American Street by Ibi Zaboi
When they immigrate from Haiti, Fabiola’s mother is detained by US immigration authorities, leaving her to navigate the US and her cousins by herself.
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Sophia @ Bookwyrming Thoughts
Ooo these are some great recommendations here – I’m very curious about Weedflower since I read Kira-Kira and it covers another topic.
But I do agree – too much is happening in the world and it honestly sucks since I wish I could do so much more than helping spread the word of causes (I guess every bit counts and helps, even if it’s small???).
Tessa
Keeping up with the news these days is disheartening and devastating. I dread opening up my Twitter feed for fear of the next atrocity that I will discover. However, hiding from the problem is not the solution. It is daunting for me to figure out how to actually contribute to the cause, but while I figure it out I will definitely pick up a couple of these books! That being said, I am very proud to be a part of the book community with its dedication to be active in the issues that really matter.
Even though it is different from the ones you mentioned, I really love Funny in Farsi by Firoozeh Dumas. It’s a memoir about her experiences as an immigrant from Iran, highlighting both the intense struggles and the promising victories of growing up in the United States. I personally don’t read a lot of non-fiction, but I still really enjoyed her creative and humorous tone that managed to do justice to a heavy topic.