American Street, Ibi Zoboi On the corner of American Street and Joy Road, Fabiola Toussaint thought she would finally find une belle vie -- a good life. But after they leave Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Fabiola's mother is detained by U.S. immigration, leaving Fabiola to navigate her loud American cousins, Chantal, Donna, and Princess; the grittiness of Detroit's West Side; a new school; and a surprising romance, all on her own. Just as she finds her footing in this strange new world, a dangerous proposition presents itself, and Fabiola soon realizes that freedom comes at a cost. Trapped at the crossroads of an impossible choice, will she pay the price for the American dream?
Hope and Other Dangerous Pursuits, Laila Lalami "Hope and Other Dangerous Pursuits tells the story of two men and two women who are brought together and separated under extraordinary circumstances. As the book opens, they're on the sea in a flimsy inflatable boat, which they hope will carry them across the Strait of Gibraltar from Morocco to Spain. What has driven them to leave their country and risk their lives? And will the rewards prove to be worth the danger?" (From the book jacket)
Brother, I'm Dying, Edwidge Danticat When the author was only four years old, her parents emigrated from Haiti to New York in search of a better life, leaving their daughter in the care of her uncle Joseph. A peaceful pastor in Port-au-Prince, Joseph raised Edwidge with the love and devotion of a father, despite facing many hardships in politically turbulent Haiti. It wasn't until she was 12 years old that Edwidge was finally reunited with her parents and forced to confront the inevitably complex emotions.
Gesture Life, Chang rae-Lee "From the acclaimed author of "Native Speaker" comes his second novel about a Japanese World War II veteran who becomes a proper man and upstanding citizen in New York. As his life slowly unravels, he is transported back to his days as a medic in the Japanese army and his obsessive love for a young comfort woman." (Powells) (Recommended by Lorry)
Drown, Junot Diaz (Student recommendation)
Call Me American: A Memoir, Abdi Nor Iftin (Student recommendation)
Patron Saint of Nothing, Randy Ribay (Recommended by Cassie)