Books About the Immigrant Experience

Whether first or fourth generation, each immigrant story is unique in its own beautiful way, while also sharing some big, overarching similarities. We live in such a rich land composed of people from around the world; it would be a shame if we didn’t listen. Lucky for us, these authors were brave enough to share their stories.

Updated April 22, 2024
Nashua Public Library
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Almost American girl : an illustrated memoir
Ha, Robin
Paper Book
Harvey Award Nominee, Best Children or Young Adult Book  A powerful and moving teen graphic novel memoir about immigration, belonging, and how arts can save a life--perfect for fans of American Born Chinese and Hey, Kiddo.  For as long as she can remember...
I am not your perfect Mexican daughter
Sánchez, Erika L.
Paper Book
National Book Award Finalist! Instant New York Times Bestseller! The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian meets Jane the Virgin in this poignant but often laugh-out-loud funny contemporary YA about losing a sister and finding yourself amid...
American Street
Zoboi, Ibi Aanu
Paper Book
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,...
The astonishing color of after
Pan, Emily X. R.
Audiobook
Leigh Chen Sanders is absolutely certain about one thing: When her mother died by suicide, she turned into a bird.Leigh, who is half Asian and half white, travels to Taiwan to meet her maternal grandparents for the first time. There, she is determined to find her mother, the bird. In her search, she...
Black enough : stories of being young & black in America
Zoboi, Ibi Aanu
Audiobook
Edited by National Book Award finalist Ibi Zoboi, and featuring some of the most acclaimed bestselling Black authors writing for teens today--Black Enough is an essential collection of captivating stories about what it's like to be young and Black in America. A selection of the ...
Darius the Great is not okay
Khorram, Adib
Paper Book
Darius doesn't think he'll ever be enough, in America or in Iran. Hilarious and heartbreaking, this unforgettable debut introduces a brilliant new voice in contemporary YA. Winner of the William C. Morris Debut Award "Heartfelt, tender, and so utterly real. I'd live...
An emotion of great delight
Mafi, Tahereh
Audiobook
From bestselling and National Book Award-nominated author Tahereh Mafi comes a stunning novel about love and loneliness, navigating the hyphen of dual identity, and reclaiming your right to joy--even when you're trapped in the amber of sorrow. It's 2003, several months since the US...
Everything sad is untrue : (a true story)
Nayeri, Daniel
Paper Book
Winner of the Michael L. Printz Award Christopher Award Winner Middle East Book Award Winner National Indie Bestseller NPR Best Book of the Year New York Times Best of the Year Amazon Best of the Year Booklist Editors' Choice ...
An impossible thing to say
Shahi, Arya
Paper Book
The Poet X meets A Very Large Expanse of Sea in a bold novel-in-verse starring a Persian American teen navigating his first crush, his family's post-9/11 dynamics, and the role of language in defining who we are. "A dazzling story with a whole lot of heart. Read it." -...
Kween
Chum, Vichet
Paper Book
Big Mouth ARE mailing to a curated list of influential librarians and educators HarperStacks New Voices/debut novel promotion Featured title in Shake Up Your Shelves, a campaign to promote inclusive texts in curriculum and library collections
Last night at the Telegraph Club
Lo, Malinda
Paper Book
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER * WINNER OF THE NATIONAL BOOK AWARD AND STONEWALL BOOK AWARD * From acclaimed author Malinda Lo comes a gripping, tender coming-of-age novel exploring identity, queerness, and historical upheaval set in San Francisco's Chinatown during the 1950s. ...
The lesbiana's guide to Catholic school
Reyes, Sonora
Paper Book
National Book Award Finalist * William C. Morris YA Debut Award Finalist * Goodreads Finalist for Best Teen Book of the Year * Walter Honor Award Winner * Pura Belpré Honor Book * Lambda Literary Award Winner for LGBTQ+ Young Adult A sharply funny and moving debut novel about a queer...
Messy roots : a graphic memoir of a Wuhanese American
Gao, Laura
Paper Book
Big Mouth ARE mailing to a curated list of influential librarians and educators  Teens' Top 10/YALSA ARE mailing to 15 teen reading groups across the country  Featured title in Shake Up Your Shelves, a campaign to promote inclusive texts in curriculum, library...
Not Here to Be Liked
Quach, Michelle
Paper Book
Featured title in Shake Up Your Shelves, a campaign to promote inclusive texts in curriculum, library collections, and bookstores
The poet X
Acevedo, Elizabeth
Paper Book
* Extensive promotion at School & Library conferences, including lead book placement and substantial distribution of ARCs * Special Standalone Advertising and author feature pitches in leading school & library media such as School Library Journal, Booklist  *...
The queens of New York
Shen, E. L.
Paper Book
Big Mouth ARE mailing to a curated list of influential librarians and educators Teens' Top 10/YALSA ARE mailing to 15 teen reading groups across the country  Featured title in Shake Up Your Shelves, a campaign to promote inclusive texts in curriculum, library collections, and...
Somewhere between bitter and sweet
Kemp, Laekan Zea
Paper Book
I'm Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter meets Emergency Contact in this stunning Pura Belpré Honor Book about first love, familial expectations, the power of food, and finding where you belong. Penelope Prado has always dreamed of opening...
The sun is also a star
Yoon, Nicola
Paper Book
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER * NATIONAL BOOK AWARD FINALIST * NOW A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE * An all-encompassing, whirlwind romance that's "beautifully crafted" (People) and "full of intelligence, understanding and hope" (Los Angeles Times) ONE OF THE...
This place is still beautiful
Tian, Xixi
Audiobook
While you were dreaming
Rai, Alisha
Paper Book
In this debut contemporary YA romance by bestselling author Alisha Rai, a girl with undocumented family members goes viral after saving her crush's life in disguise. A must read for fans of Sandhya Menon and Nicola Yoon.  A Phenomenal Book Club Pick! It's a...
Yo no soy tu perfecta hija mexicana
Sánchez, Erika L.
Paper Book
Finalista del National Book Award! Bestseller del New York Times! TIMES 2020, los 100 mejores libros juveniles de todos los tiempos Julia no es la hija mexicana perfecta. Ese era el rol de su hermana Olga. Olga no fue a la universidad, se quedó en casa...
Zara Hossain is here
Khan, Sabina
Ebook
Zara's family has waited years for their visa process to be finalized so that they can officially become US citizens. But it only takes one moment for that dream to come crashing down around them. Seventeen-year-old Pakistani immigrant, Zara Hossain, has been leading a fairly typical life...

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