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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I am not your perfect Mexican daughter
Sánchez, Erika L.
Paper Book
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER * A "stunning" (America Ferrera) YA novel about a teenager coming to terms with losing her sister and finding herself amid the pressures, expectations, and stereotypes of growing up in a Mexican American home. "Alive and crackling--a...
The astonishing color of after
Pan, Emily X. R.
Paper Book
A Time Magazine 100 Best YA Books of All Time Selection A stunning, heartbreaking debut novel about grief, love, and family, perfect for fans of Jandy Nelson and Celeste Ng. Leigh Chen Sanders is absolutely certain about one thing: When...
Black enough : stories of being young & black in America
Zoboi, Ibi Aanu
Paper Book
Launch and lead promotion at national school & library conferences and previews, including booth signage and extensive galley distribution Author appearance, panel and signing with four anthology contributors at NCTE 2018 in Houston, TX (November) Included in W19 School &...
Butterfly yellow
Lai, Thanhha
Paper Book
Winner of the Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction! Perfect for fans of Elizabeth Acevedo, Ibi Zoboi, and Erika L. Sánchez, this gorgeously written and deeply moving novel is the YA debut from the award-winning author of Inside Out & Back Again. 4 starred reviews! In 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
Paper Book
Big Mouth galley mailing to 150 librarians, teachers, and other national tastemakers Advertising in key school & library media, such as School Library Journal and Booklist Teens' Top 10/YALSA ARE mailing to 15 teen reading groups across the country ...
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 ...
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
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 HarperStacks' Pride on Every Page campaign State and national award mailing  <...
Love in English
Andreu, Maria E.
Paper Book
A fresh, joyful YA novel that is layered with themes of immigration, cultural identity, and finding your voice in any language.  Sixteen-year-old Ana is a poet and a lover of language. Except that since she moved to New Jersey from Argentina, she can barely find the...
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
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 Advertising in key school & library media, such as School Library Journal, The Horn Book and Booklist ...
While you were dreaming
Rai, Alisha
Paper Book
Featured title at librarian previews and events  Featured title on HarperStacks, the school & library marketing digital hub 
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...

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