This list features characters of various cultural backgrounds, many of which are represented in Freeman's own diverse student body. They are sorted alphabetically and are of varying reading levels (by grade). All books are available for checkout in the Freeman Library.
*Special note: Summaries are copied or paraphrased by Syndetic Solutions, Inc., a company dedicated to helping libraries present a wide range of helpful information about the books within their collections.
Accidental Love by Gary Soto, Fiction, 179 pages, RL: 4-5
Marisa mistakenly picks up the wrong cell phone, and when she goes to return it, finds herself attracted to the owner. But Marisa and Rene aren't exactly a match made in heaven. For one thing, Marisa is achola, and she isn't petite. Skinny Rene, however, gangles like a sackful of elbows and wears a calculator on his belt.
The Afterlife by Gary Soto, Fiction, 161 pages, RL: 5
You'd think a knife in the ribs would be the end of things, but for Chuy, that's when his life at last gets interesting. He finally sees that people love him, faces the consequences of his actions, finds in himself compassion and bravery . . . and even stumbles on what may be true love.
America Street: A Multicultural Anthology of Stories by Anne Mazer, Fiction, 152 pages, RL: 5-6
Fourteen slice-of-life stories featuring ethnic teens (mostly contemporary) whose parents or grandparents immigrated to the U.S. The sociocultural backgrounds of characters are diverse, yet all share the common goal of finding a place for themselves.
American Born Chinese by Gene Yuan, Graphic Novel, 233 pages, RL: 3
This is the story of three apparently unrelated characters – a Chinese-American boy, a Monkey King, and a stereotypical Chinese boy - whose lives and stories come together with an unexpected twist in this action-packed modern fable.
American Dragons: Twenty-five Asian American Voices by Laurence Yep, Fiction, 237 pages, RL: 7
The dragon, a symbol of Asian art and mythology, appears in many guises and is always adaptable -- a survivor par excellence. Asian Americans display this same supple strength as they move between their Asian culture and their American one.
American Eyes by Lori Carlson, Fiction, 144 pages, RL: 6-7
Short stories about Asian American youths as they struggle with generation gaps, identity crises, and feelings of displacement.
Ashes of Roses by Mary Jane Auch, Fiction, 250 pages, RL: 5
When she arrives on Ellis Island as a seventeen-year-old Irish immigrant, Rose Nolan is looking for a land of opportunities; what she finds is far from all she'd dreamed. Stubborn and tenacious, she refuses to give up, but when she is part of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire, life becomes almost too painful.
Beacon Hill Boys by Ken Mochizuki, Fiction, 201 pages, RL: 7
Like other Japanese American families in the Beacon Hill area of Seattle, 16-year-old Dan Inagaki's parents expect him to be an example of the "model minority." But unlike Dan's older brother, with his 4.0 GPA and Ivy League scholarship, Dan is tired of being called "Oriental" by his teachers, and sick of feeling invisible; Dan's growing self-hatred threatens his struggle to claim an identity.
Becoming Naomi Leon by Pam Munoz Ryan, Fiction, 246 pages, RL: 5
Naomi Soledad León Outlaw has had a lot to contend with in her young life, her name for one. Then there are her clothes (sewn in polyester by Gram), her difficulty speaking up, & her status at school as "nobody special." But according to Gram's self-prophecies, most problems can be overcome with positive thinking. Then her missing mom shows up and Naomi is forced to rethink her identity.
Before We Were Free by Julia Alvarez, Fiction, 166 pages, RL: 6
Anita de la Torre never questioned her freedom living in the Dominican Republic. But by her 12th birthday in 1960, most of her relatives have emigrated to the United States, her T o Toni has disappeared without a trace, and the government's secret police terrorize her remaining family because of their suspected opposition of el Trujillo's dictatorship.
Behind the Eyes by Francisco Stork, Fiction, 246 pages, RL: 4-5
Sixteen-year-old Hector is the hope of his family, but when he seeks revenge after his brother's gang-related death and is sent to a San Antonio reform school, it takes an odd assortment of characters to help him see that hope is still alive.
The Breadwinner by Deborah Ellis, Fiction, 170 pages, RL: 5-6
Young Parvana lives with her family in one room of a bombed-out apartment building in Kabul, Afghanistan. Because Parvana's father has a foreign education, he is arrested by the Taliban. The family becomes increasingly desperate until Parvana conceives a plan.
The Brothers Torres by Coert Voorhees, Fiction, 316 pages, RL: 5
Frankie Towers has always looked up to his older brother, Steve. Lately, however, Steve is on a crusade to win the respect of the localcholos. Then Frankie gets into a fistfight with John Dalton—longtime nemesis of Steve's, and the richest, preppiest kid in their New Mexican high school. After the fight, Steve takes Frankie under his wing, and Frankie’s social currency begins to rise. The cholos who used to ignore him start to recognize him, but soon Frankie starts to wonder if they are taking things too far.
Chasing the Jaguar by Michele Greene, Fiction, 227 pages, RL: 5
How about these issues? Your parents are separated, and you and Mom share a small apartment in a gang-ridden neighborhood. Your classmates are bunch of spoiled rich kids. You have recurring nightmares about a creepy jaguar. You worry you may be going crazy. Your big quincea'era "surprise" is finding out you're a curandera, or witch.
Copper Sun by Sharon Draper, Fiction, 302 pages, RL: 4-5
When pale strangers enter fifteen-year-old Amari's village, her entire tribe welcomes them as guests, but they are here to capture the strongest, healthiest villagers and to murder the rest. They are slave traders. And in the time it takes a gun to fire, Amari's life as she's known it is destroyed, along with her family and village.
Cuba 15 by Nancy Osa, Fiction, 277 pages, RL: 5-6
Violet Paz has just turned 15, a pivotal birthday in the eyes of her Cuban grandmother. Fifteen is the age when a girl enters womanhood, traditionally celebrating the occasion with a quinceañero. But while Violet is half Cuban, she’s also half Polish, and more importantly, she feels 100% American and isn’t too interested in her heritage.
The Cuban Americans by Miguel Pando-Gonzalez. Nonfiction. 185 pages.
An insightful view of Cuban Americans' historical roots, customs, and contributions to contemporary American life.
Cubanita by Gaby Triana, Fiction, 195 pages
Isabel D'az will be college bound soon and wishes to spend her summer having fun and flirting, but her mother is pressuring her to behave more as a young Cuban lady should behave.
Does My Head Look Big In This? by Randa Abdel-Fattah, Fiction, 360 pages
When sixteen-year-old Amal decides to wear the hijab full-time, her entire world changes, all because of a piece of cloth... Can she handle the taunts of "towel head," the prejudice of her classmates, and still attract the cutest boy in school?
Don’t Look Now or Ever by Anne Schraff, Fiction, 49 pages
When Jennifer Diaz, a Hispanic American, is observing the phases of the moon for her science project, she sees a vicious fight between classmates in the street below her window. When one of the boys disappears, she fears the worst has happened. Will she tell the truth and face the consequences of retaliation?
Drift by Manuel Luis Martinez, Fiction, 244 pages
Robert’s father has died and his mother has left his family for California, leaving Robert with his grandmother. Robert plans to go to California himself and put his family back together, but can a delinquent Mexican-American teenager succeed?
Ellis Island Interviews: In Their Own Words by Peter Coan, Nonfiction, 432 pages
A compilation of moving firsthand accounts from 130 of the last surviving immigrants who came through Ellis Island's Golden Door, describing the life they left behind, why they emigrated, what they endured, and what became of them after their arrival.
Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan, Fiction, 262 pages
For the first 12 years of her life, Esperanza Ortega is pampered by servants and sheltered by her doting parents on their ranch in Aguascalientes, Mexico. But a sudden tragedy shatters that world of wealth and privilege. Homeless and destitute, she and her mother emigrate to California to work in the fields and start a new life.
The Fattening Hut by Pat Collins, Fiction, 186 pages
Helen doesn’t want to stay in the fattening hut. She’s told her mother that she’s too young, not ready for it. Why must she marry so soon? She doesn’t want to gorge on rich meals for months—until she is round and heavy, like a good bride should be. Just like her mother and sister before her, just like all the women of her tribe. When she finds out the terrible secret the fattening hut harbors, she becomes even more confused and defiant.
Finding My Hat by John Son, Fiction, 185 pages
Jin-Han begins his story with his first memory, when at age two he loses his hat to a sudden gust of wind. While he never finds that particular hat, his search for his "hat"--his identity--coincides with his family's search for their place in America.
First Crossing : Stories About Teen Immigrants by Donald Gallo, Fiction, 224 pages
Ten unforgettable short stories — written by award-winning authors for young adults — reflect the stunning diversity of experience among teenagers from many countries who make the United States their new home. It's hard enough to be a teenager, trying to fit in, trying to get along with your parents, trying to figure out how the world works. Being from a different culture makes everything that much harder.
The Flight to Freedom by Ana Veciana Suarez, Fiction, 215 pages
Yara Garcia and her family live a middle-class life in Havana, Cuba. But in 1967, as Communist ruler Fidel Castro tightens his hold on Cuba, the Garcias, who do not share the political beliefs of the Communist Party, are forced to flee to Miami, Florida. There, Yara encounters a strange land with foreign customs.
Ghost Biker by Anne Schraff, Fiction, 50 pages
Kader, an Arab-American, loves to ride his mountain bike in the hills, but the peace is shattered when a ghostly biker tries to scare Kader away. Could it be the ex-boyfriend of Paloma, Kader's girlfriend? Kader must solve the mystery and restore peace to the hills.
The Girl from Playa Blanca by Ofelia Lachtman, Fiction, 259 pages
Elena and her little brother, Carlos, leave their Mexican seaside village to find their father, who has suddenly disappeared in the masses of immigrants attempting to make a living in Los Angeles in order to support families back home.
Honey Blonde Chica by Michele Serros, Fiction, 298 pages
Eve Gomez is one chill chica. She and best friend Raquel hang with the Flojos, A kick-back crew named for their designer flip-flops. and their habit of doing absolutely nothing. But the return of the long-lost amiga major Dee Dee wrecks Evie and Raquel's flojo flow. A few years in Mexico City have transformed their shy, skinny, brunette Dee Dee into a Sangro nightmare.
The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros, Fiction, 110 pages
The story of a young Latina girl growing up in a poor neighborhood in Chicago. As she invents for herself who and what she will become, she is determined to make it out of her neighborhood and have a better future.
How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents by Julia Alvarez, Fiction, 290 pages
Julia Alvarez's brilliant first book of fiction sets the Garcia girls free to tell their irrepressibly intimate stories about how they came to be at home -- and not at home -- in America.
The Irish Americans by Karen Price Hossell, Nonfiction, 112 pages
They left Ireland by the thousands in the 1840s and 1850s, fleeing hunger and disease for the promise of opportunity in America. The Irish were not welcome in America, though, and had to face discrimination, even persecution, before they assimilated into society and were accepted as true Americans.
The Japanese Americans by Tony Zurlo, Nonfiction, 112 pages
From Hawaii's sugar plantations to California's truck farms, Japanese Americans have overcome pervasive discrimination and legal restrictions to become the best educated and most assimilated of all Asian immigrants. The book recounts their story, from field workers to picture brides, from business pioneers to politicians, from war heroes to Olympic champions.
Jesse by Gary Soto, Fiction, 166 pages
Two sweet, ambitious Mexican American brothers hope junior college will help them escape their heritage of tedious physical labor. Their struggles are humorous, true to life, and deeply affecting, and young adults will sympathize with them as they work through their problems and eventually come to terms with what is possible in an imperfect world.
The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan, Fiction, 288 pages
In 1949 four Chinese women-drawn together by the shadow of their past-begin meeting in San Francisco to play mah jong, invest in stocks, eat dim sum, and "say" stories. They call their gathering the Joy Luck Club. Nearly forty years later, one of the members has died, and her daughter has come to take her place, only to learn of her mother's lifelong wish-and the tragic way in which it has come true.
Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, Fiction, 324 pages
Set in Afghanistan, this is the unforgettable, heartbreaking story of the unlikely friendship between a wealthy boy and the son of his father's servant. The Kite Runner is about the power of reading, the price of betrayal, and the possibility of redemption. It is also about the power of fathers over sons-their love, their sacrifices, their lies.
La Linea by Ann Jaramillo, Fiction, 131 pages
Fifteen-year-old Miguel leaves his rancho deep in Mexico to migrate to California across la linea, the border, in a debut novel of life-changing, cliff-hanging moments. Miguel's carefully laid plans change suddenly when his younger sister Elena stows away and follows him.
Life of Pi by Yann Martel, Fiction, 319 pages
Pi Patel is an unusual boy. The son of a zookeeper, he has an encyclopedic knowledge of animal behavior, a fervent love of stories, and practices not only his native Hinduism, but also Christianity and Islam. When Pi is sixteen, his family emigrates from India to North America aboard a Japanese cargo ship, along with their zoo animals bound for new homes. The ship sinks. Pi finds himself alone in a lifeboat, his only companions a hyena, an orangutan, a wounded zebra, and Richard Parker, a 450-pound Bengal tiger.
A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier by Ishmael Beah, Biography, 229 pages
This is how wars are fought now: by children, hopped-up on drugs and wielding AK-47s. Children have become soldiers of choice. In the more than fifty conflicts going on worldwide, it is estimated that there are some 300,000 child soldiers. In Sierre Leone, Ishmael Beah used to be one of them.
Mexican Whiteboy by Max de la Pena, Fiction, 249 pages
Danny is tall and skinny and brown. Half-Mexican brown. And growing up in San Diego that close to the border means everyone else knows exactly who he is before he even opens his mouth. Before they find out he can’t speak Spanish, and before they realize his mom has blond hair and blue eyes, they’ve got him pegged.
Mismatch by Lensey Namioka, Fiction, 237 pages
Sue Hua just moved from racially diverse Seattle to a suburban white-bread town where she feels like the only Asian American for miles. Then she meets Andy, a handsome and passionate violin player who happens to be Asian American. Sue feels an instant attraction to Andy, and her white friends think they’re “made for each other”–after all, they both use chopsticks and eat a lot of rice, right? But there’s one problem. Andy’s last name is Suzuki. And while that may mean nothing to the other students, Sue knows that it presents a world of problems to her family.
Muchacho by Luanne Johnson, Fiction, 197 pages
Eddie Corazon is angry. He's also very smart. But he's working pretty hard at being a juvenile delinquent. He blows off school, even though he's a secret reader. He hangs with his cousins, who will always back him up-when they aren't in jail. Then along comes Lupe, who makes his blood race. She sees something in Eddie he doesn't even see in himself.
Parrot in the Oven by Victor Martinez, Fiction, 216 pages
Perico, or parrot, was what Dad called Manny sometimes. It was from a Mexican saying about a parrot that complains how hot it is in the shade while all along he's sitting inside the oven and doesn't know it. But Manny wants to be smarter than the parrot in the oven-he wants to find out what it means to be a vato firme, a guy to respect.
Picture Bride by Yoshiko Uchida, Fiction, 216 pages
Carrying a photograph of the man she is to marry but has yet to meet, young Hana Omiya arrives in San Francisco, California, in 1917, one of several hundred Japanese "picture brides" whose arranged marriages brought them to America in the early 1900s.
Romiette and Julio by Sharon Draper, Fiction, 236 pages
A modern day Romeo and Juliet story, When Romiette Cappelle and her best friend, Destiny, decide to order The Scientific Soul Mate System from the back of Heavy Hunks magazine, they're not sure what they're getting into. But Destiny, a self-proclaimed psychic, assures Romi that for $44.99 plus shipping and handling, it's the only way they're ever going to find out who their soul mates really are.
Sammy and Juliana in Hollywood by Benjamin Alire Saenz, Fiction, 291 pages
The “Hollywood” where Sammy Santos and Juliana Ríos live is not the West Coast one. This Hollywood is a tough barrio at the edge of a small town in southern New Mexico. Sammy and this friends-members of the 1969 high school graduating class-face a world of racism, dress codes, war in Vietnam and barrio violence.
Scandalosa: A Honey Blond Chica Novel by Michele Serros, Fiction, 316 pages
Evie Gomez finally has it all: a sweet boyfriend, two mejor amigas, and an upcoming sixteeñera that's the talk of the school. Qué cool, no? Too bad reality has a way of ruining things. When her grades start to slip, Evie's parents threaten to cancel her party and Evie has to find a way to prove she deserves it.
The Secret Story of Sonia Rodriguez by Alan Lawrence Sitomer, Fiction, 312 pages
Sonia Rodriguez was born in the United States, but her parents are Mexican immigrants who came to California before she was born. Her father has three Social Security numbers, her mother is pregnant (again), and neither of them speaks English. When Sonia attempts to put school work before her familia, her mother decides that it’s time for Sonia to visit her grandmother in Mexico to learn “the ways of the old world.”
Shadow on the Snow by Anne Schraff, Fiction, 49 pages
Huong, a Vietnamese-American, and Darnell, an African American, share a love of science. On a field trip, the boys meet a recluse who says that other students have polluted the environment. When the guilty kids trap Huong and Darnell in a cave, Huong manages to escape, but can he save his friend
Sisters = Hermanas by Gary Paulsen, Fiction, 65 Pages
Told in both English and Spanish,Sisters/Hermanastells of Rosa, a fourteen-year-old illegal immigrant from Mexico City, and Traci, a fourteen-year-old from the suburbs of Houston.
Sofi Mendoza’s Guide to Getting Lost in Mexico by Malin Alegria, Fiction, 291 pages
Even though Sofi Mendoza was born in Mexico, she's spent most of her life in California -- the closest she gets to a south-of-the-border experience is eating at Taco Bell. But when Sofi and her friends sneak off for a weekend in Tijuana, she is accused of a fake green card.
Something About America by Maria Testa, Fiction, 84 pages
Draping colorful scarves around her neck, the thirteen-year-old from Kosova thinks of herself as a typical American schoolgirl, happy to blend into eighth grade with her friends. But for her parents, seeking a new life in Maine was not a choice but a necessity — a way to escape from a war and find medical care for a daughter burned in a fire that scarred her up to her chin. Then a hateful event changes everything, stirring passions throughout the entire region and forcing residents old and new to re-examine what it means to be an American.
A Step from Heaven by An Na, Fiction, 156 pages
A young girl describes her family's bittersweet experience in the United States after their emigration from Korea. Four years old on the flight to California, Young Ju concludes that America is heaven. But when they arrive, they are weighed down by the difficulty of learning English, their insular family life, and the traditions of the country they left behind.
Taking Sides by Gary Soto, Fiction, 154 pages
Lincoln is in a jam when his basketball team at his new school--where the students are rich and mostly white--faces his old team from the barrio on the boards. How can he play his best against his friends? No matter who wins, it looks like it will be lose-lose for Lincoln.
Tangled Threads: A Hmong Girl’s Story by Pegi Shea, Fiction, 236 pages
For the Hmong people living in overcrowded refugee camps in Thailand, America is a dream. Thirteen-year-old Mai Yang and her grandmother are about to experience that dream. In America, they will be reunited with their only remaining relatives. They will discover the privileges of their new life: medical care, abundant food, and an apartment all their own, but Mai will also feel the pressures of life as a teenager in America.
Ten Things I Hate About Me by Randa Abdel-Fattah, Fiction, 297 pages
Jamie just wants to fit in. She doesn't want to be seen as a stereotypical Muslim girl, so she does everything possible to hide that part of herself. Even if it means pushing her friends away because she's afraid to let them know her dad forbids her from hanging out with boys or that she secretly loves to play the darabuka (Arabic drums).
The Tequila Worm by Viola Canales, Fiction, 199 pages
Sofia grows up in the close-knit community of the barrio in McAllen, Texas but has a chance to go to an Episcopal boarding school in Austin. Feeling torn between her family and her education, Sofia worries about her decision. She finds, however, that her experience only strengthen her ties to family and her "comrades."
Thousand Pieces of Gold: A Biographical Novel by Ruthanne McCunn, Fiction, 349 pages
Lalu Nathoy's father called his thirteen-year-old daughter his treasure, his "thousand pieces of gold," yet when famine strikes northern China in 1871, he is forced to sell her. Polly, as Lalu is later called, is sold to a brothel, sold again to a slave merchant bound for America, auctioned to a saloonkeeper, and offered as a prize in a poker game. This biographical novel is the extraordinary story of one woman's fight for independence and dignity in the American West.
Two Suns in the Sky by Miriam Bat-Ami, Fiction, 223 pages
During World War II, a 15-year-old girl meets a young Jewish refugee in a New York shelter and soon learns the history behind her city through interaction with her new friend, as well as the barriers that exist when different cultures unite.
Under the Sun by Arthur Dorros, Fiction, 212 pages
Separated from his parents by the Balkan war, 13-year-old Ehmet must use all his skills to survive a four-hundred-mile journey across wilderness and war-torn landscape to find a place he's only heard rumors of, a village of children living cooperatively and peacefully away from the violence that is tearing their country apart.
The Vanished One by Anne Schraff, Fiction, 49 pages
Justin Alvarez, a Hispanic American, always felt like a nobody, until he met his teacher Ms. Sanchez. Now Ms. Sanchez has vanished and no one seems to be taking it seriously. The police believe she has eloped. She wouldn't desert her students, would she? Justin sets out to find her on his own. Will he be too late?
Wait for Me by An Na, Fiction, 169 pages
As her senior year in high school approaches, Korean-American Mina yearns to find her own path in life but working at the family business, taking care of her little sister, and dealing with her mother's impossible expectations are as stifling as the southern California heat, until she falls in love with a man who offers a way out.
We Were Here by Matt de la Pena, Fiction, 357 pages
After "it" happens, Miguel is sent to juvenile hall for a year. The judge had no idea he was doing Miguel a favor. Ever since "it" happened, his mother can't even look at him. "Any" home besides his would be a better place to live. Miserable in juvie, however, Miguel decides to break out and make a run to Mexico.
What Are You? Voices of Mixed Race Young People by Pearl Gaskins, Nonfiction, 273 pages
In the past three decades, the number of interracial marriages in the United States has increased by more than 800 percent. Now over four million children and teenagers do not identify themselves as being just one race or another. Here is a book that allows these young people to speak in their own voices about their own lives.
The Whole Sky Full of Stars by Rene Saldana, Fiction, 131 pages
Barry and Alby, two Mexican-American teens, have been friends since the first grade. They've always protected one another. When Barry's pop dies, times are tough and the only thing Barry has of value is his dad's 1964 Ford Galaxie. Meanwhile Alby's got himself into big trouble with a cardshark, so he hatches a plan to make money. The problem is, Barry could get hurt, and it just might cost Alby their friendship. How much can you ask of a friend?
Zlata’s Diary: A Child’s Life in Sarajevo by Zlata Flipovic, Biography, 200 pages
Zlata began her diary just before her eleventh birthday, when there was peace in Sarajevo and her life was that of a bright, intelligent, carefree young girl. Her early entries describe her friends, her new skis, her family, her grades at school, her interest in joining the Madonna Fan Club. Then bombs start falling on Sarajevo, and her world changes.
Zoya’s Story by Zoya, Biography, 239 pages
Though she is only twenty-three, Zoya has witnessed and endured more tragedy and terror than most people do in a lifetime. Zoya grew up during the wars that ravaged Afghanistan. She was robbed of her mother and father when they were murdered by Muslim fundamentalists. Devastated by so much death and destruction, she fled Kabul with her grandmother and started a new life in exile in Pakistan. She joined the Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan, which challenged the Taliban government.
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