Zlata's Diary

The Unwanted by Don Brown (2018)

This graphic novel traces the story of Syrian refugees following war and genocide in their homeland, allowing middle-grade readers to continue explorations of the role of Hope and Perseverance in relation to other global conflicts.

• The Unwanted on SuperSummary

Talking in Whispers by James Watson (1983)

A political thriller set in Chile under the Pinochet regime, this novel for advanced readers explores the impact of violent politics after a military coup on a young boy’s coming of age.

Human Acts by Han Kang (2014)

Through a series of vignettes that stretch from the immediate aftermath of the Gwangju student uprising through 2014, this poetic novel for advanced readers explores the long-term impacts of political trauma and violence. 

Red Scarf Girl: A Memoir of the Cultural Revolution by Ji-li Jiang

This middle-grade accessible memoir of China’s cultural revolution follows the struggles of a young Ji-li Jiang as she comes of age under a powerful and unforgiving political climate.

• Red Scarf Girl on SuperSummary

Farewell to Manzanar by Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston and James D. Houston

This classic memoir suitable for high school students recounts a young girl’s life in America’s internment camps following the attack on Pearl Harbor.