Age: 7th-10th grade
Series: #1
Awards: Printz Award (2011), YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults (2011), ALA's Top Ten Best Books for Young Adults (2011)

Tearing scrap parts from the belly of a rusty oil tanker is back-breaking business and only the smallest of kids can do it. Nailer just happens to be one of those small kids. Set in a near-future dystopian society after water levels have erased coastal lands and pacific islands and hurricanes reap cities to the ground, Nailer survives day-to-day with his crew tearing apart 100-year-old oil tankers. When he and his crewmate Pima find a shiny, new shipwreck they can't wait to scavenge the loot inside. What he doesn't expect to find is a rich girl his age. As Pima is about to cut off the girl's fingers to take her rings, her eyes open. Now Nailer is drawn to this mysterious girl as he tries to escape his maniacal father and help bring Nita, the rich girl, back home.

Forewarnings: This has light connections to steampunk with the clipper ships and their gears; includes more "adult" themes like drinking (a way to get by), alcoholism, drugs (as destructive), references to prostitution, and defensive murder by a teen (Nailer kills a stranger and his dad).

Age: 9th-12th grade

Tells the story of "three apparently unrelated characters: Jin Wang, who moves to a new neighborhood with his family only to discover that he’s the only Chinese-American student at his new school; the powerful Monkey King, subject of one of the oldest and greatest Chinese fables; and Chin-Kee, a personification of the ultimate negative Chinese stereotype, who is ruining his cousin Danny’s life with his yearly visits" (Goodreads featured bio).

The end propels this graphic novel into a deep and critical examination of internalized racism, an examination that isn't spelled out but requires the reader to think deeper. This approach is a fresh touch on young adult literature where the author trusts the reader to think deeper on the subject without alienating the reader.

Age: 7th-12th grade

Nobody seems to appreciate the effort that Annushka Borzakovskaya, or Anya outside the home, seems to be taking to fit in to American life. Since Kindergarten, she's managed to rid herself of her accent, dress like her classmates, eat like her classmates separating herself from her Russian heritage. But she still cannot get the dreamy basketball star and her only true friend is as disgruntled as she is. With all this on her mind, Anya doesn't see the well before she's falling down it. Little does she expect a ghost to be waiting for her at the bottom who wants a friend more than anything.

The drawings are full of expression and character and are as essential to the story as the words. Occasionally, Brosgol skillfully employs the effect of movement by subverting traditional placement of panels--a perfect touch to essential scenes. The humor is sarcastic and angsty without be overbearing and melodramatic.

This story uses a unique and exciting plot to address young immigrants acclimating to the U.S.

Age: 5-10 years
Illustrations: softer, muted--people are somewhat Anglicised

Narrated by the little girl, she searches for her brother to come eat and visits several families including ethnicities from Barbados, Puerto Rico, Vietnam, Indian, China, and Haiti.

Reveals a common connection between varying cultures while describing the unique traits of each.

Age: 9-12 years
Media: photography from artist whose work appeared in National Geographic and Time

Sobol shares his experience photographing the rice planting holiday in Tailand and explains how rice is grown, harvested, and enjoyed.

Ages: 5-10 years
Media: collage, softer colors
Topics: coping with family death

Yasuyo watches her grandmother tie silk threads together. For each one, she describes an important event in her life. Grandmother passes away that night and Yasuyo finds a long strand leading down from the clouds. She climbs it to the top where she finds grandma and vows to never leave her. When saying goodbye to her family, she feels sorry to go. Grandmother tells her that they will always be together and gives her a piece of the strand and she climbs down.

Age: Preschool-1st grade
Culture: Spanish words splashed in throughout
Music: Singing

When a town is silenced by the laws of a grumpy mayor, a brave, singing Rooster comes along to challenge the Mayor no matter the oppression he receives. An excellent message perfect for storytelling, Deedy shows the power of one determined individual in combating fascism and giving inspiration to those in need.

Age: 4th-middle school
Culture: Norwegian
Historical Period: Mid 19th-century
First line: "The fire hisses, then snaps, and the dog looks up from his place on the heart."

Large gaps in the plot were too jarring for me to enjoy the overarching story. But, as far as magical realism goes, Preus presents a seamless inclusion of fairytales that readers must be willing to embrace their fantastical elements within a historical fiction framework. Certainly a quick read and a fast-moving plot--definitely should be read fast.

Age: Based on interest--can be read aloud
Culture: Judaism, Immigrants

Of most interest for young Trekkies but can be used on a display for 2nd generation immigrants, overcoming odds, and science fiction.