A verse novel about the search for one’s own story, this one introduces the reader to 12-year-old Kasienka. Looking for her father, she and her mother migrated from Poland to England. Life, however, poses many challenges for Kasienka: bullying in school, living in a run down flat and having to share a bed with her […]
In this novel about family relations, loss and growing up written entirely in verse, 12-year-old Josh and his twin brother Jordan ‘JB’ live for basketball. That is why they are the star players of their school’s team, the Wildcats. Still, there is a hardship on and off the court for Josh to overcome: being trained […]
A young readers’ novel about bullying, peer pressure, acceptance, diversity and friendship: Muncle Trogg is a giant, albeit a tiny one. In fact, he is so small that all the other giants make fun of him. So Muncle Trogg sneaks away to study the creatures which look most like him: humans, aka Smallings. One particular […]
The first part of the trilogy tells the story of ‘A’ and his peculiar challenge: Every day he wakes up to discover that he is another person, yet again. In the meantime, A managed to get accustomed to that. But when he one day wakes up being somebody named Justin, he meets Justin’s girlfriend, Rhiannon, […]
In this picture book, an IT-savvy donkey and a book-loving monkey discover the advantages of a ‘classic’ book, offering wonders which no digital medium seems to provide. This work is suited for interdisciplinary teaching with regard to Computer Sciences.
The comedic autobiography describes Trevor Noah’s childhood as a mixed-race child in South Africa during the apartheid era. Suited for interdisciplinary teaching, it can be used in connection to History class while discussing South African history. A possible introduction to the book could be to watch clips of Trevor Noah hosting the The Daily Show.
This novel is a kick-off to the dystopian trilogy about a society in which love is perceived as a disease. Consequently, young people undergo an operation known as ‘the Cure’ once they turn 18. But when Lena’s ‘Cure’ is drawing near, she meets Alex – he is one of the so called invalids, outcasts who […]
Told from several perspectives, this novel is an exploration of empathy and acceptance but also fear and refusal. 10-year-old Auggie was born with a birth defect that lead to a face deformation, which is why he has been homeschooled by his parents. When he eventually attends a ‘real’ school, he is confronted with bullying, peer […]
This children’s version of the autobiographic novel A Streetcat Named Bob tells a tale of social stratification and deep relationships between pets and humans. James is a homeless busker in London, trying to make ends meet. It is only when he meets the injured stray cat Bob and they stick together that James’ tale takes […]
A literary respone to the shootings of black teenagers Trayvon Martin and Michael Brown in the USA. In this fictional account, Tariq is 16 years old when he is shot by a white policeman, creating an uproar in his community. No two stories of the event match and so finding out what really happened that […]
A bilingual story about bugs, beetles, and their surrounding nature, plants, and animals. In the first volume of the series, the reader follows the two small beetle friends Rosi & Skeeter on their adventures through an old oak forest. The series is suitable for younger learners of English as it provides its readers with both, […]
This dystopian adventure novel about bravery, friendship and courage follows the twelve-year-old Prince Alfred. The story is set in future Britain, to be precise in the year 2120 – environmental pollution lead to most devastating effects of climate change: melting ice cabs, violent earthquakes and volcano eruptions that darken the sky over London: “The kingdom […]
A young adult novel revolving around prejudice, racism and discrimination in the USA. Justyce is top of his class in school and thought he had left his neighborhood behind but what he cannot shake off is the bitter reality of racist assaults on him by white police. When one day he draws the attention of […]
A short excerpt from Morrison’s novel God Help the Child on motherhood, prejudice, racism and discrimination. This short story elaborates on a mother and her difficulties raising a black child: How she thought she needed to be strict with her daughter and how this past behavior still keeps them estranged until the present day – […]
A rhyming heart-warming story about the beauty of one’s outer appearance and the beauty of the soul. “The zebra looked graceful; the leopard looked great. Oh, what a picture of beauty – but wait!” Hyena, wildebeest, vulture, warthog, and marabou strive through the Savannah – perfectly imperfect as they are.
This short story from the realm of magical realism problematises resentment, prejudice and peer pressure. Ken Liu’s fantasy story depicts the struggle of a woman with a migrant background between retaining her ‘old’ identity and simultaneously adopting a new one. Her son Jack re-tells several episodes of their lives, showcasing his mother’s special talent: When […]
A relentless exploration of racial prejudice and finding your voice as a young adult. 16-year-old Starr is a black student attending an elite school with a white majority, always carefully presenting herself in order to fit in. When her friend is accidentally shot by a police officer in front of her eyes, Starr is not […]
A story about the staple food of many Native American families. ‘Fry Bread’ isn’t just food, it combines Native American culture and history. Additional information about Native American culture and historical context is provided on the last pages as well as a recipe for ‘Fry Bread’. The illustrations accompanying the text allow young readers to […]