Library & Information Science, Course 262: Resources for Young Adults.
w10y.html

Adler, C.S.	Youn Hee and Me (1968 and 1995)	Korean and American	A European American family adopts an 11 year old girl from Korea after having adopted her younger brother some years earlier. The family dynamics and traditional values become much more complicated. From grade 5.
Buck, Pearl	The Good Earth (1949)	Chinese	This classic set in pre-revolutionary China, is the rich story of a Chinese peasant who works the land. From grade 9.
Chang, Jung	Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China (1991)	Chinese	This memoir brings together the stories of three Chinese family members--grandmother, mother, and daughter, and the powerful and shocking revelations of these three generations living in this last century in China. From grade 9 .
Chang, Pang-Mei Natasha	Bound Feet and Western Dress (1996)	Chinese and Chinese American	In alternating voices of two generations, this memoir brings together a rich portrait of a woman's life in China with the American story of her grandniece, who is struggling with her own search for identity and belonging. From grade 7.
Chin, Frank	Donald Duk: A Novel (1991)	Chinese	Donald, a Chinese teen, wants desperately to be totally American and ignores his father's Chinese restaurant and his culture. From grade 9.
Choi, Sook Nyul	Gathering of Pearls (1994)	Korean	A young woman leaves Korea in 1954 to attend a New York women's college, where she struggles to fit in. A sequel to The year of Impossible Goodbyes. From grade 7.
Choi, Sook Nyul	The Year of Impossible Goodbyes (1991)	Korean	In 1945, 10 year old Sookan and her family are forced to leave North Korea and escape the military occupation of the Japanese. Everything of value to them is destroyed, except their spirit. From gr. 5
Crew, Linda	Children of the River (1989)	Cambodian	After fleeing the Khmer Rouge Army with her aunt's family, Sundara has difficulties adjusting to American ways, while still maintaining Cambodian traditions, especially when an American boy wants to date her. From grade 7.
Garland, Sherry	Song of the Buffalo Boy (1992)	Amerasian	An Amerasian teen wants to escape the prejudice of a Vietnam village and tries to find her American father. From grade 7.
Garland, Sherry	Shadow of the Dragon (1993)	Vietnamese	Danny Vo has grown up American since emigrating from Vietnam. Now American culture, Vietnamese traditions and the local gangs clash, resulting in his cousin's death. From grade 6.
Garrigue, Sheila	The Eternal Spring of Mr. Ito (1994)	Japanese American	During the Japanese internments of WWII, the community turns its back on Mr. Ito, a Japanese gardener, and his family. When the Itos are interned Sara secretly cares for his bonsai and safely delivers it to the Itos at camp. From grade 4.
Higa, Tomiko	The Girl with the White Flag(1995)	Japanese	This inspiring autobiography tells of a young girl's experiences in WWII while living in Okinawa. Japanese and American readers will gain a broader understanding of this terrible chapter in human history. From grade 7.
Ho, Minfong	The Clay Marble (1991)	Cambodian	In the late 1970's, 12 year old Dara joins a refugee camp in war torn Cambodia and becomes separated from her family. From grade 5.
Jackson, Beverly	Splendid Slippers (1998)	Chinese	This is an amazing book about the practice of foot binding, which took place over the last 1000 years in China. It is eerily captivating but somewhat disturbing. It is a thorough and fascinating study of this custom. From grade 8.
Jiang, Ji-Ji	Red Scarf Girl: A Memoir of the Cultural Revolution (1997)	Chinese	A personal narrative describing the Chinese Cultural Revolution (1966-1969) and the upheaval from this devastating destruction. From grade 5.
Kessler, Lauren	Stubborn Twig: Three Generations...(1993)	Japanese American	This book charts the history of a Japanese American family from 1908 when they settled in the Hood River Valley, through the war, evacuation, to present day. From grade 10.
Kingston, Maxine Hong	The Woman Warrior(reissue 1989)	Chinese American	These are the memoirs of the author's growing up years in Stockton, CA. She tells of the myths, family stories,and events of her childhood that shaped her identity. From grade 9.
Lee, Gus	Honor and Duty (1994)	Chinese American	A Chinese American boy at West Point demonstrates honor and devotion to duty by implicating classmates and friends in a cheating incident. From grade 9.
Lee, Gus	China Boy (1991)	Chinese	Kai, or China Boy, as he is called by the neighborhood bullies, turns his life around when he learns to stand his ground and fight back. From grade 9
Lee, Marie G,	Finding My Voice (1992)	Korean	Pressured by her parents to get into Harvard, Elen Sung tries to find time for friends, romance, and fun in her small Minnesota town. From grade 7.
Lo, Steven	The Incorporation of Eric Chung (1989)	Chinese	Eric Chung has held many jobs since his arrival in America to attend Texas Tech. Helped by an older friend Eric gradually becomes acculturated to America and become a successful businessman. From grade 10.
Lord, Bette Bao	In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson (1984)	Chinese	In 1947 Bandit and her family move to Brooklyn from China. She faces many challenges in her new 5th grade but begins to relax when she learns how to play baseball. From grade 5.
Mah, Adeline Yen	Chinese Cinderella (1999)	Chinese	This memoir for younger teens tells of Mah's early life with a cruel stepmother. As the youngest of five children she suffered neglect, and loneliness. From grade 5.
Mah, Adeline Yen	Falling Leaves (1999)	Chinese	A memoir of life in mainland China after the 1949 revolution. The author is truly unwanted by a wealthy father and his abusive second wife. She escapes to the US and ends up a successful doctor and happily married. For older teens.
Mori, Kyoko	Shizuko's Daughter (1995)	Japanese	After her talented mother's suicide, a young Japanese teen needs to make her way through adolescence feeling isolated. The book follows her healing. Many details of daily life in Japan are included. From grade 6.
Namioka, Lensey	Yang the Youngest and His Terrible Ear (1994)	Chinese American	A Chinese American boy and a new school friend exchange cultural knowledge and help each other with family problems--Yang lives in a musical family that expects much of him and he has a "tin" ear and only wants to play baseball. From grade 5.
Namioka, Lensey	April and the Dragon Lady (1994)	Chinese American	A Chinese American teenager deals with cultural differences regarding family obligations and customs of a traditional daughter and the sense of individualism belonging to one born in the US. From grade 5.
Namioka, Lensey	Yang the Third and Her Impossible Family (1995)	Chinese	A Chinese immigrant to the US tries to fit in, even if it means breaking family customs. This book gives a good glimpse of Chinese culture. From grade 5.
Ng, Fae Myenne	Bone (1993)	Chinese American	A look at the barriers and the love between generations in a Chinese American family. From grade 9.
Okimoto, Jean Davies	Talent Night (1995)	Bi-racial; Japanese American	17 year old Rodney Suyama wants to become the first Japanese American rap star, except he is too nervous to perform. This novel touches on racial pride, family heritage, and prejudice. From grade 6.
Okimoto, Jean Davies	Molly, By Any Other Name (1990)	Japanese American	A teenage adoptee searches for her birth mother. From grade 6.
Paterson, Katherine	Of Nightingales That Weep (1989)	Japanese	The daughter of a samurai never weeps, but Takako whose warrior father was killed in battle, finds this rule very hard, especially when her mother remarries a strange and plain potter. From grade 5.
Paterson, Katherine	The Master Puppeteer (1989)	Japanese	A 13 year old boy describes the poverty and discontent of 18th century Osaka and the world of puppeteers in which he lives. From grade 6.
Paterson, Katherine	Rebels of the Heavenly Kingdom (reissue 1995)	Japanese	Carried away by bandits Wang Lee is rescued by the Heavenly King of Great Peace and he joins the group's leader Mai Lin in the battle against betrayal, oppression, and tyranny. From grade 7.
Paterson, Katherine	Sign of the Chrysanthemum(1973,1988)	Japanese	This is the story of Muna, an illegitimate Japanese boy , who searches for his unknown father--a samurai warrior, during a 12th century war between clans. From grade 5.
Potok, Chaim	I Am the Clay (1992)	Korean	An injured orphan boy touches the hearts of a crusty Korean refugee and his more compassionate wife. From grade 9.
Russel, Ching Yeung	Child Bride (1999)	Chinese	An 11 year old Chinese girl is sent to her grandmother's village for an arranged marriage and tries every method she can think of to escape her fate. From grade 5.
Salisbury, Graham	Under the Blood-Red Sun (1994)	Japanese	Tomikazu's biggest concerns are baseball, homework and a bully, until life with his family in Hawaii changes drastically after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, 1941. From grade 5.
Savin, Marcia	The Moon Bridge (1992)	Japanese and American	Two young girls meet one week after the attack on Pearl Harbor and become friends, despite the fact that one of them is Japanese and racist attitudes are strong. The memories of friendship made the time in internment bearable. From grade 5.
Say, Allen	Ink-Keeper's Apprentice (1979)	Japanese	A 14 year old boy lives on his own in Tokyo and become apprenticed to a famous Japanese cartoonist. From grade 5.
See, Lisa	On Gold Mountain (1995)	Chinese American	One family's history is traced from a small Chinese village to Los Angele's Asian art community. From grade 9.
Sinykin, Sheri Cooper	The Buddy Trap (1991)	Korean American	A musically gifted Korean American boy is drawn into escalating war games at summer camp and courageously does the right thing. From grade 5.
Tan, Amy	The Joy Luck Club (1989)	Chinese and Chinese American	Drawn together by the shadow of their past, four Chinese women meet weekly to share stories and create joy and luck out of unimaginable catastrophe.
Tan, Amy	Kitchen God's Wife (1991)	Chinese American	A Chinese born mother reveals her life story to her American born daughter, unfolding the chaos of life in the 1940's in China--her quirks and superstitions finally make sense. From grade 9.
Uchida,	Journey Home (1978)	Japanese American	This is a sequel to Journey to Topaz and tells the story of a Japanese American family after their release from an internment camp. From grade 5.
Uchida, Yoshiko	The Best Bad Thing (1993)	Japanese American	A young teen girl, Rinko, is sent to live with an elderly neighbor who needs her support during the late 1930's in California. She learns that what seems to be a bad thing can turn out to be good. From grade 5.
Uchida, Yoshiko	The Invisible Thread (1991)	Japanese American	This autobiography tells about Uchida's life in the United States during 1930-1950 and her family's struggles with prejudice, internment, and identity. From grade 6.
Uchida, Yoshiko	A Jar of Dreams (1981)	Japanese American	Set in California during the depression, this book depicts the early struggles of a Japanese American immigrant family in America. Written from 11 year old Rinko's perspective. From grade 5,
Uchida, Yoshiko	Journey to Topaz: A Story of the Japanese American Evacuation(1971 and 1995)	Japanese American	This novel is based on Uchida's experience in an internment camp as a Japanese American. From grade 5.

Wartski, Maureen	Candle in the Wind (1995)	Japanese American	This is the shocking story of the murder of a Japanese American teen and the climate of racial hate that led to it. From grade 9.
Watkins, Yoko Kawashima	So Far From the Bamboo Grove (1986)	Japanese, Korean	Life in northern Korea becomes too dangerous for a young Japanese girl and her family in 1945 when the communist army advances. The family becomes separated, suffering many hardships before reaching Kyoto, Japan. From grade 6.
Wong, Jade Snow	The Fifth Chinese Daughter (1989)	Chinese American	This story tells a memoir of Jade Snow, the fifth daughter growing up in San Francisco's Chinatown at a time when Chinese girls were still considered inferior. She defies her cultural heritage and tells a rich tale of her youth. From grade 6.
Yep, Laurence	Dragonwings (1975)	Chinese	In the early 20th century, a Chinese boy joins his father in San Francisco and helps him realize his dream of making a flying machine. From grade 5.
Yep, Laurence	The Cook's Family (1998)	Chinese American	A young Chinese American girl and her grandmother become involved with a Chinese cook longing for a lost family. Robin learns about her Chinese background, and her grandmother, newly from China, finds herself again too. From grade 4.
Yep, Laurence	Child of the Owl (1977)	Chinese	A 12 year old girl who know little about her Chinese heritage is sent to live with her grandmother in San Francisco's Chinatown. She learns much about herself and what is of real value. From grade 5.
Yep, Laurence	Dragon's Gate (1993)	Chinese	When he accidentally kills a Manchu, a 15 year old Chinese boy is sent to America to join his father and other Chinese working on the transcontinental railroad through the Sierra Nevada Mountains in 1867.
Yep, Laurence	The Star Fisher (1991)	Chinese	In this book Yep depicts a Chinese family's experiences when they arrive in West Virginia in 1927 to open a laundry. From grade 5.
Yep, Laurence	The Lost Garden (1991)	Chinese American	Yep's humorous autobiography tells of his adolescence in San Francisco. From grade 5.
Yep, Laurence	Thief of Hearts (1995)	Chinese American	A Chinese American girl named Stacy is forced to help a recent Chinese teen become more comfortable in her high school. This brings about circumstances and prejudice which force her to find out more about who she really is. From grade 4.
Yep, Laurence	The Amah	Chinese American	Twelve year old Amy finds her family responsibilities growing and interfering with her ballet practice when her mother takes a job outside the home. From grade 5.
Yumoto, Kazumi	Friends (1996)	Japanese	Curious about death, Kiyama and his friends observe an old man they think will die soon, until they become friends. From grade 5.

Return to top

Return to 262 homepage

 

 

This page is maintained by SLIS Web, slisweb@wahoo.sjsu.edu. It was last revised on Jan. 3, 2000