Class and communal differences fade into the background as a shared passion for sport steps into the spotlight in this picture book. Girls on Wheels, in author Srividhya Venkat’s words, is “a work of fiction inspired by the skateboarding revolution in India.” The story is centered around 3 girls—Damini, Sana, and Anila—who are all headed … Continue reading #WorldKidLit Wednesday: Girls on Wheels
The Bodyguard Unit: Edith Garrud, Women’s Suffrage, and Jujitsu is the engagingly told story of a lesser-known figure from an important part of 20th century history, Edith Garrud. A 2024 GLLI Translated YA Book Prize Honor Book, this superb nonfiction graphic novel connects the dots between women’s suffrage, their personal freedom, and their ability to … Continue reading #WorldKidLit Wednesday: The Bodyguard Unit: Edith Garrud, Women’s Suffrage, and Jujitsu
Named to the 2024 Global Literature in Libraries Initiative Translated Young Adult Book Prize shortlist, The Boy from Clearwater tells the story of Tsai Kun-Lin, "an ordinary boy" born in Qingshui District on the western coast of Taiwan. Tsai Kun-Lin's story, however, is nothing short of extraordinary. It is a story of surviving military occupation, … Continue reading #WorldKidLit Wednesday: The Boy from Clearwater, Book 1
On a hot day, how wonderful it is to be able to sit outside in the shade of a tree! And how terrible to be deprived of the opportunity by one person’s greed and selfishness. In The Shade Tree, renowned picture book creator Suzy Lee retells a traditional Korean folk tale. As the story goes, … Continue reading #WorldKidLit Wednesday: The Shade Tree
Dear readers, As we reach the close of #IntlYALitMonth 2024, I want to express my gratitude to the Global Literature in Libraries Initiative for inviting me to be involved. It has been a privilege to curate this month-long celebration of YA literature from around the world and to engage in meaningful conversations about the power … Continue reading Goodbye to GLLI’s 2024 #IntlYALitMonth
Review by Sietse Hagen Note: This review is based on the original Dutch text, De Meisjes: Zeven Sprookjes by Annet Schaap. A translation by Laura Watkinson was published in English by Pushkin Children's Books, under the title Girls. Seven girls, seven fairy tales, seven feminist retellings filled with Dutch culture. De Meisjes is an empowering … Continue reading #IntlYALitMonth Review: Girls
Review by Christina Fawcett Going away to school and leaving everything you know behind is hard. Going away to school on another planet is harder. Going away to school and your interplanetary shuttle being attacked by murderous Meduse is so much worse. Binti by Nnedi Okorafor follows a young Himba woman who is the first … Continue reading #IntlYALitMonth Review: Binti
Review by Lyn Miller-Lachmann Having escaped his narrow-minded and isolated village in Palestine, Saeed moves to the city, marries, opens a bookstore, then returns with his pregnant wife. She gives birth to twin girls – Shams and Qamar – but the family is exiled to the village outskirts, accused of bringing a curse. Although they … Continue reading #WorldKidLit Wednesday: Wondrous Journeys in Strange Lands
Review by Nina Hotchkis Our Own Little Paradise by Marianne Kaurin has been translated into English from Norwegian by Olivia Laksy and is a refreshing text for middle grade and young YA readers, especially those transitioning between schools. Nora (in the English translation) has recently moved to a new school and is determined to fit … Continue reading #IntlYALitMonth Review: Our Own Little Paradise
The International Journal of Young Adult Literature (IJYAL) aims to foster new scholarship and critical dialogue about young adult literature from around the world. As we celebrate the final weekend of #IntlYALitMonth, it’s the perfect time to share this open-access academic journal that I (Dr Emily Corbett, Co-General Editor) have the pleasure of editing alongside … Continue reading #IntlYALitMonth Spotlight: The International Journal of Young Adult Literature (IJYAL)
Global Literature in Libraries Initiative 