A quiet hero’s journey for YA readers, The Cat Who Saved Books tells the story of high-schooler Rintaro Natsuki, a shy hikikomori (shut-in). When the story begins, Rintaro’s beloved grandfather and guardian has just died, leaving him the owner of his grandfather’s secondhand bookstore. The description of Rintaro’s feelings about his grandfather’s death are poignant, … Continue reading #WorldKidLit Wednesday: The Cat Who Saved Books
In a Nutshell: Zlata’s Diary is the diary of Zlata Filipović, with entries from September 1991-December 1993, it starts just before her 10th birthday. It is a moving, sometimes funny and very sad account of her experience of the Bosnian war as it hit her home city of Sarajevo. Themes: War, friendship, politics, love, childhood and … Continue reading Bosnia and Herzegovina 🇧🇦 : Zlata’s Diary by Zlata Filipović, tr. Christina Pribichevich-Zorić
Vitor Martins' tender, funny, and honest YA novels are no stranger to Global Literatures in Libraries Initiative, nor to its Translated YA Book Prize. He returns to us with his newest novel and the 2023 Translated YA Book Prize winner, This Is Our Place. Translated by Larissa Helena (who translated Martins' previous prize winning book), … Continue reading #WorldKidLit Wednesday: This Is Our Place
Thank You! (Gracias/Obrigada) Thank you for joining me and The Global Literature in Libraries Initiative (GLLI) for #IntlYALitMonth, a month dedicated to promoting international and translated literature in libraries worldwide (among other celebrations). Our primary goal has been to increase access to diverse literary works from around the globe and foster cultural exchange through literature. … Continue reading #IntlYALitMonth (We Made It!)
given, Volume 1 is the first title in a series (stylized in all lower case) from mangaka (manga creator) Natsuki Kizu. On its surface, given is a story about four high school and college students forming an amateur band. Underpinning that ‘simple’ premise however, is a rich opening tale on grief, healing, and relationships. The … Continue reading #IntlYALitMonth: given
Thirty Talks Weird Love If you could go back in time and visit your thirteen-year-old self, what would you say to them? Do you think they would listen? That is precisely what happens to thirteen-year-old Anamaria Aragón Sosa in this artful novel-in-verse by Alessandra Narváez Varela; Thirty Talks Weird Love. Set in Cuidad Juárez, Mexico … Continue reading #IntlYALitMonth: Thirty Talks Weird Love
Boys Run the Riot, Volume 1 Boys Run the Riot, Volume 1 is the first title in a four volume manga series from trans mangaka (manga creator) Keito Gaku. Like the street fashion which threads through the volumes, this series is bursting with color, identity and expression. This series centers on high school student Ryo … Continue reading #IntlYALitMonth: Boys Run the Riot
This curated volume of 64 poems by poets from around the world showcases unique, individual voices from myriad cultures, following different migration pathways, and sharing their stories via different poetic styles. Yet there is more of a coherent narrative here than a reader might first expect from a poetry anthology as opposed to a novel … Continue reading #IntlYALitMonth: Ink Knows No Borders
Children's literature has the remarkable ability to captivate young minds and ignite a lifelong love for reading. It takes a special kind of storytelling to transport children to far-off worlds, introduce them to fascinating characters, and instill important values. Recognizing the significance of children's literature, Antwerp University has organized a fun and collaborative initiative in … Continue reading Exploring the Magic of Children’s Literature at Antwerp University’s Summer School 2022
The Blue Book of Nebo, by Manon Steffan Ros Originally published in Welsh in 2021 by Deep Vellum Publishing, Manon Steffan Ros is also remarkably to credit for the translation of her book to English. This is hardly surprising as a deep love of the Welsh language permeates the succinct prose. With spare and intense … Continue reading #IntlYALitMonth: The Blue Book of Nebo
Global Literature in Libraries Initiative 