Sunny G's Series of Rash Decisions by Navdeep Singh Dhillon

Sunny G's Series of Rash Decisions is set in Fresno. My new hometown. I'm getting this for my high school library. I think my Sikh and Hmong students may get something out of this story.

A Map Into The World by Kao Kalia Yang

A Hmong girl talks about her world.  How her new born twin brothers grow up and relating to elderly adults.  There is a beautiful sewn cloth that tells the story of the Hmong fleeing Laos.  It's a nice family and we get to see them in the different seasons.  Fine for any library.

The Latehomecomer: Kao Kalia Yang

Fresno Public Library has chosen this story for the Big Read in January 2018.  I listened to the audiobook and it brought back memories of teaching at FUSD the Newcomer's school.  Many students from all over the world, would come and learn survival English and then move on to their home schools.

Refugees go through so much emotionally, physically and culturally.  This is an important read.

Afterlands by Man Der Vang

This is a powerful book to read.  I think it helps if you have some background on the Hmong Culture and History.  I use to teach at Newcomer School with many refugees from Laos, who had escaped to Thailand and then later made their way to Fresno.  We can't even imagine what refugees who are fleeing horrific events in their homelands must go through.  I am currently reading some other books that relate to war and fleeing for your life.  The two books that in a way connect to this is  What It Is Like to Go To War by Karl Marlantes and TigerFish by Hoang Chi Truong.