Books
Nervous Conditions by Tsitsi Dangarembga
A coming-of-age narrative set in 1960’s Rhodesia, Nervous Conditions follows a young girl as she strives to receive higher education following her brother’s death. The book grapples with themes of gender, race, and poverty, and its international setting offers a unique perspective on universal issues.
Intensity Rating: 4
A coming-of-age narrative set in 1960’s Rhodesia, Nervous Conditions follows a young girl as she strives to receive higher education following her brother’s death. The book grapples with themes of gender, race, and poverty, and its international setting offers a unique perspective on universal issues.
Intensity Rating: 4
American Like Me by America Ferrera
This lighthearted collection of memoirs from various actors, comedians, athletes, politicians, and artists highlights the American experience of growing up with personal connections to more than one culture. Each shares how they struggled to establish a sense of self, find belonging, and feel seen.
Intensity Rating: 2-3 (PG)
This lighthearted collection of memoirs from various actors, comedians, athletes, politicians, and artists highlights the American experience of growing up with personal connections to more than one culture. Each shares how they struggled to establish a sense of self, find belonging, and feel seen.
Intensity Rating: 2-3 (PG)
The Displaced edited by Viet Thanh Nguyen
Excellent collection of first-hand accounts from established writers of what it means to be a refugee. Though every story is unique, they are bound together by the same human experiences such as loneliness, misunderstanding, and longing for freedom, safety, and home.
Intensity Rating: PG/R
*content trigger warnings: a couple of accounts describe war violence, rape and attempted rape.
Excellent collection of first-hand accounts from established writers of what it means to be a refugee. Though every story is unique, they are bound together by the same human experiences such as loneliness, misunderstanding, and longing for freedom, safety, and home.
Intensity Rating: PG/R
*content trigger warnings: a couple of accounts describe war violence, rape and attempted rape.
Funny in Farsi: a memoir of growing up Iranian in America by Firoozeh Dumas
In this engaging and witty memoir, Firoozeh Dumas details her family’s move from Iran to California in the early 1970s. She chronicles the culture shock and racism they encounter along with the anecdotes of a large family with insight and humor.
Intensity Rating: 2 (PG)
In this engaging and witty memoir, Firoozeh Dumas details her family’s move from Iran to California in the early 1970s. She chronicles the culture shock and racism they encounter along with the anecdotes of a large family with insight and humor.
Intensity Rating: 2 (PG)
The Good Immigrant: 26 writers reflect on America
As the title would indicate, 26 writers who are first or second generation immigrants explore their experiences of being “othered” in present day America.
Intensity Rating: 3 (PG)
As the title would indicate, 26 writers who are first or second generation immigrants explore their experiences of being “othered” in present day America.
Intensity Rating: 3 (PG)
Movies
Sugar Cane Alley
In the French colony of Martinique in the 1930s, a rambunctious teenaged boy lives in a rundown shack in a small farm village with his doting grandmother. While studying diligently at the local school, Jose also learns at the side of wise village elder Medouze who tells him first-hand of the lives of African slaves. When Jose wins a scholarship to a prestigious high school in the capital, he brings the wisdom of the village with him.
Intensity Rating: 4
In the French colony of Martinique in the 1930s, a rambunctious teenaged boy lives in a rundown shack in a small farm village with his doting grandmother. While studying diligently at the local school, Jose also learns at the side of wise village elder Medouze who tells him first-hand of the lives of African slaves. When Jose wins a scholarship to a prestigious high school in the capital, he brings the wisdom of the village with him.
Intensity Rating: 4
Captain Fantastic
In the forests of the Pacific Northwest, a father devoted to raising his six kids with a rigorous physical and intellectual education is forced to leave his paradise and enter the world, challenging his idea of what it means to be a parent and member of society. As he reintegrates his family into society, they are forced to face the hard truths that live behind the cover of the family’s fantasy.
Intensity Rating: 4 (R)
In the forests of the Pacific Northwest, a father devoted to raising his six kids with a rigorous physical and intellectual education is forced to leave his paradise and enter the world, challenging his idea of what it means to be a parent and member of society. As he reintegrates his family into society, they are forced to face the hard truths that live behind the cover of the family’s fantasy.
Intensity Rating: 4 (R)
Lemonade Mouth
Five unlikely friends form a band and prepare to compete against a popular rock band. As the band becomes closer, they each learn to cope with their own emotional baggage through music.
Intensity Rating: 1 (PG)
Five unlikely friends form a band and prepare to compete against a popular rock band. As the band becomes closer, they each learn to cope with their own emotional baggage through music.
Intensity Rating: 1 (PG)
Harriet
A biographical film about the life of Harriet Tubman, an abolitionist who helped save hundred of slaves from the South after escaping from slavery herself.
Intensity Rating: ?
A biographical film about the life of Harriet Tubman, an abolitionist who helped save hundred of slaves from the South after escaping from slavery herself.
Intensity Rating: ?
Any questions about the list? Email njabir@sjs.org
