Foster by Claire Keegan
A quietly powerful novella about a young girl sent by her troubled family to live with distant relatives on a farm. Through their quiet care, she begins to thrive—and in turn, helps them heal. In just a few pages, Keegan captures the power of kindness, connection, and quiet transformation.
On Savage Shores by Caroline Dodds Pennock
Stories of Indigenous Americans who discovered Europe after 1492 reveals them as explorers learning languages, navigating new worlds, and shaping history. We glimpse lives like that of Diego Colón, a Taíno man abducted by Columbus, and invited to consider how their resilience, cultural knowledge, and generosity deeply impacted European civilisation.
A Psalm for the Wild Built by Becky Chambers
In this science-fiction work, robots and humans have evolved to inhabit the same world. A monk meets a robot and as they travel together, they explore questions of purpose, identity, and coexistence in a peaceful, post-industrial world where humanity and nature have found balance.
Tropic of Orange by Karen Tei Yamashita
Observing multiple perspectives through immigrants, activists and everyday folk, this tale follows a diverse group of characters in modern-day Los Angeles. It highlights the power of collective action in a complex urban world as themes of cultural identity, social justice, and human connection are explored.
The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
Two sisters, Vianne and Isabelle, in Nazi-occupied France during WWII are separated by circumstance and differing beliefs, each facing the war in her own courageous way. Their story explores themes of sacrifice and the bonds of family through acts of generosity and bravery.
Snow Falling on Cedars by David Guterson
This novel explores the impact of Japanese Americans taken from their homes and incarcerated during WWII. Themes of racism, xenophobia, and justice run throughout the narrative as the author investigates the effects of this expulsion on relationships and the daily lives of a small community on a fictional island.
Everything Sad IsUntrue by Daniel Nayeri
A heartfelt memoir breaks that follows the author’s immigration journey Iran to Oklahoma with honesty and nuance. The narrative embraces life’s messiness, without tidy resolutions or perfect endings leaving readers with a deeper sense of empathy and humanity.
An Immense World by Ed Yong
The author explores the realm of non-human perception, and in particular how animals experience the world very differently. One example is how catfish taste with their skin. We are urged to be curious and humble in embracing the unknown, and thus generous in our understanding of all other living beings.
Happy Reading!