Hayley Diep
Rising Above
A gentle, authentic look at the bicultural experience that validates kids who feel caught between two worlds without being preachy.
Read this next
All picks after this →
Dragonfruit
by Makiia Lucier
Middle grade · ages 8–12 · 750L · 2024
A quiet, genuine story about cultural identity and belonging that doesn't teach or preach—kids see themselves reflected honestly, and that matters.
The People Remember
by Ibi Zoboi
Middle grade · ages 8–12 · 750L
A quiet, character-driven story about immigrant identity that trusts kids to understand complexity; Zoboi's prose is lyrical without being showy, and the friendship arc actually earns its warmth.
You Bring the Distant Near
by Mitlali Perkins
Middle grade · ages 10–14 · 780L
Perkins writes immigrant identity with specificity and warmth, never sacrificing narrative momentum or humor; Visit's voice is authentic and the friendship with Darcy models genuine cross-cultural understanding.