book club:

Good stories have the ability to transport readers to locations they've never been, to help them empathize with characters different from themselves, and to think about the world differently. Books are a great way to convey important educational themes in creative ways. Reading books set in South Asia or that deal with the lives of South Asian characters is a great way to introduce students of all levels to the cultures of the region without ever leaving the classroom. Below are some of our favorites, but they are only suggestions! Please contact us if you think other books should be added to the list, or if you're interested in teaching another book in your classroom.  Send a short summary of the book you are interested in teaching and why you've chosen it. We can lend out copies for your class, as well as provide lesson plans and supplementary materials (e.g. relevant films, materials from our South Asian Costume Closet, etc) to help in effectively teaching these and other books.

elementary-level

     

nasreen's secret school, by jeanette winter-  Young Nasreen has not spoken a word to anyone since her parents disappeared. In despair, her grandmother risks everything to enroll Nasreen in a secret school for girls. Will a devoted teacher, a new friend, and the worlds she discovers in books be enough to draw Nasreen out of her shell of sadness? Based on a true story from Afghanistan, this inspiring book will touch readers deeply as it affirms both the life-changing power of education and the healing power of love. 

listen to the wind, by susan l. roth-  Greg Mortenson stumbled, lost and delirious, into a remote Himalayan village after a failed climb up K2. The villagers saved his life, and he vowed to return and build them a school. The remarkable story of his promise kept is now perfect for reading aloud. Told in the voice of Korpheas children, this story illuminates the humanity and culture of a relevant and distant part of the world in gorgeous collage, while sharing a riveting example of how one person can change thousands of lives.

monsoon, by uma krishnaswami-  Children play, birds call, and grownups go about their business during the hot days of summer in northern India. But in the bustle of street and marketplace, everyone is watching, waiting for those magical clouds to bring their gift of rain to the land. Through the observations of one young girl, the scents and sounds, the dazzling colors, and the breathless anticipation of a parched cityscape are vividly evoked during the final days before the welcome arrival of the monsoon. This story takes the reader on a tour of diverse urban India.

the road to mumbai, by ruth jeyaveeran- Along the road to Mumbai, Shoba and her monkey, Fuzzy Patel, make many new friends--mysterious monks, a curious camel, and a snake with a sensitive stomach, just to name a few. Shoba and Fuzzy are on their way to a top-secret monkey wedding. But you shouldn't expect an invitation. According to Fuzzy, it will be the most boring wedding in the history of the universe. But magical things can happen on the road to Mumbai--and when trouble threatens to ruin the big event, unexpected friends come to the rescue.


middle school-level




child of dandelions, by shenaaz nanji- set in Uganda in 1972, this novel follows the story of an Indian family as they are forced to flee the country after President Idi Amin ordered the expulsion of all Indians. Told from the perspective of 15-year old Sabine she negotiates conflict and violence, ethnic persecution, and the trials of becoming a refugee. This novel addresses both South Asia and Africa.

climbing the stairs, by padma venkatraman- Set in India during World War II, the story follows 15 year-old Vidya whose life changes dramatically after her father suffers brain damage in a peace march and she and her brother are forced to live in their grandfather's traditional household where education for girls is believed to be unimportant.

keeping corner, by kashmira sheth- 12 year-old Leela has grown up spoiled and uninterested in the world beyond her door: she doesn't care for school, and she was married at age nine. Then her husband dies unexpectedly and her life is circumscribed by the strict limitations placed upon widows. Stuck in her home she receives lessons from her teacher and learns about a man named Gandhi who is using non-violent resistance or satyagraha, to free India from British rule.

mud city, by deborah ellis- In the third book in the Breadwinner Trilogy, orphan Afghan refugee Shauzia leaves the rough Pakistan border camp and joins other homeless children on the streets of the city of Peshawar. Her dream, left from the time before the Taliban when she was still at school, is to reach the ocean and a place called France. Instead, disguised as a boy, she must beg and scrounge for food and find odd jobs. In the end, she returns to the refugee camp and to the tough camp leader, Mrs. Weera, whom Shauzia thought she hated. The story is strong on message, and in a final note, Ellis fills in the recent history about Afghanistan, the Taliban's restrictions on women, and the millions of new, desperate refugees. Middle-school readers will be caught up in the cause and in the elemental survival adventure, especially because Shauzia is no sweet waif; she's mean, insolent, and rebellious. Her struggle with the rough Mrs. Weera reveals that they are both strong and brave.

parvana's journey, by deborah ellis- Sequel to The Breadwinner, Parvana's Journey by Deborah Ellis follows the eponymous 12-year-old girl who, disguised as a boy, sets off from Kabul in search of her missing mother and siblings in Taliban-era Afghanistan. When war breaks out, she bands together with other displaced children.

sold, by patricia mccormick- Thirteen year-old Laxmi lives in a rural Nepali village. When her family falls upon hard times her parents send her with a stranger to work as a maid, but once she travels to India discovers she has been sold into prostitution. Addresses the very real problem of human trafficking. The themes of this book are for a mature audience.

the breadwinner, by deborah ellis- Since the Taliban took over Afghanistan, 11-year-old Parvana has rarely been outdoors. Barred from attending school, shopping at the market, or even playing in the streets of Kabul, the heroine of Deborah Ellis's engrossing children's novel The Breadwinner is trapped inside her family's one-room home. That is, until the Taliban hauls away her father and Parvana realizes that it's up to her to become the "breadwinner" and disguise herself as a boy to support her mother, two sisters, and baby brother. Set in the early years of the Taliban regime, this topical novel for middle readers explores the harsh realities of life for girls and women in modern-day Afghanistan.

three cups of tea (the young readers edition), by greg mortenson and david oliver relin- Anyone who despairs of the individual's power to change lives has to read the story of Greg Mortenson, a homeless mountaineer who, following a 1993 climb of Pakistan's treacherous K2, was inspired by a chance encounter with impoverished mountain villagers and promised to build them a school. Over the next decade he built fifty-five schools especially for girls that offer a balanced education in one of the most isolated and dangerous regions on earth. As it chronicles Mortenson's quest, which has brought him into conflict with both enraged Islamists and uncomprehending Americans, "Three Cups of Tea" combines adventure with a celebration of the humanitarian spirit.

This young readers edition of the worldwide bestseller "Three Cups of Tea" has been specially adapted for younger readers and updated by Greg Mortenson to bring his remarkable story of humanitarianism up to date for the present. Includes new photos and illustrations, as well as a special interview by Greg's twelve-year-old daughter, Amira, who has traveled with her father as an advocate for the Pennies for Peace program for children.

high school-level

the white tiger, by aravind adiga- winner of the 2008 Booker Prize, the novel follows Balram Halwai  who narrates a story of how he went from village boy working in his family's sweet-shop, to successful entrepreneur: it is a story of ingenuity, corruption, murder, and "development" in contemporary India. This book addresses themes of globalization, ethics, and social change. The themes and language in this book are for a mature audience.

animal's people, by indra sinha- shortlisted for the Booker in 2007, this books is set in the fictional town of Kaufpur (a fictionalized Bhopal), and is narrated by the 20-year-old "Animal" named thus because the chemical spill left him disfigured. The story unfolds as members of the community seek retribution for their loss, and a young American doctor arrives with the goal of helping those sickened by the accident. The book addresses what it means to help others and what it means to be human. The themes and language in this book are for a mature audience.

stones into schools: promoting peace with books, not bombs, in afghanistan and pakistan, by greg mortenson- Mortenson’s best-seller, "Three Cups of Tea", introduced his commitment to peace through education and became a book-club phenomenon. He now continues the story of how the Central Asia Institute (CAI) built schools in northern Afghanistan. Descriptions of the harsh geography and more than one near-death experience impress readers as new faces join Mortenson’s loyal “Dirty Dozen” as they carefully plot a course of school-building through the Badakshan province and Wakhan corridor. Mortenson also shares his friendships with U.S. military personnel, including Admiral Mike Mullen, and the warm reception his work has found among the officer corps. The careful line CAI threads between former mujahideen commanders, ex-Taliban and village elders, and the American soldiers stationed in their midst is poetic in its political complexity and compassionate consideration. Using schools not bombs to promote peace is a goal that even the most hard-hearted can admire, but to blandly call this book inspiring would be dismissive of all the hard work that has gone into the mission in Afghanistan as well as the efforts to fund it. Mortenson writes of nothing less than saving the future, and his adventure is light years beyond most attempts. Mortenson did not reach the summit of K2, but oh, the heights he has achieved. --Colleen Mondor

three cups of tea, by greg mortenson and david oliver relin- this non-fiction book follows the life and work of American mountain climber Greg Mortenson who, after a failed attempt to climb the world's second highest mountain K2, stumbles into a village in norther Pakistan and learns that education (especially for girls) is not available. He vows to build a school in that village, and goes onto found the Central Asia Institute which supports education in Pakistan and Afghanistan. This book addresses current events, Islam, education and children's issues, terrorism, and the power of an individual to make a difference.