World Book Day on April 23 is the perfect time to pick up a new (or new to you) book that’s going to expand your worldview. Looking for something new to read? We have you covered. Here are our picks to help you become a better global citizen.
If you like memoirs …
- “A Long Way Gone: Memoir of a Boy Soldier”
If you’re looking for something to read with the children in your life …
- “The Red Bicycle” by Jude Isabella
- “You Are Special” by Max Lucado
- “God’s Love For You” by Rich and Reneé Stearns
- “What Does It Mean to Be Global?” By Rana DiOrio
- “People” by Peter Spier
If you prefer novels …
- “Shantaram” by Gregory David Roberts
- “The Kite Runner” by Khaled Hosseini
- “Beneath the Lion’s Gaze” by Maaza Mengiste
If you want to be inspired by real-life stories …
- “Outcasts United: An American Town, a Refugee Team, and One Woman’s Quest to Make a Difference” by Warren St. John
- “Strength in What Remains” by Tracy Kidder
If you’re eager to learn more about issues that face people in poverty …
- “Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide” by Nicholas Kristoff and Sheryl WuDunn
- “Seeking Refuge: On the Shores of the Global Refugee Crisis” by Stephan Bauman, Matthew Soerens, and Issam Smeir
- “City of Thorns: Nine Lives in the World’s Largest Refugee Camp” by Ben Rawlence
- “Behind the Beautiful Forevers: Life, Death, and Hope in a Mumbai Undercity” by Katherine Boo
And if you’d rather skip a book and see a movie instead …
- “The Good Lie”: After escaping the Sudanese civil war on foot and living for more than a dozen years at a refugee camp, a group of siblings come to the U.S. as refugees. An employment counselor helps them adjust to their new lives, becoming a close friend. (PG-13)
- “Queen of Katwe”: Ten-year-old Phiona lives in a slum in Uganda. When she learns to play chess and begins winning tournaments, her world expands beyond her family’s poverty to the opportunities now available to her. (PG)
- “Lion”: As a 5-year-old, Saroo is separated from his brother at a train station. He ends up in Kolkata, dodging danger at every turn. Eventually, he’s adopted by an Australian family — but years later he finds his way back home. (PG-13)
