Description

In this episode, co-hosts Shé and Anna share their 2025 summer reading list—13 unforgettable books that move across cultures, borders, and languages. Whether you're traveling, lesson planning, or just in need of some inspiration, this curated collection will offer powerful perspectives on migration, memory, identity, and resistance. 🧳💬

From a nine-year-old’s journey across Central America in Solito, to reflections on travel privilege in Airplane Mode, and explorations of family legacy in Homegoing and The Covenant of Water, these stories will expand your worldview and spark classroom ideas for deeper cultural engagement. 🌍✍️

Need inspiration for PD book clubs or classroom literature units? We’ve got you. These texts aren't just for pleasure reading—they’re powerful teaching tools.

🎧 Listen now and join us for a literary journey across generations and geographies!

💡 Reflect with us: What are you reading this summer to challenge cultural assumptions? What literature have you brought into your classroom to increase cross-cultural understanding and build empathy? What’s your favorite way to engage students with world literature?

🎧 Related Resources:

📖 Books Mentioned:

2. The Covenant of Water – Abraham Verghese (India)
4. Solito – Javier Zamora (El Salvador → U.S.)
6. Beautiful Country – Qian Julie Wang (China → U.S.)
8. The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane – Lisa See (Akha community, China & U.S.)
10. Braised Pork – An Yu (China)
12. Ghost Music – An Yu (China)
14. Airplane Mode – Shahnaz Habib (Nonfiction: Travel privilege, global movement)
16. The Penguin Book of Migration Literature – Edited by Dohra Ahmad
18. Kaikeyi – Vaishnavi Patel (India; Hindu epic reimagined)
20. 10 Minutes, 38 Seconds in This Strange World – Elif Shafak (Türkiye)
22. Homegoing – Yaa Gyasi (Ghana & U.S.)
24. A Woman Is No Man – Etaf Rum (Palestine & U.S.)
26. Everything Inside – Edwidge Danticat (Haiti, U.S., Caribbean)

🎙 This episode is sponsored by Ellii

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