Other Non-Caucasion books - THE LIST (bum bum bum!)

Current Theme Song (aka what's playing on my ipod right now): White Shadows by Coldplay.


This list is by no means comprehensive, I'll say that right out of the gate. These are just books that I have personally read or have heard great things about with characters of different cultures that you usually don't see enough of. And just so you know, I love SF/F so if you don't see any of my comments, that is because I am trying with all my superpower restraint not to go into a rant of awesomeness about them. :) So let us begin.


Science Fiction/Fantasy

The Ear, the Eye, and the Arm by Nancy Farmer - A futuristic SF in Africa where a set of detectives with special abilites have to go on the hunt and find a family of kidnapped children. How cool can you get?







The House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer. - A clone of a drug lord who rules the land between the United States and Mexico (appropriately called Opium) must learn more than he ever expected about the world in this amazing sci-fi.







The Twelve Kingdoms by Fuyumi Ono
The Twelve Kingdoms: Sea of Shadow
The Twelve Kingdoms: Sea of Wind
The Twelve Kingdoms: The Vast Spread of the Seas.




The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. - Rocks (it really should just be a part of the title).









Moriboto by Nahoko Uehashi
Guardian of the Spirit
Guardian of the Darkness








Historical/Real Life


India

Seven Daughters and Seven Sons by Barbara Cohen & Bahija Lovejoy.







Arabia

The Legend of the Wandering King by Laura Gallego Garcia. - Written by an author from Spain and translated into English makes this doubly cool. And the fact that it is actually based on a real legend makes this very very cool. C'mon, just look at the title.




China

Sword by Da Chen.








Pre-History

Chronicles of Ancient Darkness series, starting with
Wolf Brother by Michelle Paver.







Korea

A Single Shard by Linda Sue Park - Newberry award winner baby. :)







So Far From the Bamboo Grove by Yoko Kawashima Watkins. - I read this in high school for a history class. I remember loving it. It was my favorite out of the unit.









Africa

A Girl Named Disaster by Nancy Farmer. - Recognize the name? :) Yep, totally in love with her. Another Newberry Honor winner. Almost every book she has written has won this award.





Egypt

The Golden Goblet by Eloise Jarvis Mcgraw. - A young boy in ancient Egypt wants to become a goldsmith's apprentice but has to thwart his abusive older brother who he discovers is stealing gold from the tombs of the pharaohs. This was read to me in elementary (bless all those wonderful teachers who do that to the children in their class) and I still remember it and love it to this day.


United States

Monster by Dean Walter Meyers. - This is a very unique story because it is written as a screenplay from the main characters perspective. He is in jail, and throughout the story you have to decide if he is guilty as an accomplice to murder. Very interesting.




Seedfolks by Paul Fleischman. - A collection of short stories that intertwine about a neighborhood (with many different cultures) who come together after accidentally creating and building a neighborhood garden. I listened to this on audiobook and loved it.






Europe

The Dungeon by Lynne Reid Banks. - Author of the famous Indian in the Cupboard series, this is a little-known book of hers. And while it does not have a "main" character of ethnicity, the Scottish lord however does go to China and brings back a little girl who he names Peony to be his attendant, and she helps awaken his ravaged, bitter heart.


Misc.

The Royal Diaries Series - this is a wonderful series if you have never heard of it, a la the people who brought you the Dear America series. All of these are based on real people, but they have some very exotic ones from some amazing cultures, like Mesoamerica, India, Egypt, Japan, North America, Haiti, and Africa.




Classics

Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor.










Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George.










Island of the Blue Dophins by Scott O'Dell.










Life of Pi by Yann Martel.










Holes by Louis Sachar. (Again, main character is Caucasian, but almost all his friends are of different races, and this was one of the first books that made me aware of it. And besides, Zero is black). :)