Polak, Monique.
Orca Book Publishers.
(Canada/set in China)
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Girl Guides are always optimistic and do their duties with a joyful heart, according to Miss E. This mantra makes life as normal as possible for teen girls imprisoned by the Japanese at Weihsien Internment Camp in China during World War II.
 

Mello, Roger.
tr. by Daniel Hahn.
illus. by the author.
Archipelago Books/Elsewhere Editions.
(Brazil)
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Striking neon color and incendiary die cut flames illuminate a hornet’s observations of the dire situation of two young boys forced to work in the charcoal fields.
 

Litvina, Alexandra.
tr. by Antonina W. Bouis.
illus. by Anna Desnitskaya.
Abrams/Abrams Books for Young Readers.
(Russia) 
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The Muromtsev family lives in the same apartment generation after generation, through many social and political changes. Some of the furniture and other unique items are passed down, whereas other objects disappear in this oversized book with newspaper clippings, photographs and memorabilia.

Kadarusman, Michelle.
Pajama Press.
(Canada/set in Indonesia)
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Nia must care for her brother and manage the family’s food-cart business for her often absent, alcoholic father. Inspired by Javanese mythology, she pens adventures that mirror her real-life struggles. An author’s note provides insights about the effects of poverty on young women in Indonesia. 

Gourlay, Candy.
Scholastic/David Fickling Books.
(UK/set in the Philippines)
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The Phillipine-American War of 1899 comes to life in this vivid coming-of-age novel about the Bontoc community. Ten-year-old Samkad desperately wants to become a man, but when his village is invaded by Americans he realizes his culture and people are more important.
 

Argueta, Jorge.
tr. by Elizabeth Bell.
illus. by Manuel Monroy.
Groundwood/House of Anansi Press.
(Canada/set in Central America)
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Hope and sadness coexist in this first-person account of Misael, a young Salvadoran boy, and his family as they leave their home to join the caravan heading to the U.S. Black-lined illustrations set the stage for Misael’s emotion-filled poems about his journey.

Vafaeian, Marjan.
tr. by Azita Rassi.
illus. by the author.
Tiny Owl Publishing.
(Iran)
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Straightforward text coupled with evocative illustrations retell Rumi’s thought-provoking thirteenth century tale of a clever parrot and greedy merchant. Set across a stark white backdrop, distorted characters and stylized objects are eerily expressive and endlessly complex in their design and execution.

TAYLOR, Sean & the Khayaal Theatre.
illus. by Shirin Adl.
Candlewick Press.
(UK)
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Follow the famous Mulla Nasruddin through twenty-one stories of his foolishness and wisdom. Lively, silly mixed-media illustrations complement these Middle Eastern tales full of culture, humor and insight.

Smith, Heather.
illus. by Rachel Wada.
Orca Book Publishers.
(Canada/set in Japan)
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Everyone in a Japanese village loses a loved one when a tsunami strikes. Then Mr. Hirota builds a phone booth in his garden and the villagers use it to send messages on the wind to their lost loved ones, thus allowing their healing to begin.
 

Rundell, Katherine.
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.
(UK/set in US)
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British Vita Marlowe travels to New York City to help her grandfather, who has lost possession of the family home. With the help of a pickpocket and two circus performers, Vita tackles rooftop walking, dungeons and tunnels to foil the trickery of a Mafia-connected businessman.