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• Bitter Side of Sweet by Tara Sullivan (January) Two young boys must escape a life of slavery in modern-day Ivory Coast
• The Bone Sparrow by Zana Fraillon (February) Subhi knows only life in the Australian refugee detention center where he was born, and lately, things are getting worse. His mother is increasingly lethargic, older sister Queeny is bossy and angry, and his best friend Eli has been transferred to the single men's compound. The Jackets (guards) are unfriendly, except for Harvey, who occasionally brings presents and diversions. It's at this low point that Subhi meets Jimmie, a local child who finds her way into the camp.
• The Only Road by Alexandra Diaz (March)  Twelve-year-old Jaime makes the treacherous and life-changing journey from his home in Guatemala to live with his older brother in the United States in this gripping and realistic middle grade novel.
• Migrant the Journey of the Mexican Worker by José Manuel Mateo (March) A Mexican boy tells of his journey to the U.S. with his family. They must face many dangers to cross the border, only to experience the uncertainty felt by all undocumented immigrants. The narrative is accompanied by one long, beautifully vivid illustration reminis­cent of pre-Hispanic codices, packaged as an accordion-style foldout frieze.
• When the Moon is Low by Nadia Hashimi (April)  i Mahmoud’s passion for his wife, Fereiba, a schoolteacher, is greater than any love she’s ever known. But their happy, middle-class world implodes when their country is engulfed in war and the Taliban rises to power. When Mahmoud becomes a target of the new fundamentalist regime and is murdered, Fereiba is forced to flee Kabul with their three children.
• Stepping Stones by Margriet Ruurs (April)  Stepping Stones tells the story of Rama and her family, who are forced to flee their once-peaceful village to escape the ravages of the civil war raging ever closer to their home.
• Aluta by Adwoa Badoe The fast-paced novel neither shies from nor neutralizes the atrocities and human rights abuses associated with coups, yet it is written appropriately for YA readers. Teens will appreciate the storytelling, honesty, and feminism presented in this work in addition to the inside view of Ghana's history, culture, and society during that tumultuous time.