"Like Mandarin" by Kirsten Hubbard

Have you ever been envious of a classmate? Grace Carpenter isn't quite envious; she is infatuated with Mandarin Ramey, an upperclassman at her high school. Mandarin is feisty, popular with the boys, and not afraid to show her independence. She's definitely got herself a reputation in their small, Wyoming town. And reputation is something Grace is lacking. Grace excels at her classes, is tired of her old friends, and her mom and sister are too busy doing the beauty pageant circuit to pay much attention to her. Grace is dying for more excitement in her boring life, and she's convinced Mandarin can provide it. The two girls are paired up for a school project, and they form an unlikely friendship, surprising everyone. But when Mandarin starts showing Grace how people really are, Grace isn't sure she's ready for all the drama.

"Chinese Cinderella: The True Story of an Unwanted Daughter" by Adeline Yen Mah

Wu Mei or Adeline (her English name) was the youngest of five siblings, born into a wealthy family in Communist China. Because her mother died giving birth to her, Adeline is considered "bad luck" by her family. Her father remarries a woman named Niang, and they have two children together, who are spoiled rotten. Adeline and her original siblings are often neglected and ignored. Niang controls the family dynamics and she's decided that Adeline is not worth much of anything. Adeline's great aunt and grandfather offer some love and support, but as they are financially dependent on Niang, they must be discreet in showing any affection. Adeline is sent away to boarding school for much of her childhood, and is completely cut off from her family emotionally. She years to be loved by her father and gain respect from Niang, but she feels invisible in their eyes. While not physically abused by her parents, their emotional neglect is heartbreaking to Adeline, and she immerses herself into her studies and books to forget the pain. This is a heartbreaking true "Cinderella" story. A good example of life in China in the 1940s during World War II.

"Illegal" by Bettina Restrepo

Nora should be getting excited for her Quinceanera, her celebration of becoming a woman on her 15th birthday. But times are economically challenging in her family's small, Mexican town. The crops are not producing, money is low, and her family is running out of options. Nora's father pays a coyote to take him illegally across the border, into Texas, so he can find regular work. For months, he sends money home, but it's never quite enough. The crops are failing and there is no hope in sight. After the money stops altogether, Nora convinces her mother that they must go to Texas to find him. Using all of their savings, they risk their lives and cross the border into the unknown. Life as an illegal is not an easy one. Their English is not good, and they do not have government papers, making work hard to find. What has happened to Nora's father, and what do they have at home to return to?