"In Darkness" by Nick Lake

Nick Lake has written a shockingly dark novel about Haiti, sharing two perspectives on the country's troubled history. Our first narrator is "Shorty," a fourteen-year-old gang member who is caught in the rubble of the Haiti earthquake. The hospital collapses on him while he is being treated for a gunshot wound. The next narrator is Toussiant l'Overture, the historical figure who led the Haitian Revolution against French colonization in the 18th century. Through some mystical voodoo vortex, the two men are able to channel each other in times of crisis, each catching a glimpse of a Haiti they do not know. Shorty has spent his life in the slums. He watched his father get murdered, his sister vanished without a trace, and his mother consistently struggles to survive. Toussaint was a slave in Haiti, yet rebelled against the institution, and his success in Haiti was instrumental in expanding anti-slavery movements throughout the free world.

Be aware that the graphic nature of the conflicts and the high use of profanity may make it more suitable for older teens.

"Broken Memory" by Elisabeth Combres

Emma and her mother are part of the Tutsi ethnic group in Rwanda. They lead a peaceful life, until one day their village is invaded by soldiers. Emma hides behind a couch, and hears her mother get brutally murdered by Hutu soldiers. Orphaned, she flees from home, and finds refuge in an old woman's home. She calls the woman Mukecuru, and they develop a silent, trusting relationship, where Emma slowly feels safer. But her nightmares do not end, and her memories of the horrific genocide plague her for years. Emma is able to develop a friendship with another victim of the violence, and she slowly starts to remember and begin the healing process. This is a very concise (short) book that conveys the horrors of the Rwandan genocide, in an easy-to-digest and accessible format for younger audiences. Recommended for 5-12th grades

"Badd" by Tim Tharp

Ceejay has always been close with her older brother, Bobby. He is charismatic, smooth and wild at heart. When he gets caught stealing a car, Bobby has to decide between jail and the army. Bobby has been serving in Iraq, and Ceejay misses him terribly. She is both stunned and thrilled when Bobby comes back to town early and unannounced. Something isn't quite right, his behavior is moody and he's not acting like himself. He doesn't want to associate with the family and he's heavily drinking and doing dangerous drugs. There is an old, hippie musician in town named Captain Crazy. He is known for his unusual art sculptures and erratic behavior. Ceejay sees him protesting the war, and she gets very defensive about her brother and his tour of duty. But when Bobby and the Captain develop an unlikely friendship, Ceejay tries her best to support him. Each family member has their own way to deal with Bobby's Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Tharp also wrote "The Spectacular Now," which was a National Book Award Finalist. This is a powerful account of a family dealing with war in current times. It is well crafted and the characters are realistic and believable. There are lots of references to drugs and sex, but the main character Ceejay is pretty level headed and has disapproving perspectives on those behaviors.

"The Line" by Terri Hall

The Line is a government created boundary that separates the United States from a place known as Away. Rachel and her mom live on The Property, where her mom works as a housekeeper for Ms. Moore. No one is allowed to cross The Line, as it's meant to prevent The Others from coming into the United States. No one really knows much about The Others, supposedly they were trapped after a large-scale war, and the government wants to keep them separate. Rachel's mom has always been a skeptic of the government and encourages her daughter to think independently and do what's right and fair. But when someone or something makes contact from the other side of the Line, Rachel has to decide who's telling the truth. If you liked "The Giver" by Lois Lowry, you will love "The Line"!

"Pride of Baghdad" by Brian Vaughn

When the United States bombed Iraq in 2003, civilians weren't the only casualty. This graphic novel is based on the true story of 4 lions that escaped captivity from the Baghdad zoo, and were loose on the streets of Baghdad. For the first time, these domesticated animals must find their own food and defend themselves against predators. The illustrations showcase the harsh, violent realities of a city caught in the mist of war. This book is not intended for weak stomachs. War is violence, and this book emphasizes how it affects all members of a society, including the animal world.

Vaughn has proven himself as an emerging talent in the comic industry. He's the author of the popular Runaways series and won the Eisner Award for his work Y: The Last Man.

"Chanda's Wars" by Allan Stratton

Chanda is ready to risk it all to keep her two younger siblings - Iris and Soly - safe from harm. Their mother died 6 months ago of AIDS, and Chanda is learning it's difficult to raise children in Africa, especially since civil war has broken out. They take a trip to visit relatives in a remote village, and get trapped there when rebel forces start to attack. General Mandiki is stealing children to recruit them for his army. Will they ever be able to return home?

"Ender's Game" by Orson Scott Card

Ender Wiggin is an extraordinary game player. His brain is so sharp and brilliant that he's been chosen to attend a prestigious Battle School, where students are trained in military combat. It's the future, and planet Earth is preparing for an invasion against the buggers - alien lifeforms that are determined to destroy our planet. Using high tech computer games to simulate fights and battles proves to be intense and exhausting. Every move Ender makes must be perfect, the future of the universe depends on it! Great science fiction writing.

"The Librarian of Basra" by Jeanette Winter

The librarian of Basra is a woman named Alia Muhammad Baker. When war breaks out, Alia is worried that the library will be destroyed. In this true story, the Iraqi government is unwilling to help Alia protect the books, so she takes matters into her own hands, saving over 30,000 books from a fire that ultimately destroyed the city's library. Beautiful pictures illustrate the fear of war and the power of the human spirit. This story was first reported in the New York Times in 2003.

"Echoes of the White Giraffe" by Sook Nyul Choi

Southern Korea's Pusan is home to many refugees from the Korean War, including 15-year-old Sookan. Sookan misses her old life in Seoul, and is anxiously awaiting news about her missing father and older brothers. To pass the time, she buries herself in her studies, and starts a forbidden friendship with a fellow choir member. This book chronicles her daily life as a refugee and how she copes with society's expectations of young Korean women. Very touching, coming-of-age, clean story. Recommended for 6th grade and up. This book is the sequel to "Year of Impossible Goodbyes."