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International YA Fiction

September 2022

Shelves of books in a library

Photo by Paul Schafer on Unsplash

In honor of #WorldKidLitMonth, we’ve selected seven YA favorites from our archive. Ranging from immersive fantasy to realist works grappling with themes including racism, poverty, and sexism, these stories have something to offer readers of all ages.

Mossy rocks at the edge of the coastline in Gaza

Photo by Emad El Byed on Unsplash

Against the Tide

By Taghreed Najjar

A young woman defies societal expectations to become Gaza’s first fisherwoman in this excerpt from Taghreed Najjar’s YA novel Against the Tide.

Translated from Arabic by Elisabeth Jaquette

from “The Boys”

By Jessica Schiefauer

“Let us make a pact, gentlemen. Let us brew a Magical Potion and drink together.”

Translated from Swedish by Saskia Vogel

The Park Bench

By Sandrine Kao

But it’s not surprising—with everything you hear on the news, how can anyone be expected to think well of the Chinese?

Translated from French by Jane Roffe

The Blue Book of Nebo

By Manon Steffan Ros

It happened so quickly. The End.

Translated from Welsh by the author

Firstclaw

By Sachiko Kashiwaba

Firstclaw’s love spells were rumored to be unusually effective.

Translated from Japanese by Avery Fischer Udagawa

Wizard Bakery

By Koo Byung-Mo

Do not forget the magical forces you used today may circle back to you some day to return the favor.

Translated from Korean by Jamie Chang

Learn

In Search of the End of the World

By Michel Noël

I was brought into the world on a day of black misery.

Translated from French by JC Sutcliffe