Better Lives: Refugee Stories

Pacific Destiny: Rise of the East is a must-read for those seeking to understand why Asia has become a major economic powerhouse. Robert S. Elegant, a seasoned journalist, provides a nuanced portrayal of Asia's transformation, taking into account political, social, and economic factors. With extensive interviews and years of personal experience, the author provides a unique, insider perspective of Asian societies. Elegant also has a talent for presenting complex ideas in a clear and concise way, making this book accessible to a broad audience.

This book is a harrowing and poignant memoir that offers a firsthand account of Yeonmi Park's escape from North Korea's oppressive regime. Through her powerful storytelling, she takes readers on an emotional journey, showcasing the resilience and indomitable spirit of the human soul. Her escape through China's underworld and the Gobi desert to find freedom is both heart-wrenching and inspiring. A must-read for anyone interested in human rights, survival, and the strength of the human spirit.

For readers of Khaled Hosseini and Chris Cleave, The Boat People is an extraordinary novel about a group of refugees who survive a perilous ocean voyage only to face the threat of deportation amid accusations of terrorismWhen a rusty cargo ship carrying Mahindan and five hundred fellow refugees from Sri Lanka's bloody civil war reaches Vancouver's shores, the young father thinks he and his six-year-old son can finally start a new life. Instead, the group is thrown into a detention processing center, with government officials and news headlines speculating that among the "boat people" are members of a separatist militant organization responsible for countless suicide attacks—and that these terrorists now pose a threat to Canada's national security. As the refugees become subject to heavy interrogation, Mahindan begins to fear that a desperate act taken in Sri Lanka to fund their escape may now jeopardize his and his son's chance for asylum.     Told through the alternating perspectives of Mahindan; his lawyer, Priya, a second-generation Sri Lankan Canadian who reluctantly represents the refugees; and Grace, a third-generation Japanese Canadian adjudicator who must decide Mahindan's fate as evidence mounts against him, The Boat People is a spellbinding and timely novel that provokes a deeply compassionate lens through which to view the current refugee crisis.

The Seasons of Trouble is a vivid and heart-wrenching account of the devastating effects of war on ordinary citizens. Through the personal stories of Sarva, Indra, and Mugil, the reader gains a deeper understanding of the complexities and turmoil of Sri Lanka's civil war. This book is highly recommended for those interested in gaining insight into the impact of conflict on individuals, families, and communities. Rohini Mohan's writing is both honest and empathetic, offering a raw and nuanced view of life amid the ruins of war.