Reading List: The Cross-Cultural Edition

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Travel across continents, countries, and cultures in this edition of Books on the Root's Reading List.

The Sound of Water

By Sanjay Bahadur

Atria, June 2009

The former director of the India Ministry of Coal takes on the treacherous and exploitative conditions of the Indian mining industry and humanizes the lives of workers and their families.

A Disobedient Girl

By Ru Freeman

Atria, July 2009

A literary debut that tackles class issues in Sri Lanka by following the journeys of two women who are seemingly different, yet share common bonds.

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Voices of the Desert

By Nélinda Piñon

Clifford E. Landers

Knopf, August 2009

The award-winning Brazilian author retells the legendary story of "One Thousand and One Nights” from the perspective of Scheherazade.

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America Libre

By Raul Ramos y Sanchez

Grand Central, July 2009

Riots, racist vigilantes, and radical Latino activists ignite a divided America in this political thriller.

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is a writer, speaker, author of books for adults and youth, and the book columnist for The Root. Her most recent book is \"The Message: 100 Life Lessons from Hip-Hop’s Greatest Songs.\" Visit her at feliciapride.com.