One Book, One San Diego Archive

Waiting for Snow in Havana

By Carlos Eire

“Have mercy on me, Lord, I am Cuban.” In 1962, Carlos Eire was one of 14,000 children airlifted out of Havana—exiled from his family, his country, and his own childhood by Fidel Castro’s revolution. Winner of the National Book Award, this stunning memoir is a vibrant and evocative look at Latin America from a child’s unforgettable experience.

One Book, Sin Fronteras Selection: The One Book, Sin Fronteras companion book for "Waiting for Snow in Havana” was the original Spanish version of the book, ”Nieve en La Habana” by Carlos Eire.

The Shadow of the Wind

By Carlos Ruiz Zafón

Set in Barcelona, 1945, "The Shadow of the Wind," by Carlos Ruiz Zafón, tells the story of a city in the aftermath of the Spanish Civil War, and Daniel, an antiquarian book dealer’s son who mourns the loss of his mother, as he finds solace in a mysterious book entitled The Shadow of the Wine, by Julián Carax. When he sets out to find the author’s other works, he makes a shocking discovery: somone has been systematically destroying every copy of every book Carax has written. Soon Daniel’s seemingly innocent quest opens a door into one of Barcelona’s darket secrets- an epic story of murder, madness, and doomed love.

One Book, Sin Fronteras Selection: The One Book, Sin Fronteras companion book for “The Shadow of the Wind” is the original Spanish version of the book, ”La Sombra del Viento” by Carlos Ruiz Zafón.

One Book for Teens Selection: The teen companion book for "The Shadow of the Wind" is ”The Dumbest Idea Ever” by Jimmy Gownley.

One Book for Kids Selection: The children's companion book for "The Shadow of the Wind" is ”The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore” by William Joyce.

One Book for Littlest Kids Selection: The toddler’s companion book for “The Shadow of the Wind” is ”It’s a Little Book” by Lane Smith.

Monstress

By Lysley Tenorio

"Monstress," by Lysley Tenorio, is a book of quirky short stories set amongst Filipino-American communities in California and the Philippines.

One Book for Kids Selection: The children's companion book for "Monstress" is "Cora Cooks Pancit" by Dorina K. Lazo Gilmore.

One Book for Teens Selection: The teen companion book for "Monstress" is "American Born Chinese" by Gene Luen Yang.

Caleb's Crossing

By Geraldine Brooks

Inspired by a true story, "Caleb’s Crossing," by Geraldine Brooks, is narrated by a young woman named Bethia Mayfield, growing up in Martha’s Vineyard in the 1660s amid a small band of pioneering English Puritans. At age twelve, she meets Caleb, the son of a chieftain and the two forge a secret bond. Bethia’s father is a Calvinist minister who seeks to convert the native Wampanoag, and Caleb becomes a prize in the contest between old ways and new, eventually becoming the first Native American graduate of Harvard College.

One Book for Kids Selection: The children's companion book for "Caleb’s Crossing" is "Jingle Dancer” by Cynthia Leitich Smith.

Into the Beautiful North

By Luis Alberto Urrea

"Into the Beautiful North," by Luis Alberto Urrea, tells the story of Nayeli, a young taco shop worker living in the Mexican village of Tres Camarones. Upon realizing that nearly all the men from her town have moved North, Nayeli and three of her friends travel to the San Diego area in hopes of finding men to bring back to Mexico. The central characters encounter surprises along the way, in this funny yet powerful tale of their journey.

One Book for Kids Selection: The children's companion book for "Into the Beautiful North" is "Armando and the Blue Tarp School" by Edith Fine and Judith Josephson.

Moloka’i

by Alan Brennert

Rachel Kalama, a spirited seven-year-old Hawaiian girl, dreams of visiting far-off lands like her father, a merchant seaman. Then one day a rose-colored mark appears on her skin, and those dreams are stolen from her. Taken from her home and family, Rachel is sent to Kalaupapa, the quarantined leprosy settlement on the island of Moloka'i. Here her life is supposed to end—but instead she discovers it is only just beginning.

Sky of Red Poppies

By Zohreh Ghahremani

Set against the backdrop of a politically divided 1960's Iran under rule of the Shah, "Sky of Red Poppies" is a novel about culture, politics and the redeeming power of friendships. Roya, the daughter of a prominent family, is envious of the fierce independence of her religious classmate Shireen. But Shireen has secrets of her own. Together, Roya and Shireen contend with becoming the women they want to be and, in doing so, make decisions that will cause their tragic undoing.

One Book for Kids Selection: The children's companion book for "Sky of Red Poppies" is "The Secret Message” by Mina Javaherbin.