Words by Nina Bennett (she/her)

Book One: Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

This stunning book will leave you crying. Set in 1990s–2000s Afghanistan, it follows young Amir as he navigates life in the Wazir Akbar Khan district of Kabul. Amir is best friends with Hassan, the son of his father’s servant. They have a brotherhood but are tormented by bullies, and an incident occurs that greatly impacts Amir's life. All of this takes place during major political changes, such as the collapse of the Afghan monarchy, the Soviet military intervention, the flow of refugees to Pakistan and the US, and the creation of the Taliban regime. Although fiction, this book takes inspiration from the author's own life. I'm not gonna lie, I struggled to read about Amir’s childhood, but the adulthood chapters made it easily worth it. It’s character-driven which makes the redemption arc that much more satisfying. Kite Runner does a great job of showing how difficult it is to return to your home country after it has drastically changed.

Book Two: In Order To Live by Yeonmi Park

In Order To Live is very heavy and unlike anything I've read. Trigger warnings include death, violence, human trafficking, and sexual assualt. This autobiography is by Yeonmi Park, a North Korean girl who fled the country with her family. Park gives the reader insight into the country's history and the dictatorial Kim family dynasty. The plot discusses her upbringing, which included a life on the verge of severe poverty and overall devotion to the ‘Great Country.’ After clearing the route for an escape, Park and her mother cross over to China, which is not the refuge they hoped for. Her survival story is horrifying but inspirational. This book talks about freedom in a way I hadn’t thought of, down to the freedom of choosing your own favourite colour, and opened my eyes to the privilege of living in Aotearoa. It’s one of those books that makes you just sit there after you’ve read it.

Book Three: The Sun Is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon

I have one word for this book: romance. The Sun Is Also A Star is less intense than the other books on this list but it’s just as good. Natasha is on her way to meet with someone at the US Citizenship and Immigration Services facility in a last-ditch effort to prevent her family's deportation. Her family has less than twelve hours before they must depart the United States and return to Jamaica. Daniel is on his way to New York City for a job interview. His Korean parents have made plans for him to attend Yale Medical School in the future, however he aspires to become a poet. They cross paths and romance blooms as they spend the day together. As the eldest daughter in my family, I can definitely relate to Natasha taking on the family problems herself and I'm sure many of you can relate to Daniel sacrificing his dream to please his parents. The layout of this book is so interesting as each chapter is written from a different perspective. You also get to learn about both cultures and explore the character’s family dynamics.

Film One: Minari

Set in the 1980’s, Minari is about a Korean-American family who moves to Akansas in the hopes of securing money through farming. New beginnings are never easy. Determining what is best for the family is more difficult than it seems, let alone starting a 50-acre farm to produce and sell Korean produce. Each family member's problems are explored and the cinematography does a breathtaking job in showing their hardships. The music (oh my gosh, the music) made me feel like I was actually in the film with them. I expected the story to follow the themes of racism, as a lot of immigrant films do, but instead it focused more on the relationships between family members. The only thing I can warn you about is the ending… realistic is one way to put it.

Film Two: Farwell Amor

Farewell Amor is warm and heartfelt, showing an Angolan family that’s reunited in Brooklyn after living apart for 17 years. The reunion becomes awkward as they try to settle into the father's tiny one-bedroom flat. The unfortunate reality is that the father, mother, and daughter no longer feel like they know each other, and the film portrays this through each of the three characters' perspectives. Their compassion for each other shines through at different points, and the potential role that dance has in bringing this separated family together is particularly inspiring. The music was absolutely phenomenal and I obviously had to add some of the songs to my playlist. It’s an underrated movie that should be on everyone’s watch list.

Film Three: Bend It Like Beckham

“Lesbian? Her birthday is in March. I thought she was a Pisces.” Growing up in the early 2000s with traditional Indian parents was not ideal for young Jess, whose only goal in life is to become a professional soccer player. She doesn’t want to learn how to make the perfect roti and is not interested in any of the “nice Indian boys” her parents want for her. Her parents, who are strongly opposed to Jess' unconventional ambition, confess that their concerns are more about protecting her than holding her back. This iconic rom-com is super relatable for immigrants who struggle to balance respecting their parents with going after the things they want in life. The romance in this had me squealing and the portrayal of aunties made it ten times better. Also Keira Knightly stars in it. Do I need to say more?

Honourable mentions:

Films

Crazy Rich Asians
Lion: A Long Way Home
Hasan Minhaj: Homecoming King

TV Shows

Fresh Off the Boat
Kim's Convenience

Books

American Street
Americanah
Exit West
On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous
I Was Born For This

Books and Films with Immigrant Storylines