Breath, Eyes, Memory (1994), Danticat's novel about four generations of Haitian women as they struggle in their homeland and in the United States, Told through the eyes of Sophie Caco, the novel has been commended for its lyrical prose which counterpoints its dire subject matter.

How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents (1991) by Mia Alvarez, a native of the Dominican Republic. Four young sisters arrive in the United States from the Dominican Republic and become increasingly Americanized as they grow up. Now adults, each one comes to term with her heritage and learns to integrate it with her identity.

Reef (1995) by Romesh Gunesekera, a coming-of-age novel also praised for its lyricism despite its stark political backdrop. A poor houseboy on the island of Ceylon, soon to become Sri Lanka, learns to appreciate the simplicity of life.

Brown Girl, Brownstones (1959) by Paule...