Hi all, I'm involved with an org that hosts awards for first-generation college student narratives in popular media. Looking for books specifically from 2024 or tail end of 2023, either adult fiction, YA, or non-fiction that deal with first-gen themes. Adult fiction is especially lacking. If it's helpful, some books that have been nominated in the past for adult fiction include The Do-Over by Suzanne Park, Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver, The House of Eve by Safeway Johnson, and Aftershock by George H. Wolfe
Not necessary to read on but just adding a couple pieces of advice we usually give recommenders in case it's helpful for context:
- Characters don't explicitly need to state they are first gens – some things are first-gen coded so if you think it might fit, let me know and we'll read it and decide (example is Janine from Abbott Elementary – no one says she is first-green but context clues tell us she is)
- Books about first gens in high school/middle school AND about first-gen professionals are already great.
- Doesn't need to hit us over the head with "this is a first-gen" the entire time. It doesn't need to be their entire identity.
- Lots of first-gen stories are about first-gens to the US (ie children of immigrants) and there is often a lot of overlap where they are both kinds of first-gens – that works!
- There are lots of books that don't seem first-genny at first glance but they are! If you're not sure we'll gladly take the rec and read it so we can decide for ourselves.
by sleepysleepybb