Exploring Courage, Justice, and Global Awareness through Outstanding International Books

Meet our Contributor:

Emily Pendergrass teaches literacy and children's literature courses at Vanderbilt University. Her research interests include improving reading practices with adolescents who struggle with school-based reading and how these practices intersect with teacher decision-making. 

Exploring Courage, Justice, and Global Awareness through Outstanding International Books by Emily Pendergrass

Each January, the United States Board on Books for Young People (USBBY) releases its Outstanding International Books (OIB) list, highlighting exceptional children's and young adult titles published in the previous year. To be eligible, books must have been originally published outside the United States before being released or distributed in the U.S. The OIB list serves as a valuable guide for ELA teachers seeking high-quality international literature for adolescent readers. This year’s list includes 5 titles that are excellent choices to include in high school libraries or in instructional materials. To see the full list of Pre-K-12 texts click here. 

​Outstanding International YA Books

• Bassett, Louise. The Hidden Girl. Walker Books Australia. (Australia/Indonesia)
• Magicdusté, Akvilė. The Bees: The Women Who Rocked Lithuania. tr. from Lithuanian by Erika Lastovskytė. illus. by author. Fantagraphics. (Lithuania)
• O’Brien, Gráinne. Solo. Little Island. (Ireland)
• Sanna, Alessandro. Old as Stone, Hard as Rock: Of Humans and War. tr. from Italian by Ammiel Alcalay. illus. by author. Unruly/Enchanted Lion. (Italy) Volbeda,
• Ludwig. Self Portrait. tr. from Dutch by Lucy Scott. illus. by author. Levine Querido. (The Netherlands)

Sharing One Novel in Depth: Exploring Courage, Justice, and Global Awareness Through The Hidden Girl

Young adult literature has the power to transport readers into unfamiliar worlds while asking them to wrestle with deeply human questions. The Hidden Girl does exactly that. Through Melati's determination to uncover the truth behind a stolen diary and Devi's harrowing experience with human trafficking, readers are invited to consider difficult questions about courage, justice, responsibility, and what it means to act when something feels wrong.

For high school students, this novel offers much more than an engaging mystery. It provides a meaningful opportunity to connect literary analysis with global awareness and civic engagement.

When Doing the Right Thing Isn't Easy

One of the most compelling aspects of the novel is that many of Mel's choices exist in a gray area. Readers are continually asked to consider whether her actions are brave, reckless, or some combination of both.

Students might begin by tracing key decisions Melati makes throughout the story:

• Should she report what she discovers in the diary?
• Was she right to keep information from adults and authorities?
• When does persistence become recklessness?
• What responsibilities do ordinary people have when they witness injustice?
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Creating a decision map allows students to examine the options available to Melati, the potential consequences of each choice, and the factors that influence her decisions. Such conversations naturally lead to larger questions about ethics and personal responsibility.

Expanding Global Perspectives

For many American students, Indonesia may be a place they know little about before opening the book. Through Mel and Devi's stories, readers gain insights into Indonesian culture, geography, and contemporary social issues.

Students can reflect on questions such as:

• What assumptions did I have about Indonesia before reading?
• Where did those assumptions come from?
• How did the novel challenge or complicate my understanding?
• ​
  

Research projects focused on Indonesian culture, geography, youth experiences, or contemporary social issues help students connect literature with broader global contexts while developing cultural awareness.

Literature as a Window into Human Trafficking

One of the most powerful dimensions of The Hidden Girl is its portrayal of human trafficking through Devi's perspective. Rather than learning about trafficking through statistics alone, students encounter its human impact through an individual story.

This creates opportunities for students to investigate:

• What human trafficking is and how it operates.
• Efforts to prevent trafficking.
• Organizations that support survivors.
• Actions communities can take to raise awareness.
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These conversations should be handled thoughtfully and with appropriate support, but they offer an important example of how literature can deepen understanding of complex social issues (see Pendergrass, et. al., 2025 for a CAREful framework for having these conversations).

From Reading to Action

The most meaningful literacy experiences often extend beyond the final page. After reading The Hidden Girl, students can create awareness campaigns, podcasts, infographics, or public service announcements that connect the novel's themes to contemporary issues.

These projects encourage students to move from analysis to action by asking:

What can I do when I recognize injustice in the world around me?

In this way, The Hidden Girl becomes more than a novel. It becomes an invitation to think critically, engage empathetically, and consider how individual choices can make a difference in the lives of others.
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For educators seeking texts that foster perspective-taking, ethical reasoning, and global awareness, The Hidden Girl offers a powerful starting point for meaningful classroom conversations.

​Resource for difficult conversations:

Pendergrass, E., Hundley, M., Neel, M., & Pendergrass, K. (2025). The Sharp Edge of Silence: Using a Young Adult Novel to C.A.R.E. For Students. In K.C. Yurko & B. Adams (Eds.). Disrupting Silence: Rape Culture and Youth Texts. Peter Lang Publishers: New York.