China
Daughter of Xanadu by Dori Jones Yang. Semicolon review here. Nominated for 2011 Cybil Awards, Young Adult Fiction category.

Japan
J-Boys: Kazuo’s World, Tokyo, 1965 by Shogo Oketani. Cybils nominee Middle Grade Fiction.Reviewed by Ms. Yingling. I haven’t read this one yet, but I want to.

Orchards by Holly Thompson. I did read this YA verse novel featuring Japanese culture and teens recovering from the trauma of a friend’s suicide. I liked it, even though I’m not fond of verse novels.

Germany
The Berlin Boxing Club by Robert Sharenow. Semicolon review here. Nominated for 2011 Cybil Awards, Young Adult Fiction category. Nominated by Teacher.Mother.Reader.

Italy
Dodsworth in Rome by Tim Egan. Semicolon review here. 2011 Cybils nominee: Easy Readers Nominated by Sondra Eklund at SonderBooks.

Lithuania
Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys. Semicolon review here. Nominated for 2011 Cybil Awards, Young Adult Fiction category. Nominated by Lisa Schroeder.

Russia
Breaking Stalin’s Nose by Eugene Yelchin. Cybils nominee Middle Grade Fiction. Nominated by Craig Jaffurs. Winner of a Newbery Honor.

Sudan
A Long Walk to Water: Based on a True Story by Linda Sue Park. Semicolon review here. Cybils nominee Middle Grade Fiction. Nominated by Amy at Hope Is the Word.

Africa, unspecified country.
No. 1 Car Spotter by Atinuke. 2011 Cybils nominee: Early Chapter Books Nominated by Monica Edinger.

India
Saraswati’s Way by Monika Schroder. Semicolon review here. Cybils nominee: Middle Grade Fiction.

Small Acts of Amazing Courage by Gloria Whelan. Semicolon review here. Cybils nominee: Middle Grade Fiction. Nominated by Rebecca Hermann.

Afghanistan
Words in the Dust by Trent Reedy. Semicolon review here. Cybils nominee Middle Grade Fiction. Nominated by Greg Leitich Smith.