Having memories is an undeniable part of being human. Memories, good or bad, stick in our heads, whether we want them to be or not, and memories sometimes come in many forms. In “Waking Up for the First Time”, Lala Bohang creates a series of fictional stories that resemble collages, which when viewed up close seem random and irregular, but when viewed from a distance, implied meanings. Lala experimented with writing styles which in hindsight seemed didactic, but also surreal. Just ...

For two teens, falling in love is going to make a world of difference in this beautifully translated, bold, and endearing novel about love, loss, and the pain of racial discrimination. As a Korean student in a Japanese high school, Sugihara has had to defend himself against all kinds of bullies. But nothing could have prepared him for the heartache he feels when he falls hopelessly in love with a Japanese girl named Sakurai. Immersed in their shared love for classical music and foreign movies, ...