Mitali Perkins gives us Kid and YA books set in Haiti.
Amy Wilentz’s Haiti Booklist These books look as if they mostly deal with Haiti from a liberal, US-bashing point of view, but they’re filled with solid history and ambience, too.
“There is a surprising amount of stuff written by Haitians and others about the country–libraries full of it. Haiti’s writing elite is prolific, and the people who love Haiti for some reason are often writers.”
Other selections:
Mountains Beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder. I read this book about American philanthropist Paul Farmer back in 2006, but didn’t review it. I think that’s because I had mixed feelings about it. Mr. Farmer sounds like a hard man to know, but one you would want on your side in a crunch. He’s obviously dedicated to the eradication of tuberculosis and to relieving poverty, and most of his work has been in Haiti.
Brother, I’m Dying by Edwidge Danticat. “In a single day in 2004, Danticat learns that she’s pregnant and that her father, André, is dying—a stirring constellation of events that frames this Haitian immigrant family’s story.” The Haitian bornDanticat has written several novels and other books set in and around Haiti, including Breath, Eyes, Memory and The Dew Breaker.
Tonight By Sea by Frances Temple. “When the brutal macoute regime in Haiti kills her friend Jean-Desir, Paulie realizes that she must do more than flee, and she sets upon a dangerous course to make her community’s plight known.”
I read Mountains Beyond Mountains and had a similar reaction, torn between admiring/appreciating Dr. Farmer for his singular dedication and incredible work ethic on the behalf of “the least of these,” and a sense that he seems rather annoying/difficult to be around, as Tracy Kidder sort of hints at. On the other hand, my eyes were opened to the plight in Haiti, and the earthquake served as an unfortunate reminder.