5 Texts That Provide a Human Perspective to World Events

Reading & Literature

It is important for students to read stories and narratives about world events because these texts help them develop a deeper understanding of global issues through personal and human perspectives. Unlike textbook summaries or news reports, stories offer emotional insight and cultural context, allowing students to connect with the people and communities affected by events. This fosters empathy, critical thinking, and a more nuanced view of history and current affairs. Reading diverse narratives also challenges stereotypes and broadens students’ worldviews, preparing them to be informed, compassionate, and engaged global citizens.

Here are five texts that help provide human perspectives to historical and current world events and give students a better understanding of how world affairs have come to be the way they are today.

Graphic Novel - This Place: 150 Years Retold

This Place: 150 Years Retold is a powerful graphic novel anthology that brings together Indigenous writers and artists to tell stories from the past 150 years of Canadian history from Indigenous perspectives. Each chapter highlights a different moment, figure, or movement—ranging from resistance and resilience to culture and reclaiming identity—spanning from the 1860s to the present and beyond. Through a blend of historical fact and imaginative storytelling, the anthology challenges dominant narratives and reveals the ongoing impacts of colonialism. This Place is both educational and emotionally impactful, offering readers a deeper understanding of Indigenous experiences, strength, and sovereignty.

Memoir: Trevor Noah: Born a Crime

Born a Crime by Trevor Noah is a compelling and often humorous memoir about the comedian’s childhood growing up in apartheid and post-apartheid South Africa. The title refers to the fact that Noah was born to a Black Xhosa mother and a white Swiss father at a time when such a union was illegal. Through a series of vivid, personal stories, Noah explores the challenges of living as a mixed-race child in a racially divided society, the strength and influence of his fiercely determined mother, and his journey toward finding his voice. The memoir blends sharp wit with powerful social commentary, shedding light on issues of race, identity, and resilience.

Short Story: The Shoes - Nassar Ibrahim

“The Shoes” by Palestinian author Nassar Ibrahim follows Nizar, a determined man who must travel to Ramallah despite enduring Israeli military checkpoints, long treacherous walks, and daily humiliations. The story portrays his journey as a broader metaphor: Palestinians are depicted like ants—resilient, resourceful, and constantly forging new paths amid destruction. Despite the obstacles erected to restrict their movement, they adapt, push forward, and continue their lives. The narrative captures the normalization of oppression – what once felt unnatural has become part of everyday reality, yet individuals persist in their struggle for dignity and survival.

If you want to explore this story more with your students, be sure to check out my resource, including pre-reading and guided reading questions as well as lesson slides and station signs.

Graphic Novel Memoir: Persepolis - Marjane Satrapi

Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi is a graphic novel memoir that tells the story of the author’s childhood and early adulthood in Iran during and after the Islamic Revolution. Through stark black-and-white illustrations, Satrapi recounts her experiences growing up in a politically turbulent time, witnessing the fall of the Shah, the rise of the Islamic regime, and the impacts of war and repression on everyday life. The novel explores themes of identity, freedom, and resistance as Marjane struggles to reconcile her modern, progressive upbringing with the increasing restrictions placed on Iranian society. Persepolis offers a deeply personal and powerful look at the effects of political upheaval through the eyes of a young girl.

Novel: A Long Walk to Water - Linda Sue Park

A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park is a powerful novel based on the true story of Salva Dut, a Sudanese boy forced to flee his village during the Sudan civil war. The book follows two parallel narratives: one of Salva’s harrowing journey across Africa as a refugee in the 1980s, and the other of Nya, a young girl in 2008 who spends her days walking long distances to fetch water for her family. As Salva faces loss, hunger, and danger, he eventually finds safety and later returns to Sudan to build wells and provide clean water to villages like Nya’s. The story highlights resilience, hope, and the life-changing impact of access to clean water.

Consider adding some of these narratives to your syllabus this year to help your students learn more about the world and develop their empathy or find connections with people from all kinds of backgrounds.

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