How do stories help us respect and cross borders of identity, place, and culture? And once we’ve crossed a border, what do we do with that newfound empathy?

Borders protect our identity, our place, and our culture. But they can also isolate us from the opportunity to give and receive help and understanding from others. To talk about that, we brought together two novelists: Mitali Perkins and Samuel Parker.

Samuel is the author of Border Son, Purgatory Road, and Coldwater. Besides writing, Samuel is a process junkie and the ex-guitarist for several metal bands you’ve never heard of.

Mitali has written twelve novels for young readers, including You Bring the Distant Near (nominated for the National Book Award, Walter Award honor book), Rickshaw Girl (chosen by the New York Public Library as one of the top 100 books for children in the past 100 years), and Bamboo People (American Library Association’s Top Ten Novels for Young Adults). Mitali was born in Kolkata, India before immigrating to the United States. She has lived in Bangladesh, India, England, Thailand, Mexico, Cameroon, and Ghana.

​Part 1

Part 2