Xenophobia is defined as: “the dislike of or prejudice against people from other countries,” which has sadly shaped societies for centuries. It is this irrational fear that has fueled policies, conflicts, and everyday injustices, and it is something we see every single day … Despite the lessons we (should have) learned from history, these prejudices remain deeply ingrained today, influencing everything from immigration laws to social divisions and acts of violence.
Literature — the good, bad, and sometimes ugly — helps us recognize these issues, and by challenging these biases and amplifying the voices of those affected, we can see the far-reaching consequences of xenophobia.
These 7 unforgettable books offer us valuable insight into the enduring power of exclusion and the strength required to resist it …
They Called Us Enemy by George Takei
Takei’s graphic memoir recounts his childhood in a Japanese American internment camp during World War II. His firsthand account of mass incarceration, which was sanctioned by a government driven by paranoia, serves as a stark reminder of how easily fear turns into persecution. The book connects past injustices to ongoing discrimination against marginalized communities today.
Buy it on Amazon
All My Rage by Sabaa Tahir
This novel follows Pakistani American teenagers struggling with grief, family expectations, and the realities of being Muslim in a post-9/11 world. Tahir exposes the daily impact of xenophobia, from racial profiling to economic hardship, while also addressing how generational trauma and cultural identity shape a person’s sense of belonging.
The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver
Set in the Belgian Congo, this novel follows a missionary family whose rigid beliefs and refusal to understand local customs reflect a colonial mindset built on superiority and fear. Kingsolver critiques the way Western arrogance breeds xenophobia, leading to cultural erasure, exploitation, and conflict.
Study for Obedience by Sarah Bernstein
When a woman moves to a remote community, she is met with suspicion and hostility, her Jewish identity marking her as an outsider. As she becomes the target of unspoken fears and collective blame, the novel explores how societies isolate and scapegoat those who don’t fit their norms. Bernstein’s eerie, atmospheric storytelling lays bare the weight of inherited prejudice and the pressure to conform.
Our Missing Hearts by Celeste Ng
In a dystopian America where anti-Asian policies are normalized, a boy searches for his mother, a dissident poet forced into hiding. Ng’s novel draws eerie parallels to real-world censorship, xenophobic rhetoric, and policies that frame immigrants as threats. The story highlights how easily societies justify oppression in the name of security.
Middle England by Jonathan Coe
Set against the backdrop of Brexit, Middle England explores the fractures within British society as nationalist sentiment rises and xenophobia fuels political division. Coe’s sharp, often satirical novel examines how fear of the “other” seeps into everyday conversations, reshapes personal relationships, and drives a country toward cultural and social upheaval.
Tastes Like War by Grace M. Cho
Cho’s memoir unpacks her mother’s experience as a Korean immigrant in a predominantly white town, where racism and isolation take a devastating toll on her mental health. By weaving together personal history and social commentary, Cho reveals how xenophobia doesn’t just alienate — it erodes a person’s sense of self, often with lifelong consequences.
How many of these books have you read? Do you have any other book recommendations on the topic that I may have missed? If so, leave me a comment and let me know! 😉
