As part of our educational and outreach programs, ALIRP has hosted several book club events. The goal of these events is to share the stories of those who have been displaced and live every day as a refugee or asylum seeker and to reflect on what this means for our community and the current issues of the day. These books are chosen to spark conversation, build empathy, and bring attention to important issues.

In the past, we’ve hosted book clubs at libraries, coffee shops, and even online. If you are interested in joining us or having us host a book club for you and your friends, subscribe to our book club mailing list or email the committee at [email protected]. 

    Join the ALIRP Book Club Mailing list

Download the ALIRP Book Club Discussion Guides

Coming Soon!  A discussion guide featuring four of our favorite books!  --  The Ungrateful Refugee, Solito, Outcasts United, and When Stars Are Scattered.  Join our mailing list to be the first to be notified when it gets published.  

Additional Reading Guides: 
  • Inside Out and Back Again by Thanhha Lai is a story about a Vientmese refugee resettled to Alabama in the 1970's. This reading guide provides some discussion questions as well as an information sheet about Vietnamese Refugee Resettlement in the US and Alabama (Click here to download). 

Previous ALIRP Book Club Events & Reading Guides

We have held several public book club events at Domestique Coffee in Homewood. We love to support Birmingham businesses and Alabama writers and stories. 

In 2023, we held a book club discussion for Outcasts United, a the true story of a youth soccer team in Clarkston, Georgia, made up of refugee boys from around the world with guest speaker and author Warren St. John.  And fun fact, Warren St. John was born in Birmingham, AL

In 2024, we partnered with UAB Global Health Service Learning program to host and direct a book club event for Thanhha Lai's Inside Out & Back Again, a novel capturing a young girl's poignant journey from war-torn Vietnam to Alabama, where she battles loss, prejudice, and the challenge of 'fitting in'. To learn more about Vietnamese Resettlement in Alabama, download the reading guide by clicking here. 
All photos are property of the ALIRP. 
On June 1, 2022, the ALIRP Education and Advocacy Committee held a virtual book club on Zoom for International Children's Day, which was co-sponsored by the Literacy Council of Central Alabama, UAB Institute of Human Rights, UAB Sparkman Center for Global Health, the Birmingham Islamic Society, and Helping Hand for Relief and Development. 
Video Highlight: 
  • One of the guest speakers, Agok Ayuen was born in the same refugee camp featured in this story.  
On Oct 12, 2021, the ALIRP Education Committee had another virtual book discussion to discuss the book, Somewhere in the Unknown World: A collective Refugee Memoir by Kao Kalie Yan. The discussion was facilitated by Board Member, Karina Cortes.