In addition to its 50 states, the U.S. is currently a stakeholder in several regions in the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea. These regions make up today's American territories.
Though they do not receive representation and full benefits as recognized states, these territories still fall under U.S. federal jurisdiction.
When we think of the Americas, we cannot forget these territories and the indigenous voices they hold.
Today, all U.S. territories and freely associated states include:
Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau.
Below you will find a range of writing composed by (and some about) authors native to these territories. All hyperlinked titles can be found in the Menlo Library.
Puerto Rico
Blazewrath Games (novel) by Amparo Ortiz
Felices Días Tío Sergio (novel) by Magali García Ramis
La Borinqueña (graphic novel) by Edgardo Miranda
Mendoza's Dreams (short stories) by Edgardo Vega Yunqué
Virgin Islands
King and the Dragonflies (novel) by Kacen Callender
The Lesson (novel) by Cadwell Turnbull
How to Escape from a Leper Colony (short stories) by Tiphanie Yanique
Broo 'Nansi and Sis Iwana (novel) by Yohance Henley
Samoa
Scar of the Bamboo Leaf (novel) by Sieni A. Moghbelpour
Where We Once Belonged (novel) by Sia Figiel
Birth and Death of the Miracle Man and Other Stories (short stories) by Albert Wendt
What We Are (novel) by Peter Nathaniel Malae
Mariana Islands
Micronesia
Guam
Secret Shopper (novel) by Tanya Taimanglo
Marshall Islands
Palau
Puerto Rico
When I Was a Puerto Rican by Esmeralda Santiago
Fantasy Island: Colonialism, Exploitation, and the Betrayal of Puerto Rico by Ed Morales
Virgin Islands
Race Relations in the U.S. Virgin Islands: St. Thomas - a Centennial Retrospective by Marilyn Krigger
St. John People: Stories about St. John Residents by St. John Residents
Samoa
From Samoa With Love?: Retracing the Footsteps edited by Hilke Thode-Arora
Tamaitai Samoa: Their Stories by Peggy Fairbairn-Dunlop
Tala o le Vavau. Myths, Legends and Customs of Old Samoa
Mariana Islands
The Rope of Tradition: Reflections of a Saipan Carolinian by Lino M. Olopai
Micronesia
Nest in the Wind: Adventures in Anthropology on a Tropical Island by Martha C. Ward
Guam
No Country for Eight-Spot Butterflies: A Lyric Essay by Julian Aguon (coming to the Menlo Library collection soon)
Marshall Islands
Palau
Being a Palauan by H.G. Barnett
Puerto Rico
The Last Puerto Rican Indian: A Collection of Dangerous Poetry by Bobby González
While They Sleep (Under the Bed Is Another Country) by Raquel Salas Rivera
Virgin Islands
Epiphaneia by Richard Georges
Wife by Tiphanie Yanique
Writing on Roots by Biko McMillan
Yellow Cedars Blooming: An Anthology of Virgin Islands Poetry edited by Marvin E. Williams
Samoa
From Mānoa to a Ponsonby Garden by Albert Wendt
Wild Dogs under My Skirt by Tusiata Avia
Dream Fish Floating by Karlo Mila
Mariana Islands
Micronesia
Guam
From Unincorporated Territory [åmot] by Craig Santos Perez (coming to the Menlo Library collection soon)
Marshall Islands
Palau
Microchild: An Anthology of Poetry by Valentine Sengebau
New York Times: "The America That Americans Forget"
Center for Writing Fiction: Interview with Virgin Island author, Tiphanie Yanique