A longtime professor of Ethnic Studies at the University of California at Berkeley, Ronald Takaki wasrecognized as one of the foremost scholars of American ethnic history and diversity. When the first edition ofADifferent Mirrorwas published in 1993,Publishers Weeklycalled it “a brilliant revisionist history of Americathat is likely to become a classic of multicultural studies” and named it one of the ten best books of the year.Now Rebecca Stefoff, who adapted Howard Zinn’s best-sellingA People’s History of the United Statesforyounger readers, turns the updated 2008 edition of Takaki’s multicultural masterwork intoA Different Mirror forYoung People.

Drawing on Takaki’s vast array of primary sources, and staying true to his own words whenever possible,ADifferent Mirror for Young Peoplebrings ethnic history alive through the words of people, including teenagers,who recorded their experiences in letters, diaries, and poems. Like Zinn’sA People’s History, Takaki’sADifferent Mirroroffers a rich and rewarding “people’s view” perspective on the American story.