Immigration Books

Beautifully written, fast-paced, and moving, this book is a winner. Applegate has created a strong, admirable character in Kek, a recent Sudan immigrant to Minnesota, who bravely faces his new and often strange life. An ideal book for class discussions, both young people and adults will also enjoy it as a memorable story. Like many of the best books, it widens my understanding of others while also providing a good story. I'm not surprised it was recommended to me by several friends; I'll be recommending it to many others.

Katherine Applegate's HOME OF THE BRAVE is another novel in verse that will appeal to boys as well as girls. It may help that plenty of middle grade readers already know Applegate from the ANIMORPHS series, but this book has a completely different feel to it.

HOME OF THE BRAVE is about Kek, a Sudanese immigrant who recently arrived in America after witnessing the death of his father and brother. He left his mother behind and wonders every day if she is alive. The poems that explore Kek's emotional state are poignant and accessible to young readers, and the more traumatic scenes are set alongside lighter stories of Kek adapting to life in America and experiencing new things, from snow to washing machines.

This is a kid-friendly story (those who love animals will have an additional connection) that explores a dramatic issue in current events in a manner that is personal, sensitive, and hopeful.

Author Katherine Applegate's novel HOME OF THE BRAVE is memorable and haunting. In spare verse filled with detailed imagery, she introduces us to Kek, an African refugee struggling to come to terms with the loss of his immediate family and his new life in America. On his trip from the airport to the Minneapolis home of his aunt, he spots a tired old cow on a tiny farm. He names the cow, Gol, and she becomes both his link to the past and his hope for the future.

Kek stays in the home of his aunt and his older cousin, Ganwar, who has lost a hand in the fighting in the Sudan. Kek makes new friends: young Hannah (a foster child), an older woman named Lou who owns the cow Gol, and his new ESL teacher, Ms. Hernandez. He refuses to stop hoping that his missing mother will be found, even though his immigration supervisors tell him she is most likely dead.

There are so many things to love about this story. It's very readable and the action moves quickly, so even reluctant readers will find themselves caught in the story. We see America through the heart and mind of a young immigrant. Kek comes alive for us, and soon we are seeing the world through his eyes. He faces both small and large challenges, but he takes action by finding a job on Lou's farm and urging his older, embittered cousin to join him. He helps his friend Hannah reconnect with her lost mother, and ultimately finds a new home for the cow, Gol, when Lou decides to sell her farm.

There are no wasted words in this story. Every page moves the story forward, and every word paints a vivid picture of Kek's world. By the end of the novel, I felt I'd gained a renewed respect for the idea of America as the "home of the brave."

I recommend this story to readers at all levels. Teachers will find many cross-curricular uses for the novel in the classroom. Young readers will enjoy the story on their own as well. The character Ganwar will catch the attention of high school readers, and adults will find this story a rich and meaninful experience. At a time when immigrant issues are much-debated, this novel provides a personal and heart-rending viewpoint that is sure to provoke a thoughtful response.

An outstanding novel, sure to become a classic.

Having been an arrival to this country at age 12, I've always been interested in books that explore questions such as "What is home?" "What does it mean to be a stranger in a new land?" and "How does one begin to belong?"

A novel written in free verse, Home of the Brave is a poignant story about an African war refugee from Sudan named Kek who arrives in the US in the thick of winter in--of all places--Minnesota. His father and brother have been killed, his mother is missing, and he has lost everything about his life that he has ever known. Welcome to America.

From a dry, hot land where he was part of a nomadic herding tribe, Kek has arrived in a freezing cold country where he must not only learn a new language, but also make friends and cultivate hope for his future. Usually the optimist, even Kek feels distraught upon his arrival at his new home
In the course of this tender tale, Kek makes friends--with a neighbor living in foster care, with an old woman who owns a rundown farm, and with an aging cow named Gol (which means "family" in his native language). His relationship with Gol is critical to his sense of belonging--and interestingly, it's one where language is not important.

Through a combination of touching and humorous vignettes (my favorite being the time when he puts his aunt's dishes in the "washing machine," i.e. the laundry!), Applegate allows us to accompany Kek on his journey to find "home." And, isn't that something we all want to find?

Once in a while a children's story comes along that carries you away with lyrical language, an authentic voice, and a story that allows you to make connections much larger than its plot. For me, Home of the Brave did all of the above. I'd highly recommend it as a companion read to Shaun Tan's Arrival, as well as on reading lists that deal with refugees, immigration, and home.

Berlin-based Paul Hockenos offers an insightful review of the powerful pull of diaspora communities in North America. Loaded with cash from successful "Free World" businesses, anti-Communist nationalists with often-outdated mindsets funneled the long green into post-Tito movements that revived their long-suppressed agendas. As such they came to play - as in much of former Soviet Europe - a role out of all proportion to their numbers. In this follow-up to his excellent "Free to Hate" of a decade ago, Hockenos follows the trail - often slimy - of cash and opportunism across the Balkans.

The Berlin-based Hockenos is however not without an apparent agenda of his own. In line with German journalism as a whole Hockenos is staunchly anti-Serb, taking to task those US politicians who came under the thumb of the Serb lobby, ascribing their nuanced view of Balkan realities to this lobby. Although he is critical of Croat and Kosovar lobbying activities, these swipes are largely absent in his account of their efforts in North America.

After all is said, however, it must be remembered that tails do not wag dogs. Studies of more powerful "national" lobbyists - such as AIPAC or the Cuban-National National Foundation - show that funneling money into the right pockets does work. But at the end of the day none of these lobbies has any more power than Washington wants them to. American "equivocating" in Bosnia is demonstrable proof that Hockenos laments, though it's still hard to see how a NATO ground war in Bosnia could have "done anything" but produce a proto-Iraq.

Because of this I reserve the fifth star in this review; but the other four are well-deserved for an interesting look at the blinkered complacency of emigre communities and their oft-disastrous input into devastating, rather than liberating, their ancestral homelands.

"Homeland Calling" by Paul Hockenos records the role that the diasporas played in the Balkans wars in the 1990s. Hockenos' enthusiastic and intriguing account of the individuals that he introduces to the reader rapidly struck a chord. His characters often seem larger than life -the man next door turns out to be a character in a Graham Greene novel, organising underground networks and smuggling arms to support an ethno-national ideal. Hockenos provides a peephole into the workings of these intricate networks and provides an insight into the motivations behind these actions. What of the role of these diasporas in the post-conflict Balkans? Hockenos explores the dilemma of the willingness to support the war, but reluctance to help build the democratic institutions which would ensure a lasting peace.

When I bought this book it was not out of an interest in the Balkans. I bought Homeland Calling due to an interest in the role that exiles and diasporas play in today's conflicts and in today's globalised world, particularly relating to the research I am conducting into the conflicts in Africa and the role of diasporas in these conflict. Not only has Hockenos shed some considerable light on the mechanisms of the diaspora machine, but he has also cured an allergy for anything Balkan.

I can highly recommend this book to those interested in diasporas, in the Balkans, in the dynamics of support networks for today's conflicts, or simply as a really good read.

Hockenos does an excellent job investigating the diaspora communities outside of the former Yugoslavia which were so instrumental in affecting the region. The depth of access is impressive. Hockenos makes solid connections between the diaspora communities and the former Yugoslavia, both contemporarily, during the Second World War and inter alia. This subject was just waiting to be written on, other writers of the region have temptingly made passing references but Hockenos packeged it all up. Although Hockenos made a valid disclaimer concerning objectivity and bias he obviously has strong feeling about nationalism and his own views of what happened in the former Yugoslavia are apparent. The intent of the book was as much an indictment of nationalist diaspora communities as it was an analysis. Hockenos is clearly hostile to the Croat nationalists and sympathetic to the Kosovars. However, here he is in multitudinal company and I don't think Hockenos, himself, would shy away from an anti-nationalist moniker. A deeper investigation of the Serb communities in Western Europe and the Croat communites in South America would add much to an already good work.

Beyond being a lively and dramatic account of the variety of expatriot politics within the different Croat, Serb, and Kosovar diasporas -- and between them and their homelands -- "Homeland Calling" explains much of the fractious politics within and between the remnant units of Yugoslavia; and it deftly touches on critical Euro-American policy making as well. Hockenos' concise and well-placed summaries of both remote and recent historical events set the stage for understanding the first-hand accounts of key participants' maneuvers that he so carefully weaves into his text. "Homeland Calling" goes a long way toward clarifying the complexities of a crucial decade of Balkan politics and war.

My 8-year-old daughter was assigned this book at school. She read it in about an hour and said "It's the best book I ever read in my life." She's prone to exaggeration but she's also read a lot of great books.

I LIKE IT IT WAS A SWEET STORY AND SAD BUT IT WAS GOOD

"Hope in My Heart: Sofia's Immigrant Diary, Book One" is an interesting start to an immigration diary series in My America. I've read a few Ellis Island immigration related stories before (not too many), but never have I read one about the bribery incidences and detained immigrants on Ellis Island. It's so sad to think that foreigners who were coming to America for a better life were only to be greeted by evil, conniving, and thief-like people disguised as doctors, nurses, and other authoritative individuals. This book shows the frustration non-English speaking people experienced, and how they were treated as infants and senile people, in hopes of taking their belongs and sending them back to their homeland over supposed medical diseases. Kathryn Lasky wrote this wisely, leaving much to be desired about Sofia and her family, and I look forward to the sequel books. I recommend.

Nine-year-old Sofia Monari and her family have left Italy and traveled to America in hopes of finding a better life. But on Ellis Island, their trouble begins. Sofia is suspected of having a contagious disease and is separated from her family and sent to live in quarantine. There, she finds nightmarish conditions and longs to be reunited with her parents, sister, and brothers. As the weeks go by, she wonders if she will be trapped in quarantine forever, even though she was never sick to begin with. When another girl her age, an Irish immigrant named Maureen, comes to live in quarantine, Sofia makes a friend. Maureen's friendship gives Sofia the strength she needs to make it through this separation from her family, but will she ever see them again? I recommend this new book to fans of the My America series.

The life of an immigrant child was harsh. Russell Freedman accomplished his goal of showing how difficult an immigrant's life was through the use of descriptive words and photographs that make you thankful that you do not have to live like immigrant children of the past. The photographs captured our attention. Our fourth grade teacher shared this book with us. It helped us to learn about the conditions immigrants had to live under. We highly recommend this book!

This wonderful non-fiction book will be a hit with students at the 4th-6th grade level. The real life pictures of immigrant children in the neighborhoods of New York during the late 1800's and early 1900's that appear on almost every page of the book should hold the interest of even the most reluctant readers. However, while the reading itself is not too difficult for most 4th-6th grade students, much of the vocabulary explaining the era of that time will be unfamiliar to them so covering this book as a read-aloud may be most beneficial. Immigrant Kids provides a wonderful way to introduce students to immigration in the past and show how it has changed over time. It lends itself well to a discussion in history class on the various cultures that became part of the giant "mixing pot" we now call our country. Because this book is set in New York it can further be used to teach about the city of New York and its early beginnings. Possibly the one thing that will interest students the most about this book is that it is written from the perspective of children like themselves. Overall the historical content of this book is very well defined and accurate and the photograph driven text provides readers with a very non-threatening approach to information books. It is a must read in any 4th-6th grade history curriculum and can work as a wonderful addition to a reading curriculum when used in accompaniment with other books both fictional and factual dealing with the topic of immigration.

If your family came to America 100 years ago, what was life like for them? Newbery Medalist Russell Freedman provides insights which pair with vintage black and white photos to describe work challenges, living conditions and more. The blend of visual and history will appeal to elementary grades 3-5, but many an older reader will find it equally unusual & compelling.

What a wonderful tribute to our country and to those people that left all they had, to join us here! The pictures and stories are amazing!

I think the average immigrant in America today may not
have a lot of time to read because of the demands of
making a living. But to appreciate the immigrant
experience, there is nothing like understanding the
ideas that made this country evolve the way it has.
This means that he must take the time even for just a
few minutes a day to read, read, read - even in tiny
doses at regular intervals.

Highly focused, meaningful reading can be done by
reading quotations. This book has selected the best
thoughts put into words by great men.

This quote book is just right for those with little
time to spare. It is also perfect for older children,
even teen-agers in immigrant communities who are just
beginning to figure out their roles in life.

I think every library in America should have this book
on its shelves together with "The Complete Success
Guide for the Immigrant Life", a book which The New
York Times" has called a "remarkable new book."

I feel like I came out a better person because of it. Brilliant!

a charmingly witty compilation of quotes from the wise for all to enjoy.

I'm drawn to quotations. They speak to the soul, provide guidance in good times and bad, and give glimpses into the past. I have built a collection over the years, which I carry with me each workday. What pulled me especially to Ms. Maglaya's book was a quote cited on the back, The wisdom of the wise and the experience of the ages are perpetuated by quotations (Disraeli). I couldn't have said it better.

This is a companion book to Ms. Maglaya's *The Complete Success Guide for the Immigrant Life.* Scan it and you quickly realize that, like The Success Guide, the quotes she selected are useful to everyone, not just immigrants. Those looking to immigrate to America, along with those already here, will find this book particularly useful for the insights it gives to significant parts of our cultural heritage. Everyone will find wisdom and practicality in these quotations. Some quotes will make you smile; many will make you pause and think.

So, good show, Ms. Maglaya! This little book is a winner.

Novakovich is that kind of writer who gets under your skin right from the start. These stories take us to a world poorly understood by most Americans (Croatia, Bosnia, Serbia) and welcome us into the tragedy and struggles facing that world. The marvel of Novakovich's writing is his ability to find humor and immense humanity in this war-torn landscape. And the man, himself, is as engaging as his writing. I'm looking forward to an upcoming story about an encounter on a certain bridge in St. Petersburg:)

INFIDELITIES: STORIES OF WAR AND LUST is an apt title for not only this book, but for what war does--whether that war is in Bosnia or Croatia, in our own neighborhoods, and even more, in our own hearts. I am reminded through Josip Novakovich's crisp language and haunting landscapes what we all hold in common--what love and lust and longing and sorrow does to us; what it will lead us to do to ourselves and others. I've found through his other books that his stories stay with me, and I find myself contemplating them on some long car ride. He is a master storyteller and these stories are some of his best!

In Infidelities, Josip Novakovich has managed to scrape away the excesses of the English language so that it emerges essential, renewed and more powerful than the language we have become accustomed to reading in American writers. His book is for those who have strayed, even for the briefest moment, from their own parochial comfort. For those who, after a long absence from their culture of origin, have heard their own language spoken by strangers, Novakovich's writing will resonate, perhaps to the point of being their first link back to reality. Finally, for all of us who work with those children of Bosnia who cannot tell their own story, here is a reliable, eloquent voice.
Novakovich makes us wonder whether all of our alliances, physical, spiritual and political, are not purely arbitrary. He makes us wonder in whom and in what we will be truly believe when we find ourselves in a life-threatening situation.

The stories in Infidelities entwine the themes of war and lust, showing how people cope with the reality of tragedy by seeking out relationships, however fleeting, passionate or even destructive. Novakovich illustrates this predominantly through the wars dividing the Balkans, as well as through the refugees, Serbs, Croats, and Muslims, coming together in immigrant neighborhoods in the States. One of the most poignant stories in the collection is "59th Parallel," about a man riding the New York City subway in the aftermath of 9/11. Whether the theme be war or merely the tragedy of growing old, each story reins chaos to get to the deepest, lowest, moment of the characters' desiring, wanting to do what's right and failing to, flailing for reason, losing all sense of it, and maybe for just a moment feeling that there's a reason for being. In the story "Tchaikovsky's Bust," a married man is distraught over not pursuing a beautiful woman's advances and discovers contentment in his three-year-old daughter's passion for life. Novakovich infuses each story with new and startling perception and the urgency of lost time, staying true to life when life is marked by transformation which needs to be shared with other people if for no other reason than to look back and laugh.

Many of the characters in Infidelities want the unattainable; they want to be free of pain, or worse, painful memories, to feel new, or at least whole again. A heart transplant is the subject of "A Purple Story," in which a man who's low on time tries to bribe his way to the front of a long waiting list. In "Snow Powder," a young boy who becomes chummy with a camp of soldiers is given the chance to get revenge on the kids who tease him. There's an innocence to the protagonists in these stories, a humorous, gentle quality that makes them sympathetic - heightening the suspense. My pulse raced reading "The Stamp." A teenage assassin, a boy, clutching his grenade a second too long, botches his mission and is thrown in prison where he begs for forgiveness.

The growing tension and release in Novakovich's writing about war and lust - the moans, the rage, the sweat, and even the silence - blend in a symphony of raw emotion that is powerful enough to cross boarders. In the opening story "Spleen," a Croatian man and woman living in Ohio meet at a barbeque and their courting quickly turns sexual in a war of mixed feelings: the familiarities of home and the painful memories - the possibility that he's the man who attacked her just before she left - makes their casual sex hateful and unnerving and profoundly intense. The stories in Infidelities read like anecdotes you could hear told again and again, laughing harder at what was then and appreciating the truth they impart more every time.

I had this book recommended to me by someone in one of my genealogical mailing lists.

I highly recommend it.

There is much to be written about the Irish in Philadelphia and this book certainly goes into great detail about the emigrants. It tells the conditions of the city, famillies and how they lived, worked, died. I have read it several times and will read it again and again.

A family member in Northern Ireland picked up my book and read bits of it while visiting. I was asked to get a copy for them to take back to Ireland as they wanted to know more about the emigrants and their lives after they left the old country.

This was a very informative book about how the Irish in Philadelphia affected the city, and how the old establishment of the city was able to keep the Philadlephia Irish from gaining the same political power as those from New York and Boston. It is not a very easy read, due to the fact that it contains many facts and figures, but is nonetheless a very informative work about the forgotten Irish-Americans of Philadelphia, and why they were forgotten.

The thing I most liked most about this book was that the author went into detail about the conditions of life in Ireland for these people. Whether they came before the famine or after, these folks didn't just get off the boat and become Americans. They brought with them a rich culture and way of life. If you are Irish and from Philadelphia, this book will mean something to you.

This book is part of a series of Immigrants Chronicles from Cook Communications and is based on the real-life stories of my great-grandmother, Elisa Bolli Buffat, and other French-Swiss immigrants who settled in East Tennessee in the mid 1800's. In the story Elisa, 11, and her sisters and brother move from Brazil, where their father is Swiss consul, to Knoxville, TN, to be near relatives. Not only must they learn to speak English and make new friends, but they suffer through the illness and death of their father. As the family learns to farm and make their way in the new country, Elisa learns that even during times of great loss our faith and God's comfort can give us hope for the future. I felt very close to my great-grandmother as I read her memoirs and created this story about her life, and I hope readers will find encouragement and strength in God's faithfulness to all generations. Read the story to find out how Elisa's search for her mother's wedding veil brings her hope, too!

Because their father was the Swiss consulate there, Elisa Bolli and her four siblings -- a brother and three sisters -- grew up in Brazil. But in the spring of 1853, when Elisa is twelve, her father's health begins to deteriorate. Elisa's parents decide that the family will move to Tennessee so that they can be near their relatives, who immigrated there from Switzerland several years ago. Elisa and her siblings manage to adjust quickly to their new life on a Tennessee farm. However, Papa's health does not improve, but only worsens. How will the family manage to go on when he dies?

This was a good historical novel and a sweet family story for young readers, based on the life of the author's great-grandmother, Elisa Bolli, and her family. Elisa is a wonderful character whose relationships with her parents and siblings are very realistically portrayed. Readers who enjoy historical fiction about immigrants, or a sweet family story, will most likely enjoy this book.

I purchased this book for my 9 yo daughter and thought I'd preview it first. I must say that I LOVED IT!! The story line is engaging and the main characters are well-developed. It's simply a great story and one that I'll remember in years to come.

Through the challenging events of their life (their move to America and the death of the father), the characters grow in the virtues of faith, hope, and love. They become stronger people who know that they must rely on God.

My only reservation about the book is the suggested reading level (8 - 12 years old). I would recommend an older audience. My daughter (age 9) would be able to read the book as it's her reading level, but she hasn't had enough life experience to fully appreciate the whole story. I'll wait another year or two before I give it to her.

Elisa's father is the Swiss consul in Brazil, and Elisa has lived in Brazil all her life. She is surprised when her father announces his intention to move to America so the family could be near relatives. But Elisa knows the real reason. Her father's health has never been good, and so they immigrate in hopes that he will recover. Elisa is sad to leave her home, but she is also excited about her new life.
At first things seem to finally be turning out all right at last, when Elisa's father's condition worsens. And when he dies, Elisa and her family are struck with grief. Will Elisa ever learn to live without her father? And when Elisa has a bad fall and injures her elbow, will her arm ever be the same again? Find out in this heart-warming book!

This has got to be one of my all-time favorite books. My mom got it for my birthday once because my name is Elisa also. I loved this book so much that I coaxed my mom into getting me the entire series, which are just as good as this one. My suggestion is to read them all!!!

Primary sources the plenty with this book. The text might be too advanced for an elementary classroom but that doesn't matter because the foldouts and pictures that come with it accurately describe life then. Seriously buy this book, you can use it in so many ways or even if you are just interested in history.

I love this book! I first saw it several years ago but didn't have the money to buy it. Then I wished later I had bought it (this was before Amazon came along). Thank goodness for Amazon because now I have this wonderful book! It's an "interactive" book, with pull-outs like a sample of what a letter from Ireland to the US was like, and a sample of a ticket at Ellis Island. That sort of thing. It's interesting! All Celtophiles should have this book!

The book is a treasure. The love and care are evident in its making with all the little nooks and crannies filled with surprises for the reader. The authors return to you more than poetry and information, they surprise you with gifts on just about every page. Delightful.

This is a great book to get for yourself or for anyone interested in a quick but very compelling read about the history of immigration from Ireland to America. I'd particularly recommend it for young readers, as it contains a wide assortment of compelling pull-out letters and other "souvenirs" showing everyday items from and about those brave immigrants who left behind their homeland, its poverty, and starvation for a more hopeful (though far from easy) life in America.

An excellent book teaching students and children differences and similarities of culture. My students love it! Fun and well written. The ending is touching.

I was telling my sister-in-law about a friend's child who just started a new school and is having a hard time. My sister-in-law knew about this book and suggested I get it for my friend. She loved it! After she read it to her son, it opened up a whole discussion on what would be the same and different at his new school, and how the differences don't have to be bad. He really responded well. I read it, too, and I have to say, after just starting a new job, I found myself laughing at how appropriate this children's book is to my life. You may miss friends and things from the past, but you can learn a lot from new experiences. Ms. Miller's students are lucky to have her as a teacher.

Just Like Home is unlike any other book I've ever encountered for ESL and Bilingual curriculum. It's patterned, alternating format is perfectly designed for English and Spanish language learners alike.

It is moving, engaging, and an honest account of the challenges and joys faced by every child who is faced with two cultures or two languages.

It is a must read!

I just received an early edition of this wonderful children's book.

This eloquently written and beautifully illustrated children's book effectively describes what it is like for a child to move to a new place.

While this book is about a girl who moves to a new country, it can be used to help any child who is faced with moving to a new place and adapting to a different life.

The writing is fast-paced and kept my young child interested. And the pictures are colorful; they really help to tell this story.

Since the book is in Spanish and English, it is a great teaching tool for ESL classes and Spanish classes alike. And the well-thought-out glossary in the back of the book makes it an effective study book for an English class.

I could not find any other children's books by the brilliant author, Elizabeth I. Miller, so I'm guessing that this is her first book. My son and I can't wait to see what she comes up with next