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Book Reviews

Mai Ya's Long Journey

Author: Sheila Cohen

This true story of a young Hmong girl and her family's journey from a refugee camp in Thailand to life in Madison, Wisconsin was written by the main character's own ESL teacher. Mai Ya Xiong-now 25 years old and the first college graduate in her family-spent her first seven years trapped in Thailand after her parents narrowly escaped from Laos. Her father had fought against Communists in a secret army developed by the United States Central Intelligence Agency. Life in Wisconsin challenged the young immigrant girl to keep a balance between her Hmong culture and American ways. The biography includes a concise look at Hmong animist beliefs, traditions and customs that date back 5,000 years. Photographs of Mai Ya growing up illustrate her story and corroborate an already authentic account. Mai Ya Xiong exemplifies the "can-do" attitude Americans have come to revere in immigrant stories. The book, complete with timelines, glossary, index, appendix and reading group guidelines, enables students to experience Mai Ya's contemporary journey in its historical context.

Year Released: 2004

Grades 4-7

Dreaming of America: An Ellis Island Story

Author: Eve Bunting

Teenage Annie Moore and her two younger brothers sail from Cobh, Ireland to be reunited with their parents who had emigrated to America three years earlier. Arriving in New York Harbor, Annie would be the first immigrant to be processed at Ellis Island on January 1, 1892, her fifteenth birthday. To commemorate this event, matching statues of Annie and her brothers stand at the quay in Cobh Harbor and on Ellis Island. Dreaming of America is a fictionalized account of Annie's journey to America. Through Annie's story, Eve Bunting-an Irish immigrant herself- explores the hopes and fears of millions of others, who like Annie, made their homes here and helped shape our nation.

Year Released: 2000

Grades 4-6

The Journey That Saves Curious George

Author: Louise Borden

Louise Borden gives a fascinating account of the journey the authors of Curious George made when the Nazis invaded France. H.A. Rey and his wife Margret, who were both Jewish, made their escape with the only means of transportation available to them- bicycles. Forced to travel light, the Reys packed a few belongings as well as the manuscripts of their books, including "The Adventures of Fifi", later to be renamed "Curious George". This manuscript was with them as their journey led them to the United States, which became their refuge and permanent home. This exciting author study is complemented by a combination of photographs of the Reys, illustrations from H.A. Rey's children's books, and original illustrations in the style of H. A. Rey by Allan Drummond.

Year Released: 2005

Grades 4-7

Lupita Mañana

Author: Patricia Beatty

Following family tragedy in Mexico, Lupita and her brother, Salvador illegally smuggle themselves into the United States in order to find work to support their mother and siblings. Lupita soon discovers that America is not necessarily the land of hope and opportunity that she had expected it to be. Together, brother and sister face hard labor, the challenge of learning a new language, and the looming presence of "La Migra"-the immigration police. Although each day is trying, this resilient young woman maintains the belief that tomorrow (or "mañana") will be a better day. While Lupita Mañana explores familiar immigration issues such as learning a new language and feeling like an outsider, it also does something different by addressing illegal immigration from the perspective of a young Mexican girl. This book could serve as a great prompt for classroom discussions and would make a good addition to any classroom library.

Year Released: 1981

Grades 4-8

Ashes of Rose

Author: Mary Jane Auch

Ashes of Rose begins with the Nolan family's arrival at Ellis Island. Rose Nolan, her parents, and two of her three siblings are permitted to enter the country, but her baby brother is refused entry for medical reasons. Rose's father and brother return to Ireland while Rose and the rest of her family stay in New York. The family tries to adjust to life in the United States, but eventually Mrs.Nolan returns to Ireland, leaving just Rose and her younger sister, Maureen, in New York. The rest of the novel tells the story of the girls' experiences living and working in New York. The novel brings in many historical elements, including the infamous fire at the Triangle Shirt Waist Factory, to tell a realistic story of working-class immigrant life in early twentieth-century New York. The reading level makes this book appropriate for middle-school students, while the interest-level makes it suitable for high-school students as well. TESOL students may recognize parts of the story that are familiar even to modern-day immigrants.

Year Released: 2002

Grades 5-8

How Tia Lola Came to Stay

Author: Julia Alvarez

When Miguel's eccentric Aunt Lola comes to visit from the Dominican Republic, he instantly knows that his life is never going to be the same. Struggling with his parents' divorce and a recent move to rural Vermont from New York City, he is not sure that he needs a nutty aunt to add to his already chaotic life. However, he soon realizes that his flamboyant and colorful aunt is just what he needs to spice up his life and bring his family together. How Tia Lola Came to Stay is an uplifting and humorous story that upper elementary students will enjoy. Through Julia Alvarez's beautiful descriptions of Tia Lola's exotic cooking, lively music, and vibrant storytelling, the reader will be captivated and entertained while learning about Caribbean culture. Possible discussion themes include: family, divorce, tolerance, culture and immigration.

Year Released: 2001

Grades 4-8

Sixteen Years in Sixteen Seconds--The Sammy Lee Story

Author: Paula Yoo

This true story is an inspiration. At age twelve, Sammy Lee, the son of Korean American immigrants, sets a lofty goal of winning an Olympic gold medal in diving. Sammy faces formidable odds including limited access to the public pool due to restrictions for people of color. While Sammy's father reminds him that, "In America, you can achieve anything if you set your heart to it," he encourages Sammy to limit his diving practice and set his sights instead on becoming a doctor. While in a US Army medical school program, Sammy receives permission to take time out at age twenty-eight to train for the 1948 Olympic diving team. All of Sammy's Olympic dreams come down to an incredible sixteen second dive that wins him the gold medal. The exquisite illustrations enhance this compelling story and the author's note provides fascinating background information to enhance the telling of the emotional journey of young Sammy Lee.

Year Released: 2005

Grades K-5

When I First Came to This Land

Author: Oscar Brand

Many baby boomers will remember joyfully singing Oscar Brand's folksong, "When I First Came to this Land," in primary school. Harriet Ziefert's story version, paired with Caldecott Award-Winner Simms Taback's lively illustrations, introduces this simple immigration story to another generation of children. The repetitive language and humorous illustrations should appeal to students as they follow the adventures of a typical nineteenth-century immigrant pursuing the American dream.

Year Released: 1998

Grades K-3

Coolies

Author: Yin

During the Ching Ming festival to honor their ancestors, Paw Paw (grandmother) tells her young grandson the story of her great-grandfather Shek and his younger brother, Wong. Anxious to find work during desperate times in China, the boys leave their family behind and emigrate to America in the mid nineteenth century. After a difficult two- month voyage, the two arrive in San Francisco and are hired by the Central Pacific Railroad Company to build tracks towards the east. Enduring dangerous working conditions, primitive equipment, hatred, and prejudice, the two become "coolies," the lowly workers who achieved the amazing feat of building the Transcontinental Railroad. Told through the personal story of two brothers, the book explores themes of family loyalty, courage, and sacrifice which are integral to our nation's immigrant history. Illustrated with panoramic paintings, Coolies will inform and inspire young readers.

Year Released: 2001

Grades 4-5

Coming to America: A Muslim Family's Story

Author: Bernard Wolf

The photo-essay Coming to America: A Muslim Family's Story is a brightly-photographed, realistic portrayal of a family's arrival in the United States from Egypt. The father arrives first, after winning a, "Green card lottery" offered to Egyptians who want to work in America. He works long hours as a grocer in Queens, N.Y. until he's able to bring his family. Text and beautiful, bright color photographs let the reader share the experiences of eight-year-old Rowan Mahmoud and her family once they all arrive. The photos capture the family at home, in school, and at the mosque. Their religion is an integral part of their life, but school, television, and playing with friends take up most of their time. We see the children in American schools with American teachers and schoolwork, but then return home to their Muslim and Egyptian traditions. Particularly useful in the classroom is the way Wolf tackles immigration issues for both adults and children: the hardships of learning a new language, the economic problems of finding an appropriate job, and homesickness. At a time when many Muslim and Arab families in the U.S. feel subject to discriminatory governmental regulations and public attitudes, this book is especially germane.

Year Released: 2003

Grades 2-5