Annotated Bibliography
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American Born Chinese
· Gene Luen Yang
· 2006
· Graphic Novel/legends and myths
· High school (grades 9-12)
· Michael L. Printz Award
American Born Chinese is centered on the themes of the plight of immigrant children, and the home that they create. This is specifically examined in the story plot around Jin Wang, since he is the example of a foreign (though not immigrant) child who struggles with fitting in and being accepted in his new “home”—a culture that is foreign and even hostile to his. Jin’s story does not focus on his physical home, but instead builds on the idea of accepting his unique identity—a crucial step as immigrant children become comfortable in their new country.
American Born Chinese presents an interesting and unique lens for looking at children’s cultural assimilation process by combining Jin’s story with the traditional Monkey King story. This book would be great for an Asian-American audience, as they might be able to relate more, understand the cultural or historical references, and find Yang’s inferences and techniques funnier than other children might. However, the novel can also open children’s eyes to the experience immigrant or foreign children go through.
· Gene Luen Yang
· 2006
· Graphic Novel/legends and myths
· High school (grades 9-12)
· Michael L. Printz Award
American Born Chinese is centered on the themes of the plight of immigrant children, and the home that they create. This is specifically examined in the story plot around Jin Wang, since he is the example of a foreign (though not immigrant) child who struggles with fitting in and being accepted in his new “home”—a culture that is foreign and even hostile to his. Jin’s story does not focus on his physical home, but instead builds on the idea of accepting his unique identity—a crucial step as immigrant children become comfortable in their new country.
American Born Chinese presents an interesting and unique lens for looking at children’s cultural assimilation process by combining Jin’s story with the traditional Monkey King story. This book would be great for an Asian-American audience, as they might be able to relate more, understand the cultural or historical references, and find Yang’s inferences and techniques funnier than other children might. However, the novel can also open children’s eyes to the experience immigrant or foreign children go through.
![Picture](/uploads/4/0/1/4/40140283/3591006.jpg?227)
The
Wall: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain
· Peter Sís
· 2007
· Autobiography
· Upper elementary (grades 3-5)
· Caldecott Honor Award
The Wall is Peter Sis’ autobiography of his life growing up in Czechoslovakia before immigrating to the United States, shedding light on what life is like for those before they take the step of immigration. It is not specifically about his immigrant experience, but understanding the setting and background that pushed him to move away is just as important. The Wall helps explain the home that he had before moving to the United States.
The Wall works well in relation and comparison to several of the chapter books like Esperanza Rising, Is It Night or Day?, and I Lived on Butterfly Hill because they contain the similar theme of leaving a country due to political turmoil. However, as a children’s book, The Wall presents a more playful and creative look at political unrest, yet is still non-fictional in some ways because of its autobiographical nature.
· Peter Sís
· 2007
· Autobiography
· Upper elementary (grades 3-5)
· Caldecott Honor Award
The Wall is Peter Sis’ autobiography of his life growing up in Czechoslovakia before immigrating to the United States, shedding light on what life is like for those before they take the step of immigration. It is not specifically about his immigrant experience, but understanding the setting and background that pushed him to move away is just as important. The Wall helps explain the home that he had before moving to the United States.
The Wall works well in relation and comparison to several of the chapter books like Esperanza Rising, Is It Night or Day?, and I Lived on Butterfly Hill because they contain the similar theme of leaving a country due to political turmoil. However, as a children’s book, The Wall presents a more playful and creative look at political unrest, yet is still non-fictional in some ways because of its autobiographical nature.
![Picture](/uploads/4/0/1/4/40140283/8653017.jpg?163)
Grandfather’s Journey
· Allen Say
· 1993
· Historical fiction
· Upper elementary (grades 3-5)
· Caldecott Medal
This children’s book is a historical fiction combined with a glimpse of the author’s autobiography, tracing the author’s family line beginning with his grandfather. It expresses the moving back and forth from one’s homeland to a new land, and from that land—their new home, back to the homeland. Grandfather’s Journey reveals how home is not a single location but often the feeling of home is found in multiple places for those who travel.
Grandfather’s Journey has very similar elements with Allen Say’s other book, Tea with Milk as both are stories of Japanese immigration and involve traveling back and forth between Japan and America. However, Grandfather’s Journey contains less of a cultural struggle than Tea with Milk does, and is more autobiographical and personal—very similar to Patricia Polacco’s The Keeping Quilt.
· Allen Say
· 1993
· Historical fiction
· Upper elementary (grades 3-5)
· Caldecott Medal
This children’s book is a historical fiction combined with a glimpse of the author’s autobiography, tracing the author’s family line beginning with his grandfather. It expresses the moving back and forth from one’s homeland to a new land, and from that land—their new home, back to the homeland. Grandfather’s Journey reveals how home is not a single location but often the feeling of home is found in multiple places for those who travel.
Grandfather’s Journey has very similar elements with Allen Say’s other book, Tea with Milk as both are stories of Japanese immigration and involve traveling back and forth between Japan and America. However, Grandfather’s Journey contains less of a cultural struggle than Tea with Milk does, and is more autobiographical and personal—very similar to Patricia Polacco’s The Keeping Quilt.
![Picture](/uploads/4/0/1/4/40140283/2867122.jpeg?166)
The
Arrival
· Shaun Tan
· 2007
· Graphic novel
· Junior high (grades 7-9)
· New York Times Best Illustrated Book
Shaun Tan’s graphic novel illustrates with mystical sights the immigrant experience. Though wordless (though not character-less), the book communicates what it is like adjusting to a new place understanding nothing, being lost and dependent upon others’ help for home, food, jobs, basic directions, and cultural understanding. It also reveals how each person has an immigrant story that allows people to connect with each other even with a language barrier, and how help from others allows one to create a more comfortable home environment.
Though a graphic novel like American Born Chinese, the two books are very different due to The Arrival’s wordlessness and subdued colors in stark contrast with Yang’s bright and comic strip-like feel. Despite being only illustrations, The Arrival communicates much more abstractly and symbolically than the other books do, which can make it suitable for older children as they can digest the themes and symbols better.
· Shaun Tan
· 2007
· Graphic novel
· Junior high (grades 7-9)
· New York Times Best Illustrated Book
Shaun Tan’s graphic novel illustrates with mystical sights the immigrant experience. Though wordless (though not character-less), the book communicates what it is like adjusting to a new place understanding nothing, being lost and dependent upon others’ help for home, food, jobs, basic directions, and cultural understanding. It also reveals how each person has an immigrant story that allows people to connect with each other even with a language barrier, and how help from others allows one to create a more comfortable home environment.
Though a graphic novel like American Born Chinese, the two books are very different due to The Arrival’s wordlessness and subdued colors in stark contrast with Yang’s bright and comic strip-like feel. Despite being only illustrations, The Arrival communicates much more abstractly and symbolically than the other books do, which can make it suitable for older children as they can digest the themes and symbols better.
![Picture](/uploads/4/0/1/4/40140283/6943481.jpg?126)
Landed
· Milly Lee, illustrated by Yangsook Choi
· 2006
· Historical fiction
· Upper elementary (grades 3-5)
This story about a young boy’s process of immigrating to America through Angel Island recounts the history of the many Chinese immigrants who were tested and interrogated in order to pass enter the United States. Sun’s story relates to the theme of immigrant children’s home because it is the process that was an important part of every immigrant’s experience before they created a permanent home. Also, although Angel Island occurred before “landing”, for some like Puy Gong in the story Angel Island was home for long periods of time.
Landed is a book that would work well with the other stories of Asian immigrants during the early 1900’s, and especially in contrast with another book Paper Son, presenting a similar story like Landed but from a “paper son’s” point of view. Contrasting Landed with Allen Say’s stories Tea with Milk and Grandfather’s Journey could also open doors for studying different Asian immigrant experiences, or a closer look at Angel Island’s history.
· Milly Lee, illustrated by Yangsook Choi
· 2006
· Historical fiction
· Upper elementary (grades 3-5)
This story about a young boy’s process of immigrating to America through Angel Island recounts the history of the many Chinese immigrants who were tested and interrogated in order to pass enter the United States. Sun’s story relates to the theme of immigrant children’s home because it is the process that was an important part of every immigrant’s experience before they created a permanent home. Also, although Angel Island occurred before “landing”, for some like Puy Gong in the story Angel Island was home for long periods of time.
Landed is a book that would work well with the other stories of Asian immigrants during the early 1900’s, and especially in contrast with another book Paper Son, presenting a similar story like Landed but from a “paper son’s” point of view. Contrasting Landed with Allen Say’s stories Tea with Milk and Grandfather’s Journey could also open doors for studying different Asian immigrant experiences, or a closer look at Angel Island’s history.
My Name is Yoon
· Helen Recorvits, illustrated by Gabi Swiatkowska
· 2003
· Realistic fiction
· Lower elementary (grades K-2)
· American Library Association Notable Children’s Books; Ezra Jack Keats New Illustrator Award
This creatively illustrated children’s book details Yoon’s unwillingness to accept her new identity and life in America, and the imagination she uses to avoid it. The book reveals a key component of the immigrant child experience: the accepting of a new identity while still trying to keep elements of their “home” culture. In order for a new environment or culture to become home, one must learn to be different and accept their ‘foreign’ identity.
My Name is Yoon is different than most of the other picture books listed because of its young audience. It presents some of the same ideas of identity as American Born Chinese, Is It Night or Day?, Tea with Milk, and Homesick yet in a childlike manner filled with imagination and creativity, allowing it to be a lighter read for young children.
· Helen Recorvits, illustrated by Gabi Swiatkowska
· 2003
· Realistic fiction
· Lower elementary (grades K-2)
· American Library Association Notable Children’s Books; Ezra Jack Keats New Illustrator Award
This creatively illustrated children’s book details Yoon’s unwillingness to accept her new identity and life in America, and the imagination she uses to avoid it. The book reveals a key component of the immigrant child experience: the accepting of a new identity while still trying to keep elements of their “home” culture. In order for a new environment or culture to become home, one must learn to be different and accept their ‘foreign’ identity.
My Name is Yoon is different than most of the other picture books listed because of its young audience. It presents some of the same ideas of identity as American Born Chinese, Is It Night or Day?, Tea with Milk, and Homesick yet in a childlike manner filled with imagination and creativity, allowing it to be a lighter read for young children.
![Picture](/uploads/4/0/1/4/40140283/8524845.jpg?182)
Smoky Night
· Eve Bunting, illustrated by David Diaz
· 1994
· Realistic fiction
· Kindergarten/lower elementary (grades PreK-3)
· Caldecott Medal
The famous children’s book Smoky Night addresses real and important issues of city life, inter-cultural relationships, and racial strife. Though the book does not mention any of the characters being immigrants, they do come from different ethnicities and cultures—something prevalent in immigrant communities. Smoky Night illustrates that part of having a welcoming home or community is to reach across cultural barriers and be accepting of people from different backgrounds.
Smoky Night is not specifically about immigrant children or communities like most of the other books are, but it does deal with issues of racial adjustment just like American Born Chinese, Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass, Is It Night or Day?, and In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson. Also, the illustrations of Smoky Night set it apart as being child-like yet still real, while addressing real issues.
· Eve Bunting, illustrated by David Diaz
· 1994
· Realistic fiction
· Kindergarten/lower elementary (grades PreK-3)
· Caldecott Medal
The famous children’s book Smoky Night addresses real and important issues of city life, inter-cultural relationships, and racial strife. Though the book does not mention any of the characters being immigrants, they do come from different ethnicities and cultures—something prevalent in immigrant communities. Smoky Night illustrates that part of having a welcoming home or community is to reach across cultural barriers and be accepting of people from different backgrounds.
Smoky Night is not specifically about immigrant children or communities like most of the other books are, but it does deal with issues of racial adjustment just like American Born Chinese, Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass, Is It Night or Day?, and In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson. Also, the illustrations of Smoky Night set it apart as being child-like yet still real, while addressing real issues.
![Picture](/uploads/4/0/1/4/40140283/7479380.jpg?193)
The Keeping Quilt
· Patricia Polacco
· 1998
· Historical fiction/genealogy
· Upper elementary (grades 3-5)
· Sydney Taylor Book Award
The Keeping Quilt tells the story of the generations in Patricia Polacco’s family, beginning with her great-grandmother, and the quilt they used as a symbol of their Russian Jewish heritage and hope for their future. Through the history of the quilt, the book recounts how each generation after moving to America settled down to create a new life through marriage, children, growth, and even death, but they were still able to acknowledge their roots with the quilt. The story reveals what happens following an immigrant family’s transition to America, and how for immigrants home is always a combination of new life and past traditions.
The Keeping Quilt is a great story about the holding onto of cultural or national memories and objects all the while adjusting to building a new home in a new country. This book revolves around the quilt, an object, to represent their old life in Russia, whereas other immigrant children stories have more symbolic or mental memories of the past home country.
· Patricia Polacco
· 1998
· Historical fiction/genealogy
· Upper elementary (grades 3-5)
· Sydney Taylor Book Award
The Keeping Quilt tells the story of the generations in Patricia Polacco’s family, beginning with her great-grandmother, and the quilt they used as a symbol of their Russian Jewish heritage and hope for their future. Through the history of the quilt, the book recounts how each generation after moving to America settled down to create a new life through marriage, children, growth, and even death, but they were still able to acknowledge their roots with the quilt. The story reveals what happens following an immigrant family’s transition to America, and how for immigrants home is always a combination of new life and past traditions.
The Keeping Quilt is a great story about the holding onto of cultural or national memories and objects all the while adjusting to building a new home in a new country. This book revolves around the quilt, an object, to represent their old life in Russia, whereas other immigrant children stories have more symbolic or mental memories of the past home country.
The Wild Boy
· Mordicai Gerstein
· 1998
· Children’s non-fiction
· Upper elementary (grades 3-5)
· American Library Association Notable Children’s Books
The Wild Boy is a fascinating look at the story of Victor, a French boy found in the wild that was gradually taught how to be human with the help of Dr. Jean-Marc-Gaspard Itard and Madame Guérin. Though Victor did not emigrate from one country to another, he made a migration and transition from the wild to civilization. He learned how to use his senses, feel emotion, and practical things like dressing himself, living in a house, and spelling. The book reveals that loving people are required to make a healthy and comfortable transition to a new home.
This story about a French young boy is very different than the other children’s book chosen here because it does not actually deal with immigrant or even cross-cultural issues, though it is probably closest to Smoky Night where the characters are not necessarily immigrants. The Wild Boy does contain themes that can allow children to consider humanity and kindness to strange people, whether wild like in Gerstein’s story or immigrants from foreign nations.
· Mordicai Gerstein
· 1998
· Children’s non-fiction
· Upper elementary (grades 3-5)
· American Library Association Notable Children’s Books
The Wild Boy is a fascinating look at the story of Victor, a French boy found in the wild that was gradually taught how to be human with the help of Dr. Jean-Marc-Gaspard Itard and Madame Guérin. Though Victor did not emigrate from one country to another, he made a migration and transition from the wild to civilization. He learned how to use his senses, feel emotion, and practical things like dressing himself, living in a house, and spelling. The book reveals that loving people are required to make a healthy and comfortable transition to a new home.
This story about a French young boy is very different than the other children’s book chosen here because it does not actually deal with immigrant or even cross-cultural issues, though it is probably closest to Smoky Night where the characters are not necessarily immigrants. The Wild Boy does contain themes that can allow children to consider humanity and kindness to strange people, whether wild like in Gerstein’s story or immigrants from foreign nations.
![Picture](/uploads/4/0/1/4/40140283/1545927.jpg?123)
Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass
· Meg Medina
· 2013
· Realistic fiction
· High school and up
· Pura Belpré Award
Meg Medina’s novel about a girl who is bullied and abused for her race, body figure, and character deals with issues of identity and race—both relevant to the topic of immigrant children. The book raises issues of racial tension and segregation within an ethnicity, as well as issues of identity, bullying, and the hard parts of life as Piddy finds a way to “step out and…set her own rhythm” (Tomp, BookBrowse). Written with Spanish vocabulary incorporated into the text, Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass reveals what it is like living with a foreign and American culture, and addresses issues that are real for many immigrant children.
Meg Medina’s realistic novel considers topics of bullying and race, similar themes shown in Homesick, Esperanza Rising, Is It Night or Day?, In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson, and Smoky Night. However, Medina’s novel is much more graphic and gritty than others, portraying it in a light other books don’t (or won’t).
Tomp, S. n.d. Review of the book Yaqui Delgado wants to kick your ass, by M. Medina. BookBrowse.com.
· Meg Medina
· 2013
· Realistic fiction
· High school and up
· Pura Belpré Award
Meg Medina’s novel about a girl who is bullied and abused for her race, body figure, and character deals with issues of identity and race—both relevant to the topic of immigrant children. The book raises issues of racial tension and segregation within an ethnicity, as well as issues of identity, bullying, and the hard parts of life as Piddy finds a way to “step out and…set her own rhythm” (Tomp, BookBrowse). Written with Spanish vocabulary incorporated into the text, Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass reveals what it is like living with a foreign and American culture, and addresses issues that are real for many immigrant children.
Meg Medina’s realistic novel considers topics of bullying and race, similar themes shown in Homesick, Esperanza Rising, Is It Night or Day?, In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson, and Smoky Night. However, Medina’s novel is much more graphic and gritty than others, portraying it in a light other books don’t (or won’t).
Tomp, S. n.d. Review of the book Yaqui Delgado wants to kick your ass, by M. Medina. BookBrowse.com.
![Picture](/uploads/4/0/1/4/40140283/4105485.jpg?130)
Homesick: My Own Story
· Jean Fritz
· 1982
· Autobiography/historical fiction
· Upper elementary (grades 3-5)
· Newberry Honor Award
Jean Fritz recounts her own childhood growing up in the only country she knew—China, even though she longed to be a regular American girl. The book deals heavily with culture, identity, and where or what home is (for a ten-year old girl), as Jean struggles with being a foreigner in China, an American in her British school, and eventually a stranger in America as well. Though she wasn’t a permanent immigrant, Jean grew up with the Chinese culture as a part of her whether she wanted it or not—something similar to the situation immigrant children go through as their new surrounding culture influences them.
Homesick: My Own Story is somewhat similar to Tea with Milk, because both deal with characters who feel foreign in their native homelands, instead of struggling with an entirely new country. Also, it sheds light on the issue of temporary immigration—an idea also in I Lived on Butterfly Hill, and brings up the different experience of a child moving out of America.
· Jean Fritz
· 1982
· Autobiography/historical fiction
· Upper elementary (grades 3-5)
· Newberry Honor Award
Jean Fritz recounts her own childhood growing up in the only country she knew—China, even though she longed to be a regular American girl. The book deals heavily with culture, identity, and where or what home is (for a ten-year old girl), as Jean struggles with being a foreigner in China, an American in her British school, and eventually a stranger in America as well. Though she wasn’t a permanent immigrant, Jean grew up with the Chinese culture as a part of her whether she wanted it or not—something similar to the situation immigrant children go through as their new surrounding culture influences them.
Homesick: My Own Story is somewhat similar to Tea with Milk, because both deal with characters who feel foreign in their native homelands, instead of struggling with an entirely new country. Also, it sheds light on the issue of temporary immigration—an idea also in I Lived on Butterfly Hill, and brings up the different experience of a child moving out of America.
![Picture](/uploads/4/0/1/4/40140283/9974141.jpg?140)
Same Sun Here
· Silas House, Neela Vaswani
· 2012
· Children’s fiction
· Upper elementary (grades 4 and up)
· Nautilus Award; E.B. White Read-Aloud Award
Same Sun Here is the recording of River, an American living in Kentucky, and Meena's, an Indian immigrant living in New York, friendship through their pen pal letters. The book addresses the issue of home in both River and Meena's situations since both describe their homes and readers see what constitutes "home" in a child's mind. However, the book also specifically addresses the topic of immigrant children's home through Meena's letters, when she talks about immigration forms and tests, issues of race, cross-cultural relationships, and her homesickness for India.
This children’s novel contains themes of immigrant children’s home in a more subtle way (like in Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass) since only Meena is an immigrant child, yet it does have more about the idea of home since both River and Meena have an environment at which they are comfortable. This book might be particularly interesting to children since they are narrated from personal children’s points of view.
· Silas House, Neela Vaswani
· 2012
· Children’s fiction
· Upper elementary (grades 4 and up)
· Nautilus Award; E.B. White Read-Aloud Award
Same Sun Here is the recording of River, an American living in Kentucky, and Meena's, an Indian immigrant living in New York, friendship through their pen pal letters. The book addresses the issue of home in both River and Meena's situations since both describe their homes and readers see what constitutes "home" in a child's mind. However, the book also specifically addresses the topic of immigrant children's home through Meena's letters, when she talks about immigration forms and tests, issues of race, cross-cultural relationships, and her homesickness for India.
This children’s novel contains themes of immigrant children’s home in a more subtle way (like in Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass) since only Meena is an immigrant child, yet it does have more about the idea of home since both River and Meena have an environment at which they are comfortable. This book might be particularly interesting to children since they are narrated from personal children’s points of view.
New Found World
· Katherine Binney Shippen
· 1967
· Historical (non-fiction) narrative
· Junior high (grades 6 and up)
· Newberry Award
Katherine Shippen’s recording of the history of Latin America (as of 1945) is an exciting narrative that reads more like a story than a history textbook. Understanding the history of a location is essential in the topic of immigrants because it allows understanding of the place that will be their new home. This book also touches upon immigrants since the first Europeans to the New World were immigrants, and shows how their lives changed once in a new land.
This older text about the history of South America speaks on the very first immigrants to this region; however it is mainly a broader, more general history of South America. Because of this, New Found World would be a good resource when reading other books with South American settings, like Esperanza Rising, I Lived on Butterfly Hill, and Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass.
· Katherine Binney Shippen
· 1967
· Historical (non-fiction) narrative
· Junior high (grades 6 and up)
· Newberry Award
Katherine Shippen’s recording of the history of Latin America (as of 1945) is an exciting narrative that reads more like a story than a history textbook. Understanding the history of a location is essential in the topic of immigrants because it allows understanding of the place that will be their new home. This book also touches upon immigrants since the first Europeans to the New World were immigrants, and shows how their lives changed once in a new land.
This older text about the history of South America speaks on the very first immigrants to this region; however it is mainly a broader, more general history of South America. Because of this, New Found World would be a good resource when reading other books with South American settings, like Esperanza Rising, I Lived on Butterfly Hill, and Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass.
![Picture](/uploads/4/0/1/4/40140283/1286726.jpg?129)
Esperanza Rising
· Pam Muñoz Ryan
· 2008
· Historical fiction
· Upper elementary/Junior high (grades 3-7)
· Pura Belpré Award
Esperanza Rising tells the story of Esperanza and her mother who are forced to give up their wealthy Mexican ranch life in order to make a living working in California. This story of immigration, set during the Great Depression, expresses accurately the emotions and tribulations that a child would go through as they make the move from one country to another, as well as from one social class to another. The book illustrates how creating a new home sometimes means letting go of people or places, allowing new people in, working hard, and changing one’s outlook on life.
Similar to The Great Wheel, Esperanza Rising is the story of Esperanza’s family and friends coming to America for a better life, better wages, and possible success. However, Esperanza Rising deals with more of the difficulties that arise when working to “make it” in America, such as bills, sickness, low wages, unions and strikes, and poor living conditions.
· Pam Muñoz Ryan
· 2008
· Historical fiction
· Upper elementary/Junior high (grades 3-7)
· Pura Belpré Award
Esperanza Rising tells the story of Esperanza and her mother who are forced to give up their wealthy Mexican ranch life in order to make a living working in California. This story of immigration, set during the Great Depression, expresses accurately the emotions and tribulations that a child would go through as they make the move from one country to another, as well as from one social class to another. The book illustrates how creating a new home sometimes means letting go of people or places, allowing new people in, working hard, and changing one’s outlook on life.
Similar to The Great Wheel, Esperanza Rising is the story of Esperanza’s family and friends coming to America for a better life, better wages, and possible success. However, Esperanza Rising deals with more of the difficulties that arise when working to “make it” in America, such as bills, sickness, low wages, unions and strikes, and poor living conditions.
A Step from Heaven
· An Na
· 2001
· Realistic fiction
· High school (grades 9-12)
· Michael L. Printz Award
This book is a realistic look at immigration from a child’s perspective in the midst of a difficult family structure and culture. It reveals the struggles YoungJu and her family go through to find jobs, gain citizenship, learn English, pay rent, and all the basic things that come with a new country. However the troubles that abound within the family make growing up and forming a comfortable home in America much more difficult. A Step from Heaven illustrates the realism of immigrating with one’s family and the difficulties that can occur in any family, but specifically when in a new country and dealing with a “home” culture.
Like Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass, An Na’s novel about a Korean family’s immigration to America contains rough topics like abuse, violence, and anger. Because of this, both these books are probably more appropriate for older children to get a better grasp on what racial or family tensions can be like for any child, but here specifically minority children.
· An Na
· 2001
· Realistic fiction
· High school (grades 9-12)
· Michael L. Printz Award
This book is a realistic look at immigration from a child’s perspective in the midst of a difficult family structure and culture. It reveals the struggles YoungJu and her family go through to find jobs, gain citizenship, learn English, pay rent, and all the basic things that come with a new country. However the troubles that abound within the family make growing up and forming a comfortable home in America much more difficult. A Step from Heaven illustrates the realism of immigrating with one’s family and the difficulties that can occur in any family, but specifically when in a new country and dealing with a “home” culture.
Like Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass, An Na’s novel about a Korean family’s immigration to America contains rough topics like abuse, violence, and anger. Because of this, both these books are probably more appropriate for older children to get a better grasp on what racial or family tensions can be like for any child, but here specifically minority children.
Is It Night or Day?
· Fern Schumer Chapman
· 2010
· Historical fiction
· Junior high (grades 5-9)
· American Library Association Best Books for Young Adults
Is It Night or Day? recounts the transition one girl makes as one of the many “One Thousand Children” sent to America to escape German Nazism. Edith’s transition deals with many familiar topics of immigrant children literature, such as loneliness, exclusion, racial bullying and segregation, and the adoption of American culture. She also forms her own identity as she forms (or doesn’t form) her home.
Since Is It Night or Day? is based off the World War II era, and since Edith’s story is one of fleeing war and oppression, the book can be compared to The Wall, I Lived on Butterfly Hill, and Esperanza Rising because they have the similar themes of leaving a place of political turmoil. It might also be a good fictional book to read while studying the Jews’ lives during World War II or more specifically, the “One Thousand Children”.
· Fern Schumer Chapman
· 2010
· Historical fiction
· Junior high (grades 5-9)
· American Library Association Best Books for Young Adults
Is It Night or Day? recounts the transition one girl makes as one of the many “One Thousand Children” sent to America to escape German Nazism. Edith’s transition deals with many familiar topics of immigrant children literature, such as loneliness, exclusion, racial bullying and segregation, and the adoption of American culture. She also forms her own identity as she forms (or doesn’t form) her home.
Since Is It Night or Day? is based off the World War II era, and since Edith’s story is one of fleeing war and oppression, the book can be compared to The Wall, I Lived on Butterfly Hill, and Esperanza Rising because they have the similar themes of leaving a place of political turmoil. It might also be a good fictional book to read while studying the Jews’ lives during World War II or more specifically, the “One Thousand Children”.
![Picture](/uploads/4/0/1/4/40140283/8931101.jpg?102)
In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson
· Bette Bao Lord
· 1984
· Historical fiction
· Upper elementary (grades 3-5)
In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson is a perfect example of a book that clearly illustrates an immigrant child’s adjustment to her new country, culture, and community—finally creating a home for herself in America. The book, written from Shirley Temple Wong’s point of view, reveals what it is like first arriving in a new country unable to speak the language, curious at every new strange sight, and being integrated immediately into a foreign environment. It reveals the emotional trauma, racial struggles, and cultural changes that occur in the process of adjustment—a great insight into the mind and heart of an immigrant child.
Bette Bao Lord’s book is a simple story that young children should be able to follow easily, and easily connect the themes, emotions, and experiences with their own lives while opening their eyes to an immigrant’s thoughts and emotions (through Shirley Temple Wong). In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson is on a similar level with The Great Wheel since they are both a little older, less tough realism, and more positive outcomes.
· Bette Bao Lord
· 1984
· Historical fiction
· Upper elementary (grades 3-5)
In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson is a perfect example of a book that clearly illustrates an immigrant child’s adjustment to her new country, culture, and community—finally creating a home for herself in America. The book, written from Shirley Temple Wong’s point of view, reveals what it is like first arriving in a new country unable to speak the language, curious at every new strange sight, and being integrated immediately into a foreign environment. It reveals the emotional trauma, racial struggles, and cultural changes that occur in the process of adjustment—a great insight into the mind and heart of an immigrant child.
Bette Bao Lord’s book is a simple story that young children should be able to follow easily, and easily connect the themes, emotions, and experiences with their own lives while opening their eyes to an immigrant’s thoughts and emotions (through Shirley Temple Wong). In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson is on a similar level with The Great Wheel since they are both a little older, less tough realism, and more positive outcomes.
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I Lived on Butterfly Hill
· Marjorie Agosin
· 2014
· Historical fiction
· Upper elementary/Junior high (grades 5-9)
This story, set during the Chilean dictatorship and oppression, is told through the lens of a young girl Celeste, who is sent to America while her educated doctor parents go into hiding. The book addresses issues of homesickness, persecution, and refugee-like migration. Celeste must adjust to her new home in America, but holds onto the home she has in Chile. Though Celeste may keep closer ties with her home country than most immigrant children, the story touches upon the theme of bridging the gap between two countries and cultures and being a part of both.
Celeste’s experience in I Lived on Butterfly Hill is similar in some ways to themes in Allen Say’s books Grandfather’s Journey and Tea with Milk because they all deal with children or characters that eventually move back to their native country, though I Lived on Butterfly Hill gives a more in depth telling of the character’s life and the political history surrounding her situations. Written in such a lyrical and fictional style, the story can be appealing to younger readers but from there introduce them to weightier topics.
· Marjorie Agosin
· 2014
· Historical fiction
· Upper elementary/Junior high (grades 5-9)
This story, set during the Chilean dictatorship and oppression, is told through the lens of a young girl Celeste, who is sent to America while her educated doctor parents go into hiding. The book addresses issues of homesickness, persecution, and refugee-like migration. Celeste must adjust to her new home in America, but holds onto the home she has in Chile. Though Celeste may keep closer ties with her home country than most immigrant children, the story touches upon the theme of bridging the gap between two countries and cultures and being a part of both.
Celeste’s experience in I Lived on Butterfly Hill is similar in some ways to themes in Allen Say’s books Grandfather’s Journey and Tea with Milk because they all deal with children or characters that eventually move back to their native country, though I Lived on Butterfly Hill gives a more in depth telling of the character’s life and the political history surrounding her situations. Written in such a lyrical and fictional style, the story can be appealing to younger readers but from there introduce them to weightier topics.
The Great Wheel
· Robert Lawson
· 1993
· Historical fiction/adventure
· Junior high (grades 6-8)
· Newberry Honor Book
The Great Wheel is a fictional story about a boy from Ireland who moves to America to work with his uncles—first in New York, then in Chicago building the first Ferris wheel. Conn’s story is a one of growing up to become a man, but it also tells the story of many immigrants who came to America to find success and wealth. In Conn’s case, he does find success by his talent and hard-working skills. The Great Wheel presents some ideals of what immigrant children might go through to adjust, but even more it focuses on the immigrant dream of coming to America.
The Great Wheel differs from the other books listed here because it is less so the realistic immigrant story filled with hard issues; it is rather the typical (Western European) immigrant story that was true of many people who came to America. It is also more positive as Conn finds great success and most things go his way. It would be a good read for students while they are learning about America’s history during the 18th or 19th century.
· Robert Lawson
· 1993
· Historical fiction/adventure
· Junior high (grades 6-8)
· Newberry Honor Book
The Great Wheel is a fictional story about a boy from Ireland who moves to America to work with his uncles—first in New York, then in Chicago building the first Ferris wheel. Conn’s story is a one of growing up to become a man, but it also tells the story of many immigrants who came to America to find success and wealth. In Conn’s case, he does find success by his talent and hard-working skills. The Great Wheel presents some ideals of what immigrant children might go through to adjust, but even more it focuses on the immigrant dream of coming to America.
The Great Wheel differs from the other books listed here because it is less so the realistic immigrant story filled with hard issues; it is rather the typical (Western European) immigrant story that was true of many people who came to America. It is also more positive as Conn finds great success and most things go his way. It would be a good read for students while they are learning about America’s history during the 18th or 19th century.