Life in America: Comparing Immigrant Experiences

by Brynn Baker

Immigrant groups were not treated equally when they arrived in America. Some were loved and welcomed. Others were hated and cast aside. Compare and contrast immigrant experiences and how those experiences changed the United States. Meets Common Core standards for comparing accounts of an event.

48 pages, Library Binding

First published August 1, 2015

Reviews

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

VERY informative book that breaks down immigrants by their country of origin and where they settled in America. I learned A LOT from this book. I cannot wait to booktalk it.

[Cheryl A. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Best for the youngest students. I pity the adult who learns anything significant from this; they had a poor education. Superficial.

And incomplete; I really wanted it to compare not just those who settled in the tenements of NY with those who settled as farmers in the Midwest, but also with the Pakistani & Indians who run so many hotels, and the Vietnamese, Hmong, and other refugees, the Indian doctors, and of course the 'brown' people from Mexico and other Latin American countries who are suffering the worst discrimination of all. So if you do use this to teach be sure to look beyond the book, even beyond the back matter.

Immigrants "literally paved the way for future generations."

[Sonja · Rating 4 out of 5]

Concise and easily read.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Focusing primarily on immigration in the early 1900s, this book highlights the different experiences immigrants from various countries had. Depending on where they settled, they might find an area similar to their homeland or quite different. It's intriguing to trace where these immigrants relocated as well as their reasons for moving to the United States. Although the book touches only briefly on any of the nations of origin or these experiences, it is clear from the text and the back matter that the nation was forever changed by their arrival. Young readers might want to consider how different the experiences of moving here might be for those who settled with others like them and for those who chose to settle in smaller communities. There are some interesting photos and primary documents included in the book, making this a good starting place for anyone interested in this particular topic. Given the recent immigration occurring across Europe, it might be helpful to return to this nation's own experiences with the matter. We have not always been the most welcoming nation.