Stories About Immigration

[Tricia]

I am a teacher beginning a new unit in the fall on immigration geared for readers at the 6th-7th grade level. Any suggestions on fiction, historical fiction, or non fiction books would be greatly appreciated.

[Meg]

Return to Sender by Julia Alvarez would be another appropriate choice. It's about a boy whose family hires migrant workers on his farm. A local group of 5/6th graders read it as part of their immigration studies and staged a play based on it.

Another immigration-themed book set in Vermont is about a refugee family from Kosovo. It might be too intense a read depending on your school and class though: The Day of the Pelican by Katherine Paterson.

Avi wrote The Escape from Home. It isn't the best written of his books, but could work for your group if you are studying historical immigration.

La Mariposa is a nice picture book dealing with immigration issues. I'm not sure what level it is written at, but certainly the issues would be appropriate for a class discussion.

A classic is Homesick by Jean Fritz about her experience coming to the US from China. I think she was actually already a citizen, but had spent her whole life in China with missionary parents.

Russell Freeman has a great book of historical photos called Immigrant Kids. It's supplemented by a lot of information, and would make a great classroom resource although your kids probably wouldn't read it cover to cover.

Laurence Yep also has a bunch of books about his early life and/or fictional books about Chinese American immigrants.

I've also read An Island Like You and thought it was wonderful, but suspect it might be too old for your class.

Seedfolks isn't exactly about immigration, but deals with a multi-ethnic community planting a garden and learning to get along.

Lastly, you might look at Letters from Rifka by Karen Hesse. I haven't read this one, but have heard good things and have liked others by her.

Other resources you might look at are:

ALA's Becoming American
PBS's The New Americans
Teaching Tolerance

Meg

[Emily]

I haven't read it yet, but the newly released Star in the Forest sounds intriguing.

[Shamzgirl]

I second The Arrival. I haven't seen another book that can so thoroughly create for the reader the experience of feeling lost and overwhelmed in a new culture. This book is really awesome. You'll have lots of things to discuss!

[Lisa]

I third The Arrival!

[Gaynor]

In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson about a Chinese family migrating to the US. Often use it myself.

[Kathryn, The Princess of Picture-Books]

Laurence Yep has some great middle grade novels about Chinese immigrants.

[Manybooks, Fiction Club host]

Two of my favourite books by Canadian children's author Jean Little deal with a little girl who immigrates to Canada from Germany with her family in the 1930s to escape Nazism. The first, From Anna, not only shows the problems Anna faces learning a new language, it also focuses on the fact that Anna has problems with her vision (a fact that was not recognised when the family lived in Germany). The second novel, Listen for the Singing, deals with the family's experiences in Canada during the Second World War. Anna has adjusted to Canada quite well, and has friends now, but the fact that she is German, make some of her schoolmates, and unfortunately also some of her teachers be quite abusive to her. Both stories are excellent.

Another story that I found very interesting regarding the immigrant's experience, namely because I could relate to some of the things the protagonist experienced, was When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit. This is not only a moving story about how Anna and her family have to escape from Germany to avoid being captured by the Nazis (they are Jewish), but some of the experiences Anna relates are experiences common to many of us who have ever moved or immigrated. I remember how she explained how one day, after they had been in France for a couple of months, she realised that she was speaking French without thinking, or without first translating it into German (I remember precisely the same thing happening to me when we moved to Canada, the day I became aware of the fact that I was now indeed fluent in English).

[Lisa]

Gundula, That's so interesting. I really want to read these books, and voted for From Anna in the poll.

[Manybooks, Fiction Club host]

Lisa wrote: "Gundula, That's so interesting. I really want to read these books, and voted for From Anna in the poll."

So did I, I just love both of those stories. And, there is so much in these stories, from immigration issues to issues of bullying and recognising children with special needs. I cannot recommend these two books enough.

[Tricia]

Wow! I love all of your suggestions. I forgot all about THE ARRIVAL - I even have it on my shelf at home! You have given me some great ideas that can now keep me busy researching over the summer. If you think of any other, I'll be sure to add them to my collection. Thanks to everyone for being so gracious.

[Jenny]

Just a couple of picture books to add to the list...they are probably closer to a 5th grade reading level, but still good. I've used them in 5th grade and read them aloud to 3rd graders:

When Jessie Came Across the Sea This book tells of a Jewish girl sailing to America.

Naming Liberty Tells of a family preparing to emigrate and also tells of the creation of the Statue of Liberty.

At Ellis Island: A History in Many Voices I haven't read this one, but it looks really good.

There's one more that I have used but the title/author are escaping me at the moment. If I remember or find the book, I'll add it.

[Manybooks, Fiction Club host]

This is another book I would dearly love to read. It is a dual-language Spanish/English picture book that describes a young girl's hesitations and reservations about moving from Mexico to the United States, a sentiment which is not shared by her younger siblings, My Diary from Here to There/Mi diario de aqui hasta alla. I have not read the book, but it looks wonderful and from the description I read on Amazon, it again shows some of the questions and problems I had myself, when my family decided to immigrate to Canada (am I going to fit in, what about leaving all of my friends, will I ever see my extended family again, what if I don't like it there etc.).

[Tricia]

What would I do without this group? It's like having a big family where everyone listens and likes everyone elses ideas. You're all so very helpful!

[Manybooks, Fiction Club host]

Tricia wrote: "What would I do without this group? It's like having a big family where everyone listens and likes everyone elses ideas. You're all so very helpful!"

I wish that my family actually valued my ideas, but I'm usually to weird and avant-garde for them. Actually, to get back on topic, I wonder if any of the stories that feature pioneer life could also be used, as many of the pioneers were leaving their native lands to find a new life in North America. I don't know any books off hand, but I thought I would at least mention my thoughts.

[Zoe]

A short time ago I wrote a post about immigration and picture books on my blog, and there are links to many more kids' (and adult) books on this theme there:
http://www.playingbythebook.net/2010/...
Even though I've focussed on picture books I think the nature of the subject means that these picture books could still be interesting to older children, The Island, for example.

[Tricia]

Thank you everyone for the great ideas! I love developing new teaching units. It's the best part of teaching! You've given me a surplus of great books and ideas. Bless you all.