Who Belongs Here?: An American Story [Paperback]

A new introduction traces the waves of immigration that have built America and celebrates the Muslim and Latino immigrants who are today contributing to Americas future. The books new cover shows a group of kidssons and daughters of newly arrived immigrantstaking their oath of citizenship. Following their well-received Talking Walls , Knight and O'Brien againteam up for an affectionate if didactic exploration of connections amongpeople world-wide. This time the message is filtered through theexperience of Nary, a Cambodian refugee who immigrates to the U.S. withhis grandmother after the death of both parents. Hostility towardimmigrants and the impetus to work for change are explored. The centralquestion, What if everyone . . . whose ancestors came from anothercountry was forced to return to his or her homeland? . . . Who would beleft? signals the book's design as a vehicle for discussion. The textitself pairs Nary's story with italicized information on immigration tothe U.S. This strategy is only intermittently effective; younger readersmay not be capable of making the conceptual jumps both Knight andO'Brien require, while older readers may chafe at the picture-bookformat. These limitations notwithstanding, the volume provides strongstarting points for ongoing explorations of multicultural themes. Ages7-13. Grade 3-5-Drawing on her experience as an ESL teacher, Knight introducesthe fictional character Nary, a 10-year-old boy from Cambodia.Accompanying his story of leaving his homeland and settling in thiscountry is a parallel text, set in italics, that expands some of theideas presented. Sometimes it provides background information on U.S.immigration or history; at other times it serves to stimulatediscussion, particularly on such topics as intolerance and prejudice.Notes in the back give additional material on individuals (Pol Pot, DithPran, Dolores Huerta) and concepts introduced earlier. Three-quartersof each double-page spread is covered with brightly colls³