Theme: immigrant

The Arrival

By Yoo Kyung Sung | Published: December 1, 2008

A man gives his wife and daughter a last kiss and boards a steamship to cross the ocean. He’s embarking on the most painful yet important journey of his life – he’s leaving home to build a better future for his family. Shaun Tan evokes universal aspects of an immigrant’s experience through a singular work [...]

Descriptors: Australia, Fantasy, Intermediate (ages 9-14), Picture Book » Other Themes: , , , , , , , » 3 Comments

Roots and Wings

By Yoo Kyung Sung | Published: December 1, 2008

GRACE’S GRANDMOTHER HAS died, and she and her mother must travel back to the Cambodian community to give her a proper Cambodian funeral. But Grace wants to use the trip to solve a few mysteries, like who her father was, why her mother and grandmother moved from St. Petersburg to Pennsylvania, where they’re the only [...]

Descriptors: Cambodia, Intermediate (ages 9-14), Realistic Fiction, United States of America » Other Themes: , , , , , , , , , » Leave a comment

Hello, America

By Yoo Kyung Sung | Published: December 1, 2008

The year is 1951 and eighteen-year-old Elli and her mother arrive in New York City. Finally they can leave behind bitter Holocaust memories and become real Americans! From office filing all day, to the challenge of night school, to interpreting the intentions of Alex, a handsome and persistent doctor, Elli soon finds learning English is [...]

Descriptors: Americas, Biography, United States of America, Young Adult (ages 14-18) » Other Themes: , , , » 1 Comment

Once upon a Full Moon

By Rebecca Ballenger | Published: October 29, 2008

Elizabeth Quan’s father had made a success in the New World, but he longed for his home in China. So in the early 1920’s, he and his family set out on an arduous trip to the far side of the world. By train, ship, ferry, cart, and on foot, Elizabeth, her parents, and her brothers [...]

Descriptors: Biography, Canada, China, Intermediate (ages 9-14), Picture Book, Primary (ages 6-9) » Other Themes: , , , , , , » Leave a comment

The Frozen Waterfall

By Rebecca Ballenger | Published: October 29, 2008

When she finally joins her father and brothers in their new home in Switzerland, a twelve-year-old Turkish girl encounters the tremendous difficulty of living in a foreign country without knowing the language and customs.

Descriptors: Intermediate (ages 9-14), Realistic Fiction, Switzerland, Turkey » Other Themes: , , , , , , » Leave a comment

A Song for Ba

By Rebecca Ballenger | Published: October 29, 2008

In the Chinese opera, men traditionally sing both male and female parts. Wei Lim’s father, Ba, however, usually plays masculine characters and sings in a deep bass voice. But Wei’s grandfather played female roles, and has secretly taught Wei to sing these difficult parts. When the New World’s entertainments begin to cause a shrinking audience [...]

Descriptors: Canada, Picture Book, Primary (ages 6-9), Realistic Fiction » Other Themes: , , , , , » Leave a comment

Angelina’s Island

By Yoo Kyung Sung | Published: August 2, 2007

Every day, Angelina dreams of her home in Jamaica and imagines she is there, until her mother finds a wonderful way to convince her that New York is now their home.

Descriptors: Caribbean, Jamaica, Picture Book, Primary (ages 6-9), Realistic Fiction » Other Themes: , , , , , » Comments closed