Category: Immigration

Her Immigrant Story

10/15/2021

Where I Belong by Marcia Argueta Mickelson

High school senior Milagros Vargas' life has not been easy. But she has learned to cope, caring for her three younger siblings while her immigrant mother works long hours as a housekeeper, cook, and nanny for the Wheelers, prominent members of the Corpus Christi social elite.

In addition to family responsibilities, Millie has maintained a stellar academic record, earning a full scholarship to Stanford.

She has learned to keep a low profile. Her anonymity evaporates when Mr. Wheeler, in a bid for a congressional seat, reveals during a campaign speech that his housekeeper's daughter fled Guatemala with her parents, sought asylum, attained U.S. citizenship and is now an immigrant success story.

Milagros becomes the subject of news reports and internet trolls. Quiet, never-make-waves Millie is thrust into the spotlight, a position she never wanted. Media coverage as well as threats directed at her and her family intensify.

Eventually, she must decide if she will remain silent or speak out.

A strength of Mickelson's storytelling can be found in the details of Millie's personal interactions with her widowed mother whom she adores and does not want to disappoint, a younger sister who has to go to the bathroom at an inconvenient time, and the handsome Charlie Wheeler who suddenly seems interested in her.

Where I Belong is a richly layered narrative that explores headline-grabbing issues and the dynamics of personal relationships.

Audio copy accessed via Hoopla.

Pub date: September 7, 2021 Publisher: Carolrhoda Lab ISBN: 978-1541597976

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What Divides Us

7/27/2021

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Walls by L. M. Elliott

"Your children are wearing their dog tags, right? And you have an emergency bag packed...just in case?"
"Welcome to Berlin."

Current headlines include these concepts: borders, walls, refugees, family separations, authoritarian regimes. informants, and asylum seekers. These issues are not new. They were on the minds of people during the years following World War II.

Walls introduces young readers to the politics and intrigue behind a wall that was created sixty years ago as a guarded barrier, physically and ideologically dividing Berlin. This fictional account of events begins in August 1960 and culminates with initial construction of the Berlin Wall in August 1961.

Fifteen-year-old Drew McMahon and his family relocate to Berlin for his father’s next military duty assignment. They reside in the zone occupied by America.

Drew’s mother views this as an opportunity reconnect with her German relatives. She introduces her family to their German cousin Matthias who lives in the Soviet Union Sector. Initially, both boys appear to have little in common. Drew plays baseball and is an "army brat." Matthias is a skillful soccer player who pledged to take up arms against NATO.

The boys discover that they share an interest in contemporary music, the theater, and thought-provoking literature.

With maps, historical photos, and political cartoons, readers are introduced to Berlin after World War II. Each chapter begins with a selection of relevant historical photographs featuring images of world events from that time period. This structure offers readers a close-up view of the time and place, giving the narrative an authentic feel.

The text includes numerous German phrases (shown in italics) with context that supports comprehension. Back matter includes an Afterword, Acknowledgments, Photo Credits, Selected Sources including books, an article, documentaries, drama series, and films.

Based on actual events Elliott creates a gripping story of a city occupied by opposing countries. Spies are everywhere. Who can be trusted? What is safe? Elliott ratchets up the tension, building to a climactic heart-pounding dramatic escape, evading concertina wire and armed guards.

Walls is a glimpse into a pivotal moment in history that invites comparisons with contemporary events. Highly recommended.

Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.

Pub date: July 27, 2021 Publisher: Algonquin Young Readers ISBN: 978-1643750248

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The Other Side

7/5/2021

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"The Other Side is not so far away."

My Two Border Towns by David Bowles ill by Erika Meza

This little treasure is a love letter to community, culture, and heritage. My Two Border Towns chronicles a typical Saturday journey of a father and son to a nearby town. A routine that is both ordinary and extraordinary.

This twosome have an itinerary: begin with breakfast at a favorite restaurant, purchase grocery items requested by family and friends, fill medical prescriptions, visit with extended family, and make deliveries.

It seems to be a simple and straightforward description of a father and son outing. However, there is one important difference. The neighboring town is in another country. The two leave their home in the United States and travel to Mexico. This means stopping at a checkpoint, producing necessary documentation, and passing a border guard’s inspection. Spanish phrases are liberally sprinkled throughout the narrative with plenty of context to help young readers infer meaning. Spanish is evident, to a varying degree, in both towns.

The journey concludes with a stop at a center for refugees. It is obvious that this is not the first time the pair have visited the site. The boy calls an individual by name. He has come prepared with comics, notebooks, and pencils to share with children "stuck between two countries." After distributing their gifts, the pair head for home, hoping that someday they will be no longer be separated from their immigrant friends.

Cover art brilliantly depicts a mirrored image of young man. He’s the same person, but each image colors his world in a particular way. Both towns offer context and dimension to his life.

Title page features a stylized overhead view of the two towns, the river that divides them and the road that connects them. The image is a prelude to a story of separation and connection.

Illustrations for the town across the river are replete with local vivid details: papel picado (paper banners) and paletas (ice pops). Meza's art shows the landscape from a variety of views and perspectives.

Bowles has penned a gentle narrative that celebrates the unique qualities of living near a border town. It's a tribute to family and home. The neighboring Mexican community allows youngsters to appreciate similarities and differences. Text presents a sensitive view of those trapped between two countries, seeking for a place to call home. Reassuring. Hopeful.

Border Stories: Picture Books

Electronic copy accessed via Edelweiss.

Pub date: August 24, 2021 Publisher: Kolika ISBN: 978-0593111048

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Feast of Flavors

6/1/2021

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Dumplings for Lili by Melissa Iwai

It's going to be a special day. Nai Nai has invited Lili to help her make baos. This granddaughter not only loves to eat these steamed bundles of goodness, she loves to make them.

With charming watercolor illustrations, Lili describes each step. She begins by making the dough, then creating the filling, and finally tucking the filling inside each little pastry pillow. She refers to helpful cooking tips "secrets."

When Nai Nai is missing cabbage leaves to line the bamboo basket and keep the bao from sticking, Lili ventures up to Babcia's apartment on the 5th floor for cabbage. She discovers that Babcia has cabbage to share but needs a potato for the pierogi she is making. This pattern continues. Lili traipses up and down the stairs, locating a missing ingredient for the resident grandmothers as each cooks her own version of savory filled pastries: ravioli, tamales, beef patties, fatayer, pierogis and of course, baos.

A top floor view, looking down, reveals on all the flights of stairs Lili and her adorable dog must traverse. Note: a posted sign indicates that the elevator is out of service.

The multicultural culinary adventure concludes with neighbors sharing of each woman’s delicious specialty. A sweet surprises awaits Lili and readers on the final page.

Details from each apartment showcase the diversity of this community. In addition to learning various names for grandmother, readers are introduced to common phrases and greetings in a variety of languages.

An infographic offers a concise map of Lili’s journey throughout the apartment complex. The location for each type of dumpling is identified. Bonus: A bao recipe is included.

Melissa Iwai's Dumplings for Lili is delicious introduction to a variety of tastes and cultures.

Electronic copy accessed via NetGalley

Pub date: June 1, 2021Publisher: Norton Young Readers ISBN: 978-1324003427

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Uncharted Waters

5/4/2021

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Wishes by Mượn Thị Văn art by Victo Ngai

The tale begins in the dead of night as a young girl rouses from sleep and with her immediate family prepares to leave behind all that she has ever known and travel across the sea in search of the promise of safety and security.

Wishes tells the immigration story from an unusual point of view. This perilous journey is described through the wishes of inanimate objects.

A bag wished it was deeper.
The boat wised to be bigger.
The heart wished it was stronger.

As the boatload of passengers reach their destination, the narrative shifts to the perspective of the young migrant and her first wish as she views her new home.

Victo Ngai's illustrations are breathtaking. A tiny boat, crammed with passengers, sets sail across a vast ocean and beneath a starlit sky. There is a magical, almost otherworld quality to the image that graces the cover. This is the hope. The dream.
Interior images of the family collecting their belongings, bidding tearful goodbyes, and navigating the initial stages of the voyage are dark muted shades of gray. The color scheme adroitly changes to fiery reds and oranges as blistering rays of the sun torment the migrants with unrelenting heat. As the destination comes into view the reds soften to pinks and violet. Hope is in sight.
Artwork spans each two-page spread, completely filling the pages. There is no white space. The poignant narrative demands every inch of each page.

Hopeful. Haunting. Heart-wrenching. Wishes is an unforgettable journey.

Mượn Thị Văn based the narrative on her family's experience as immigrants and refugees. Her sparse yet thoughtfully selected text tells a powerful story.

Immigrants All

Beautiful picture books tell of crossing uncharted waters to begin life in a new country. Come onboard and witness the immigrant experience.

Immigrating to an unfamiliar land where everything is strange.

What if all you could carry on your journey was a teacup of soil from your homeland?

"A young man... left his home in Japan and went to see the world."

Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.

Pub date: May 4, 2021 Publisher: Orchard Books ISBN: 978-1338305890

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Migrant Children

4/12/2021

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Hear My Voice/Escucha mi voz:
The Testimonies of Children Detained at the Southern Border of the United States
compiled by Warren Binford forward by Michael Garcia Bochenek

The plight of immigrants arriving at the United States’ Southern Border is well documented. Politicians, media outlets, community leaders, humanitarian groups, and religious organizations have weighed in on the subject.

Sadly, the viewpoint of one faction is often overlooked.

Children. What do migrant children have to say about their situation? They live the experience. Day in. Day out.
Project Amplify documented what these minors had to say. Sixty-one young migrants from Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador, Ecuador, and Mexico describe in poignant detail their lives in detention centers. Warren Binford, a private citizen who inspects detention facilities, collected sworn statements of children ranging from ages five to sixteen. To protect each child’s identity, only the initial letter of a name identifies the author of individual testimonies.
This picture book offers a glimpse into the lives of migrants trapped in horrific conditions.

Seventeen Mexican and Mexican Americans artists illustrate the children’s descriptions of their current surroundings. These artists’ distinctive illustration styles offers readers a views of the migrant experience from multiple perspectives. Follow the links listed below to view the work of each visual artist.

Back matter contains historical context, basic information, and a description of current conditions. There are questions to ask, things to think about, and suggestions for individuals who want to help relieve the youngsters' difficult circumstances.

The heartbreaking messages and visually arresting art cannot be ignored. This dual English/Spanish picture book moves the frame of reference away from political dialogue. Hear My Voice/Escucha mi voz focuses attention on those who are unable to help themselves. Hear what they have to say.

"I am holding both little girls in my lap to try to comfort them.
I need comfort, too. I am bigger than they are, but I am a child, too."

Want to help?

"Project Amplify is a national nonprofit (501c3) launched to establish legal protections for children in government care." Co-Founders Professors Warren Binford, Hope Frye, Erin Albanese work to shape legislation and provide legal support for child migrants. All royalties from Hear My Voice/Esucha mi voz will be donated to Project Amplify.

Meet the Artists

Acknowledging these generous artists and their incredible work.

Cecilia Ruiz, Yuyi Morales, Juan Palomino, Paco Santoyo, Adriana Campos, Salomón Duarte Granados, Flavia Zorrilla Drago, Bayo Flores, Edith Valle, Gloria Féliz, Mirelle Ortega, María Lumbreras, Addy Rivera Sonda, Raul Gonzalez III,
Beatriz Gutierriz Hernandez, Daniela Martín del Campo, Dominique Arce.

Stories to Read and Share

Picture books for young readers.

Chapter books for middle grade.

Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.

Pub date: April 13, 2021 Publisher: Workman Publishing Company ISBN: 978-1523513482

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Will You Ever Fly Again?

12/11/2020

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The Land of the Cranes by Aida Salazar

Not every story has a happily-ever-after. Some stories are drawn from the well of sorrows and painted with tears of anguish. Aida Salazar gives young audiences a searing portrait of the life of girl trapped in the nightmare of an immigrant from Mexico seeking asylum in the United States.

Betita lives in East Los Angeles with her parents who are undocumented workers, hoping to find a permanent home in the United States. Her father works as a construction laborer and dishwasher. Her pregnant mother earns money as a nanny. Though life is challenging, these parents dream of building a new life for their family in the United States.

One day the unthinkable happens. Papi is apprehended by ICE agents for failure to appear in court and is taken into custody. Betita is left with an aching heart and a small square of fabric from her father's pillow.

Hoping to connect with Papi at a park in San Diego, mother and daughter travel south with relatives. Tragically, they are stopped by border patrol and sent to a detention center. Conditions in the facility are despicable. Detainees live inside a chain link fence cage and sleep on a concrete floor with only a foil blanket. Unsanitary conditions and poor food threaten the life of Mami and the child developing within her womb. They endure daily acts of senseless hostility and cruelty.

Betita recalls her father's stories of their proud heritage. They are travelers from the land of the cranes. Now Betita is longer able to soar. Confined to a wire cage, hope seems lost. This resourceful girl discovers a way to cope. Her fourth-grade teacher showed her how to create picture poems, recording her life with words and images. She keeps a daily journal using her poetry and art to express her feelings.

There are no simple solutions. With little hope for asylum, there seems to be no influential individual that can rescue this suffering family. Mami eventually decides to sacrifice her dream of freedom and security to save herself and her two children. The plight of these individuals is painful to witness.

The Land of Lost Cranes, a fictionalized depiction of undocumented individuals, is gut wrenching. This novel in verse, exquisitely expressing a young girl’s longing, will find a place in the hearts of readers everywhere.

Border Stories

These picture books introduce youngster to tales of immigrants coming to American from Mexico and the Caribbean.

Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.

Pub date: September 15, 2020 Publisher: Scholastic Press ISBN: 978-1338343809

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Immigrant Voices

8/6/2020

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Immigrants. Leaving the world you know and venturing into the unfamiliar. Escaping oppression, violence, poverty, deprivation. For some, the only option is to flee. Several books published in 2020 for teens and middle grade students focus on the immigrant experience. In the face of uncertainty and fear, these are stories of hope.

Everything Sad is Untrue (a true story)
by Daniel Nayeri

Like Scheherazade, Nayeri weaves a thousand and one tales into an opulent Persian tapestry: a story of mythology and memoir, of lineage and loss. A story that is as true as what you see with your own eyes and as real as what you cannot see.
The saga begins as a ten-year-old Iranian refugee stands up in an Oklahoma schoolroom and tells classmates his story, his history.
There are so many things going on in this narrative. Several pages are devoted to considerations of poop. It should not be surprising. This is not some esoteric philosophical treatise, although there are ample references to God and religion, anxiety and resilience, dignity and prejudice. At its core, it is a story of basic human needs. It's a story of survival. Nayeri lays bare his heart, his devotion to his mother, his complicated relationship with his father. It’s a guidebook for navigating a strange western culture and for methodically escaping the cruelty of others. It’s all of it.

Readers will note that the narrative does not move in a linear fashion. There are spirals which move forward only to fall back, then spin forward again. All are encompassed within a slowly revolving story arc. It sounds a bit messy, but the story threads are easy to follow.
Everything Sad is Untrue (a true story) is a book like no other. It's like claiming a seat in that Oklahoma classroom and being transported to a world that is somehow familiar and yet one that you never knew existed.

Pub date: August 25, 2020 Publisher: Levine Querido

Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.

Stand Up, Yumi Chung!
by Jessica Kim

A middle grade tale that is funny, heartwarming and painfully honest. Daughter of immigrant parents, eleven-year-old Yumi Chung constantly feels parental pressure to excel academically.
Mom has decided that Yumi will spend her summer with tutoring sessions in preparation for the SSAT, Secondary School Admission Test. Yumi grudgingly heads off for morning test prep sessions combined with three hours of afternoon study at the library.
Then something amazing happens.
She discovers a comedy club adjacent to the library. YouTube sensation Jasmine Jasper is facilitating a comedy camp. Yumi succumbs to temptation and steps inside. She is mistaken for a camp registrant who failed to show. Here’s Yumi’s chance to shine. Performing using another identity frees her from stage fright. She is a success!

Unfortunately, the family restaurant is experiencing a significant financial downturn. Yumi wants to quit the prestigious and expensive private school favored by her parents and enroll in the new Performing Arts Magnet School.
She is juggling working at the restaurant, attending morning test prep classes, maintaining the pretense of studying daily at the library, preparing a routine for an upcoming comedy club showcase, and assuming the identity of another workshop participant. It all comes crashing down.
Readers will sympathize with Yumi as she tries to unravel the mess that she has created, support the family's business, honor her parents’ wishes, and find a way to realize her dream. Everything doesn't work out perfectly. There are heartbreaking moments and several compromises. However... there are jokes!
Like Korean barbecue Stand Up, Yumi Chung! is sweet with a few salty tears but definitely savory. YUM! Kudos Jessica Kim.

Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.

Pub date: March 17, 2020 Publisher: Kokila

Letters From Cuba
by Ruth Behar

Late 1930's were perilous times in Europe. The Nazi party was ascending to power and invading surrounding nations.
Twelve-year-old Esther’s family are Polish Jews. They face a future filled with uncertainty and fear. Bravely Esther leaves her mother, siblings, and grandmother to join her father in Cuba. The plan: father and daughter will secure funds for the entire family to escape the dire conditions in their homeland and emigrate to Cuba.
Through a series of letters to her sister, Esther describes her life in this new country. Her correspondence is infused with sensory descriptions: luscious tropical fruit, beautiful countryside, eloquent Spanish language, and the poetry of José Matí. She tells of heartbreaking setbacks and small triumphs.
Initially, the two earn money peddling religious statues in the predominantly Catholic villages. It seems an unusual thing: Jews selling religious statues. Sadly, this venture produces little income.

Their fortunes begin to look up when, desperate for suitable clothing to wear in the oppressive heat, Esther designs and sews a lightweight comfortable dress to replace her heavy woolen clothing. By hand, she sews similar dresses for her friends. Several of her creations are displayed in a local shop. Then the miraculous happens. Esther receives a sewing machine. With help from her father, the two make attractive lightweight dresses for women in the village. Eventually her designs are sold to a buyer in Havana. Now there is hope that she can earn enough money to reunite her family in Cuba. After some tense moments, the family obtains the necessary money to emigrate.
Esther is the star of this story. Her resourcefulness, hard work, willingness to try new things, and acceptance of other cultures and customs make the story shine.
This epistolary middle grade novel was inspired by Behar's grandmother’s journey from Poland to Cuba. Her story offers young readers a fresh perspective on a contemporary issue. Letters from Cuba is a mind-opening, heart-expanding look at the plight of immigrants, the far-reaching effects of World War II, and the stain of racism.

Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.

Pub date: August 25, 2020 Publisher: Nancy Paulsen Books

Illegal
by Francisco X. Stork

Siblings Sara and Emiliano Zapata are on the run, hoping to elude an international human trafficking cartel. Illegal continues their story which began with Disappeared. After leaving Juárez, Mexico, the two separately cross the Rio Grande River, hoping to outpace and outsmart the syndicate.
The story is told in the alternating voices of the brother and sister. Sara opts to legally request asylum as she believes that ample documentation will support her amnesty claim. Emiliano chooses to go underground, hiding in the back of a horse trailer to evade detection and eventually living in the basement of his father’s home in a Chicago suburb.
The two share an dangerous secret: a cell phone containing damning photographs and documents detailing human trafficking that originates in Mexico and extends into the United States. Sara entrusts the phone to her brother. Sara and Emiliano must protect this valuable piece of evidence without endangering one another.

Stork ratchets up the tension as both lives are on the line. Sara is locked in solitary confinement within a detention center in Fort Stockton, Texas because she refuses to disclose the whereabouts of her brother. Emiliano tries to stay one step ahead of a killer hired to track down the phone. It’s a nail biting, intense read.
The narrative includes fascinating details about everything from technical processes used to open a phone to some of the legal intricacies in the asylum process. A surprising betrayal keeps the central characters constantly questioning who to trust. Both siblings are faced with moral dilemmas. There are no easy solutions. Every choice has positive and negative consequences.
An electrifying story that could have been ripped from today's headlines. This can't-put-down story of danger, intrigue, and corruption will keep readers rapidly turning pages. It's action and suspense to the max.

Note: All author royalties from this book will go to local shelters for immigrants.

Uncorrected copy provided by author.

Pub date: August 4, 2020 Publisher: Scholastic Press

When Stars are Scattered
by Victoria Jamieson & Omar Mohamed

Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed's When Stars Are Scattered introduces readers to the reality of survival for displaced individuals, an existence filled with deprivation, uncertainty, and boredom.
Jamieson chronicles the childhood of Somali refugees Omar Mohamed and his younger brother Hassan.
The narrative is based on Omar’s memories. He and Hassan escaped Somalia's civil war, lost contact with their parents, and were given shelter at a camp located in Kenya. Looked after by a kind woman, they subsist on meager rations and sleep in a tiny tent. Omar assumes responsibility for disabled brother's daily care. Life changes when a UN worker suggests that Omar attend a school organized for the camp's children. Education becomes his lifeline and an escape from the grim reality of camp life. Fifteen long years later, the two resettle in Arizona.

Drawings are clean and uncluttered, keeping the focus on these young siblings. Each frame becomes a metaphor for life within the refugee camp. Omar remains trapped inside the confining panel boundaries. There are a few instances where Omar breaks through the restrictive lines which limit him. The inference is that education breaks the confines that hold him captive.
Color tends to be flat except the expanse of sky, where a breathtaking array of hues ranging from soft pinks to deep blues are sprinkled with the glimmering pinpoints of tiny stars. The sky appears limitless.
Jamieson takes a few liberties with Mohamed's story, fleshing out the narrative with additional characters. Two fictional camp residents deal with the harsh realities for girls in this society: few basic personal supplies, limited education opportunities, and arranged marriages at a young age.
With extraordinary grace and simplicity, Mohamed and Jamieson put a name and a face on the plight of refugees. The suffering and unsettled circumstances are evident on every page. Without undue sentimentality or overwrought emotion, young Omar’s story is simple and straightforward yet powerful in its impact.
This graphic novelization of Omar’s life as a refugee is heart wrenching and eye opening. It's the story of the bond that connects siblings, living with a disabled family member, a repressive view of women, and the long-lasting aftereffects of war. Notwithstanding these obstacles, this is a story of hope.

Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.

Pub date: April 14, 2020 Publisher: Dial Books

The Everything I Have Lost
by Sylvia Zéleny

Thirteen-year-old Julia keeps a deeply personal journal describing her life near the Mexico-United States border. Over the course of approximately two years she discloses her fears, her uncertainty, and the longings of her heart. Detailed lists and commentary reveal her life, her everything.
Living in Juárez with father, mother, and younger brother Willy, Julia’s life experiences a seismic shift when her father begins working for the mafia. She assumes that he is a courier. Suddenly the family has a new car, a new house, and many luxury items. But wealth has a downside.
Mamá is no longer her confidant. Her mother’s primary objective is to protect and care for her husband. In an attempt to shield her children from the mob's influence and possible retribution, she sends Julia and Willy to live with family in El Paso. Young Julia faces an uncertain and frightening existence. She must adjust to a new city, new home, new school, new language.

She is angry with her father who mysteriously vanishes for long periods of time. She resents her mother for what she perceives as abandonment of her children. She feels that she must accept responsibility for Willy and be the mother he no longer has. This is a heavy burden for a young girl to carry.
When her life in Juárez is forever gone, she makes a startling discovery. Her father is more than a courier. He is a hit man.
Julia is devastated. Her pain bleeds across her diary pages.
She enters an American high school with a few glimmers of hope. She makes a friend and tells him of her shameful secret. Her great grandmother becomes a source of constancy and comfort. Mamá reunites with Julia and Willy in the United States and takes tentative steps to reconnecting with family.
The Everything I Have Lost is a story that is bleak and often terrifying. It paints a picture of survival and finding hope when things seem hopeless. Zéleny's prose is poignant and piercing in its honesty and humanity.

Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.

Pub date: February 11, 2020 Publisher: Cinco Puntos Press

Superman Smashes the Klan
by Gene Luen Yang

A comic book set in 1946 with 2020 sensibilities features the traditional superhero trope: Man of Steel versus an archenemy. Metropolis is plagued with a sinister influence. It’s up to the caped crusader with an assist from a couple of kids to defeat evil and protect the city’s citizens.
Inspired by the 1940s Superman radio series “Clan of the Fiery Cross,” Gene Luen Yang chronicles a lesser-known aspect of bigotry and racism in American history: Chinese Americans targeted by white supremacists.
The narrative has two plot threads. Alternating stories chronicle a Chinese American family's move from Chinatown to a new neighborhood. This is juxtaposed with the tale of a superhero arriving to earth from another planet. Both threads explore the plight of individuals who are perceived as different. Both are stories of immigrants. Stories of aliens.

Dr Lee, his children Tommy and Roberta, and mandarin-speaking wife move from Chinatown to a suburban Metropolis home. Sadly, some people do not welcome the Lee family. They are subjected to subtle and overt racism. One night Tommy and Roberta watch in horror when hooded Klansmen chant “One Race! One Color! One Religion!" and burn a cross in their neighborhood.
Superman is having his own interior conflict. Readers follow a flashback when young Clark decides that his incredible powers are an unwelcome stigma. He resolves to conceal his capabilities, hoping for acceptance among his peers. Years later, Superman's parents from Krypton appear to their adult son and encourage him to accept and use all his remarkable strengths.
Things end well. After a frightening abduction, an injury, and a harrowing escape, the leaders of the Klan are exposed and their plans for destruction are foiled.
The script is laced with clever dialog as well as tongue-in-cheek humor. While characters remain true-to-form, Yang fleshes out the Superman with a compelling backstory. Smooth segues between the two story lines create a seamless narrative.
Gurihiru's art has a distinctive 1940's vibe. Panel size and placement moves the story forward at a fast pace. Large two-page illustration spreads are background for panel inserts which advance the action. A dazzling two-page spread exposes the horror of cross burning. Angled panels accentuate action sequences.
The author’s note, "Superman and Me" provides context to Superman Smashes the Klan. Gene Luen Yang interweaves the development of the Superman mythos, a brief history of targeting Chinese Americans and other marginalized people, the rise of the Ku Klux Klan, and challenges faced by immigrants. The account is broad in its scope while also a deeply personal reflection on superheroes, bigotry, and the immigrant experience.

Uncorrected copy provided by publisher.

Pub date: May 12, 2020 Publisher: DC Comics

Want to Help?

Looking for ways to help refugees?

Omar Mohamed's initiative helps students in an African refugee camp succeed in school Refugee Strong.

Inspiring stories from the people who have welcomed refugees. International Rescue Committee offers specific suggestions to support refugees.

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Her Immigrant Story

Where I Belong by Marcia Argueta Mickelson

What Divides Us

Walls by L. M. Elliott

The Other Side

My Two Border Towns by David Bowles ill by Erika Meza

Border Stories: Picture Books

Feast of Flavors

Dumplings for Lili by Melissa Iwai

Uncharted Waters

Wishes by Mượn Thị Văn art by Victo Ngai

Immigrants All

Migrant Children

Hear My Voice/Escucha mi voz:
The Testimonies of Children Detained at the Southern Border of the United States
compiled by Warren Binford forward by Michael Garcia Bochenek

Want to help?

Meet the Artists

Stories to Read and Share

Will You Ever Fly Again?

The Land of the Cranes by Aida Salazar

Border Stories

Immigrant Voices

Everything Sad is Untrue (a true story)
by Daniel Nayeri

Stand Up, Yumi Chung!
by Jessica Kim

Letters From Cuba
by Ruth Behar

Illegal
by Francisco X. Stork

When Stars are Scattered
by Victoria Jamieson & Omar Mohamed

The Everything I Have Lost
by Sylvia Zéleny

Superman Smashes the Klan
by Gene Luen Yang

More Stories

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Archives

Barbara Moon

Where I Belong by Marcia Argueta Mickelson

Walls by L. M. Elliott

My Two Border Towns by David Bowles ill by Erika Meza

Border Stories: Picture Books

Dumplings for Lili by Melissa Iwai

Wishes by Mượn Thị Văn art by Victo Ngai

Immigrants All

Hear My Voice/Escucha mi voz:The Testimonies of Children Detained at the Southern Border of the United Statescompiled by Warren Binford forward by Michael Garcia Bochenek

Want to help?

Meet the Artists

Stories to Read and Share

The Land of the Cranes by Aida Salazar

Border Stories

Everything Sad is Untrue (a true story)by Daniel Nayeri

Stand Up, Yumi Chung! ​by Jessica Kim

Letters From Cuba​by Ruth Behar

Illegal​by Francisco X. Stork

When Stars are Scatteredby Victoria Jamieson & Omar Mohamed

The Everything I Have Lost​by Sylvia Zéleny

Superman Smashes the Klan​by Gene Luen Yang

More Stories

Want to Help?

Category

Archives

Barbara Moon

Hear My Voice/Escucha mi voz:
The Testimonies of Children Detained at the Southern Border of the United States
compiled by Warren Binford forward by Michael Garcia Bochenek

Everything Sad is Untrue (a true story)
by Daniel Nayeri

Stand Up, Yumi Chung!
by Jessica Kim

Letters From Cuba
by Ruth Behar

Illegal
by Francisco X. Stork

When Stars are Scattered
by Victoria Jamieson & Omar Mohamed

The Everything I Have Lost
by Sylvia Zéleny

Superman Smashes the Klan
by Gene Luen Yang