From School Library Journal
Gr 4-7--Two books that offer readers a window into the experiences of families who have made their way from their homelands to settle in the U.S. Each title begins with a general description of the history and culture of the people in their native land, followed by an exploration of some of the reasons that the particular family had for leaving. Full-color photographs appear throughout. The Mien family, the Saechaos, were refugees from Laos. The parents, Farm On and Ta Jow, met in a refugee camp in Thailand, and the story of their eventual settlement in Portland, OR, makes for interesting reading. The culture shock they experienced and the tensions between the parents and their Americanized children are described. The Mendez family are Mayan Indian descendants who escaped political turmoil in Guatemala, and lived here for many years as illegal aliens. In this case, it was the grandparents who were the immigrants more than 15 years ago. This family is concerned with making sure that the children, born in the United States, learn about and value their cultural heritage. Both of these books follow the same general format, with maps clearly indicating the journey undertaken by the refugees and the narrative interweaving scenes from the past and present. The texts are clearly written in serviceable, if unexciting, language. They are not essential purchases, but would be useful in supporting curriculum on contemporary immigration. --Linda Greengrass, Bank Street College Library, New York City
Copyright 1997 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
--Ce texte fait référence à une édition épuisée ou non disponible de ce titre.
