E-books - The Immigrant Experience

• American Panda by Gloria Chao

• My Almost Flawless Tokyo Dream Life by Rachel Cohn

• Picture Us In the Light by Kelly Loy Gilbert

• I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika L. Sánchez

• The Sun Is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon

Peer Book Review - Refugee

📖Recommend for Grades 6 and up📖

Refugee
by Alan Gratz
Reviewed by THMS 8th Grader Daniel P.
This story tells us how three immigrants called Josef, Isabel and Mahmoud want to leave their country. They want to leave due to wars in their countries. They go across oceans in an attempt to find a better home. All go through many obstacles. 

I would highly recommend this book. It shows how our world is and how many kids have to deal with adult problems. I hope many people read this great book. 

Library Catalog - E-book - Downloadable Audio

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Book Review - I am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter

📖Recommend for Grades 10 and up📖

I am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter

by Erika L. Sanchez

            Julia (pronounced who - lee – uh) and her older sister Olga are complete opposites. Olga is polite, helps around the house, respects her parents, and takes on traditional Mexican values. Julia wants to be more like her other American born peers and not follow so many rules. In other words, Olga is the perfect Mexican daughter, while Julia is not. When Olga dies suddenly, Julia makes the discovery that her sister kept secrets and may not have been so perfect after all. She sets out to discover these secrets all while struggling with her parent's expectations that seem to have grown since her sister’s death.

            When it comes to stories of being first-generation American/children of immigrants, Julia’s is not one to be missed. Julia is dealing with a lot over the course of this book and readers are likely to find themselves sympathizing and/or empathizing with her at various points. Her parents, particularly her mother, are not parents readers will be longing for but the reasoning behind how they treat their daughters is explained over time causing readers to understand them a bit more.     

Library Catalog - E-book - Downloadable Audio

Book Review - American Street

📖Recommend for Grades 9 and up📖

American Street

by Ibi Zoboi

Haitian teen Fabiola Toussaint is forced to continue the journey to Detroit, from Haiti alone after her mother is detained. Upon her arrival, she is greeted by a family who aren't as warm as the family she dreamed of. Now Fabiola must assimilate herself into a new school and culture, all without having her mother with her. To make matters worse Fabiola’s aunt and cousins all have secrets that may just end in disaster.

An intriguing story about immigrating to the United States. Fabiola’s journey is made easier by the fact that she was born in the United States. Readers will still feel what many people are going through today through her story. Not all of the characters are likable but those that aren’t shouldn’t really be liked to begin with.

Library Catalog - E-book - Downloadable Audio