New Americans

“New Americans” had great historical information and is even more relevant with current events. It would be a great nonfiction title for schools to have.

Timely book, though it was published in 2014, about the immigration issue that has been around since the founding of America.  The book looks at each wave of immigrants, and discusses how the US, at the time, dealt with them, and thought of them.  Spoiler alert, each old group looked down on each new group.  Sheesh.

Good arguments given for each time period.  Well written discussions, and well documented stories of each wave.

Highly recommend for school and libraries.  Heck, we should really all read this.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.

As a family who lives in a multi-cultural neighborhood, the recent election and it's wide spread immigration comments have been a topic of discussion for our household over the last year.  As our children are home schooled, they have not had the opportunity to encounter racism very frequently, and their friends are diverse.  However, it has raised many questions as they watched the news and this was a perfect tool to help answer so many of them.  

This was also a perfect tool for my homeschooling family.  It was a perfect fit for my sixth grader, yet it was easy enough to understand that my first grader took an active part in the lesson and the following discussion.  It did not put an over emphasis on either side of the debate, yet stated clear facts and history to back up each side.  It also gave points and counter points to each side, which has led to many reoccurring discussions.  It used quotes from recognizable people to show emphasis to each side, quotes that we were able to discuss, and explore the motivations behind their opinions.  It also was a wonderful tool for the teaching of how to conduct a civil debate, and that each side needs a level of respect if anything is to be changed, or listened too.

This is a history book for young readers, I'm thinking 8-13 content wise, maybe up to 10-13 reading level wise.

It is a pretty good overview of immigration in America, dating back to before even Columbus, through colonization and into modern day. The pictures and layout are clean and eye catching. And the book does its best to present both sides of the dispute equally and easily for young readers. I like that legislation throughout American history and the social consequences of it are touched upon.

I gave it four stars because it does what it set out to do nicely. But, since I'm in APUSH, it was not particularly enjoyable. I'd recommend it to a 5th grade classroom, but not for anyone looking for nonfiction to read.