  | One good thing about America Author: Freeman, Ruth | |
| Price: $21.36 | ||
Summary:
Anais, who has recently emigrated from Africa to Maine with her mother and young brother, copes with acclimating herself to a new country, understanding American culture, learning English, figuring out how to fit in at school, and moving from motel to shelter and finally to a permanent apartment.
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| Accelerated Reader Information: Interest Level: MG Reading Level: 3.90 Points: 4.0 Quiz: 189824 |
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (02/15/17)
Booklist (05/01/17)
Full Text Reviews:
Booklist - 05/01/2017 Anaïs and her mother and brother have just arrived in America from Congo, and in a series of letters to her oma, the nine-year-old shares stories about learning English and a new culture, all while worrying about her father, who’s still in Africa. Freeman is very clear that she doesn’t have firsthand experience as a refugee, but she makes a significant effort to imbue the story with empathy and realistic humor as Anaïs learns the idiosyncrasies of American language and culture. Anaïs’ letters to her grandmother occur regularly over the course of the year, and as she becomes more adept at the language, the letters also gradually reveal details about the circumstances of her move to the U.S. and what life might be like for a refugee family newly arrived in America, including shelters, social workers, and public programs. Anaïs’ epistolary story, told in easy-to-read letters and charming doodles, might be empowering to English-language learners; and middle-graders unfamiliar with such experiences might find new depths of compassion and understanding. - Copyright 2017 Booklist.
