The Newcomers by Helen Thorpe

Title: The Newcomers Finding Refuge, Friendship, and Hope in an American Classroom
By: Helen Thorpe
Published: 2017
Call #: 373.1826 Thorp. H

As one reviewer said, “Few books could be more vital in this particular moment.” Helen Thorpe spends a year in the classroom at South High School in Denver that welcomes immigrants who don’t speak any English. She gets to know all the refugees including immigrants from Iraq, Democratic Republic of Congo, El Salvador, Mozambique, Burundi and Mexico! The subtitle is “Finding Refuge, Friendship, and Hope in an American Classroom,” which is the experience of the teenagers in the story, but is also the experience of the author who visited this classroom the year preceding the Trump presidency.

I loved reading about the amazing lives and struggles of teenagers making such enormous life changes, often following tragedy or great fear. As soon as I finished, I began to miss the kids. Well written and compelling.

 

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