A New History of Immigration

by Jaclyn Backhaus, Jennifer Sabin (Created by), Christopher Sebastian Parker (Introduction)

Overview

"An accessible and frank primer on immigration in the United States. [A] much-needed exploration of the truths behind U.S. immigration history." — STARRED REVIEW, School Library Journal
 
Introducing a new nonfiction series that uncovers hidden histories of the United States.

The true story of a nation of immigrants and its dreamers.

The United States has long been touted as a place where anyone with a little grit and determination could come to pursue the American Dream. But as more walls are erected and borders are closed, is that dream still alive today? 
Complete with an 8-page color photo insert, A New History of Immigration introduces young readers to alternative histories of immigration beyond Ellis Island and amplifies the voices of marginalized immigrants and their stories of success.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780593386125
Publisher:	Penguin Young Readers Group
Publication date:	08/30/2022
Series:	True History
Pages:	160
Sales rank:	414,675
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.40(h) x 0.40(d)
Lexile:	1250L (what's this?)
Age Range:	10 - 13 Years

About the Author

Jaclyn Backhaus is a playwright and the winner of the 2018 Horton Foote Prize for her play India Pale Ale. She lives in Brooklyn, New York.

Christopher Sebastian Parker is a professor of Social Justice and Political Science at the University of Washington. His work can be found in the New York Times, Washington Post, and Politico. He regularly appears on MSNBC, PBS, C-SPAN, and the History Channel. He lives in Seattle, Washington.

Table of Contents

Introduction: A Note from Professor Christopher Sebastian Parker 6

Prologue: "The Conversation" 13

Chapter 1 America: A Nation of Immigrants? 17

Chapter 2 The Power of Words 39

Chapter 3 Our Borderlands 56

Chapter 4 Early Waves of Immigration 74

Chapter 5 The Statue of Liberty, the Golden Door 100

Chapter 6 Asian Immigration and the Civil Rights Movement 115

Chapter 7 Moving Forward from "Going Back" 128

Chapter 8 America's Future 138

Epilogue: A Final Note from Jennifer Sabin, the Creator of True History 152

Selected Bibliography 160

Editorial Reviews

★ 07/22/2022

Gr 5–8—An accessible and frank primer on immigration in the United States. Dramatist and third-generation immigrant Backhaus pokes holes in the long-held beliefs that this is a "nation of immigrants" or a "melting pot." Succinctly breaking down terms like settler colonialism, refugee, asylum seeker, nativism, and more, the author pulls back the veil on the often-racist policies that have determined who settles here and is allowed to build a life in this country. Many of these definitions are set apart in gray boxes that are featured within the body of the narrative, never breaking the flow of the text. Each chapter concludes with discussion questions that can be used in a classroom setting. Told mostly chronologically, from the genocide of Indigenous tribes to the enslaved people who were brought here against their will—who the author clarifies are not immigrants—to the European, Asian, and Latinx populations that arrived in the last 400 years, the work comprehensively details our complex immigration history. Backhaus also presents the current state of immigration, including coverage of the impact of COVID-19 and DACA, and the activists who are working hard to make sure that all people trying to enter this country have access to resources and human rights. Included are photos of tenement housing from the early 1900s; the Statue of Liberty; and Congressman John Lewis, who was a strong advocate for immigration rights. Sprinkled throughout are primary sources like firsthand accounts and reproductions of letters. VERDICT A thorough and much-needed exploration of the truths behind U.S. immigration history. An excellent choice for collections.—Shelley M. Diaz

School Library Journal

Reena Dutt empathetically narrates this unique mix of nonfiction about immigration, which includes historical facts and true stories from the author's own family. Dutt conveys the author's emotional distress over historical and modern-day injustices. The listener hears her voice quaver when explaining the symbolism of the Statue of Liberty and the experiences of Jewish refugees, in particular. The book challenges the precept that we are a "nation of immigrants," noting that our national lands were inhabited prior to colonization and that many of these early inhabitants were not settlers, but enslaved people who were trafficked against their will. The contributions of and prejudice against Asian immigrants is covered well, but experiences at the Angel Island immigration site in California receive less attention. L.T. © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine

SEPTEMBER 2022 - AudioFile

Reena Dutt empathetically narrates this unique mix of nonfiction about immigration, which includes historical facts and true stories from the author's own family. Dutt conveys the author's emotional distress over historical and modern-day injustices. The listener hears her voice quaver when explaining the symbolism of the Statue of Liberty and the experiences of Jewish refugees, in particular. The book challenges the precept that we are a "nation of immigrants," noting that our national lands were inhabited prior to colonization and that many of these early inhabitants were not settlers, but enslaved people who were trafficked against their will. The contributions of and prejudice against Asian immigrants is covered well, but experiences at the Angel Island immigration site in California receive less attention. L.T. © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine

SEPTEMBER 2022 - AudioFile