Who Belongs Here? An American Story by Margy Burns Knight

Illus by Anne Sibley O'Brien. 40 p., Tilbury House, 1993.
Immigration can include both trauma in a child's country of birth and prejudice, as well as joy, in his or her new home. Nary, about 10 years old, is a refugee from Cambodia. His parents were killed and he lives with his grandmother and uncle in the United States. This story explains the war in Cambodia and describes Nary's immigration through a refugee camp in simple language. Nary is happy about much of his life in the U. S. and finds ways to own both Cambodian and U.S. cultures. However, his classmates sometimes call him names such as chink and tell him that he doesn't belong here. When he tells his teacher about this hurtful experience, she or he responds with a lesson on immigration in which students act out parts of the process. Additional text on most pages puts Nary's immigration story - including the prejudice he experiences in the U. S. - in the context of the immigration of millions from many countries, as well as including information about native people. It also describes the multicultural origins of many foods we eat and of some English words. Raising the question of who really is an American, given that most Americans are immigrants or descendants of immigrants, this story questions the assumptions that underlie prejudice. Simultaneously, it provides an empathic view of immigration. A teacher's guide is available.

Ages 8-11
Main character's cultural background: Asian American
Cultural context: multicultural