A New History of Immigration (True History) - Softcover

Backhaus, Jaclyn

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0593386124 ISBN 13: 9780593386125

Publisher: Penguin Workshop, 2022

Synopsis

"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.

About this title

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. 
 

Reviews

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

Edition details

• Publisher: Penguin Workshop
• Publication date: 2022
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0593386124
• ISBN 13: 9780593386125
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 160