Touching book about the immigrant experience.
598141
This book is for people of all walks of life: Those who believe in basic human values and wish equality, justice and wellness for all.  It is for parents who want to help their children to fulfill their potentials; for teachers who treat their students with fairness, kindness and dedication; and for students who learn the value of education and the meaning of good citizenship; for immigrants of all ages who might have experienced hardship in their countries of birth through war and social and political turmoil; and finally, it is the story of persistence and determination that one will finally succeed and reach his or her goals if stay hopeful and push forward for a better future by utilizing his or her emotional, social and intellectual capacity to the extent possible.
3455206
This was a very moving story.  It tells us about the courage immigrants had.  I could not put it down
551004
Finally, a nice positive book about where hard work and kindness can take you.  This is a story about overcoming difficulties and perseverence through hard times. It's a look at the true value of America's immigrants at a time when there is mistrust and hateful rhetoric. A quick and interesting read.
944910
the book is interesting overall. For someone who doe snot understand the subject of immigration this book opens your eyes on how foreigners overcome stereotypes and ways to fit in with the new society. Great book also because it is a detective story which engages the reader even deeper into the things that evolve as one reads on.
508795
This book was funny, sad and real. It is a story of many immigrant groups. I would recommend it to all my smart friends who enjoy good stories.
952460
Great insight into a immigrants perspective. I enjoyed it very much.
4459670
When Anas comes to America, things are very different from her life back home in Congo. Her family is split up, people don't speak in French, and the food is very strange. But Anass grandmother asked her to write letters in English and to include in each letter one good thing about America, and Anas is determined to keep her promise.

Starting on the first day of fourth grade, Anas writes often to Oma. At first, writing in English is hard, and finding good things to say about America is even harder. Sometimes worries about her Papa, her brother Olivier, and Oma overshadow the good things that are beginning to happen for Anas. But over time, Anas begins to make friends, build a community, and find many good things about America.

Told in compelling letters from Anas to her grandmother, One Good Thing About America is an important book for children to read today. Though Ruth Freeman is not herself an immigrant, her work as a teacher of English Language Learners in Maine has helped her to put her finger on the pulse of child immigrants in America today, and her compassion has allowed her to show the complexity of immigrating to a country in which the language, the customs, and the expectations are all completely unknown. The story includes not only Anass experiences, but also some insight into immigrants from Iraq, Somalia, and Libya. In my opinion, Freeman soft pedals the frictions and misunderstandings that are likely to occur between children in school, perhaps equally in service to other elements of the story and in order to keep the focus on the many other challenges immigrants must face. For me, this decision works and makes One Good Thing About America a hopeful and heartwarming read.

Id recommend this novel as a classroom or bedtime read-aloud or for students to read on their own. This debut novel will provoke great discussions between parents and children, teachers and students, and (dare I hope?) politicians and constituents.

I received an advance reader copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
761214
This is as beautiful and moving a book about the American immigrant experience as I've ever read.  While some reviewers criticized the plural voice, I found it a perfect way to articulate what was common and what was particular to the experience of the picture brides.
266549
Loved it! I read it while still in high school and I was moved by this story. Being of Irish ancestory myself, I felt like a piece of my own families history was intertwined within this book. Wonderful and thought provoking. I believe that I shed a tear while reading this. Recommend it to anyone trying to capture the essance of what it means to be an immigrant.
2784876
Just finished reading Professor's Jung first book, a memoir of his life. As the son of a paperson and also the son of a laundryman I can really relate to his experiences growing up and adjusting to living in two different cultures. Although I did not grow up in the South, our experiences in San Francisco have many parallels. Both our parents were in the laundry business.  We even attended the same high school, junior college, and university. It is the great story of immigration and the American dream. Both my parents were really peasants from southern China who came to America seeking a better life.  My father entered the country illegally as a paper son as did Professor Jung's father.  He was fortunate that his mother was able to come to the U.S. to join her husband in Macon, Georgia. Because of the immigration laws my mother waited almost 15 years to rejoin her husband. Yet despite great prejudice and within one generation most of the kids acquired college educations and became professionals. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the Chinese American experience.

This is the second book of Professor's Jung that I have read.  I also read his excellent history of the Chinese laundry.
3733288
As a Korean-American, this book personally touches my heart as it is filled with stories of many others like me. While I grew up with the Korean-American community, it was rare to actually talk about family struggles. This book made me realize that I wasn't alone, that many others experienced similar hardships. It's a great read if you're interested in hearing the immigrant life, and particularly the from 1.5/2nd generation Korean-American.

There's a lot of aspects of growing up as a 1.5/2nd generation people don't know about or realize, especially the reversed roles of the parent-child relationship.
3223121
I am not Korean-American but am the child of European immigrants.

I found this book fascinating because I have often been torn between the strong, often conflicting messages that I received as a child about the culture that I came from (Switzerland) and the culture that I lived in (U.S.A.)  While everyone goes through differentiation and must find their own way, those who create new practices weaving together more than one culture have a special challenge and opportunity to find what is authentic.  I found this book gave me perspective on my own situation.

"38 Chestnuts" is also a moving look at history, politics and economics, and how they affect people's lives.  The book is inspiring because readers experience courage in action, lived out on a daily basis, with beauty and goodness in unexpected places of hardship.  The book reminds us that the Korean--and worldwide--stories are unfinished and we must make peace with that, grateful for places of wholeness that we find.
718760
I enjoyed the book because it told a story of determination of the immigrants that came here many years ago.  It is an easy read for a lazy weekend.
2029719
Amor and Exile relates the true stories of couples consisting of an American citizen and an undocumented immigrant. Love knows no borders, but these lovers are living lives of fear, exile, and separation.  There are thousands of couples living under these conditions, but this is the first book to tell their stories.  The authors are a journalist (Hoffman) and an energetic and determined young American woman (Salgado) who is currently living in exile in Mexico so that her family can be together.

The style is engaging;  I found myself caring deeply about these people.  This book is a must-read at this time when immigration reform is being debated in Congress.  In fact, the authors raised money in order to distribute a copy to each Senator and Representative.
677139
This book expertly weaves the story of an immigrant family whose father was the worst kind of abuser, and makes it clear how it effects family members into adulthood.  It was beautifully written and I recommend it highly.
2814470
Genuine account of the immigrant family's struggle to establish themselves in a new land.  In particular, the courage of one boy to overcome insurmountable obstacles with the help of many kind people who believed in him.
749847
This was an insightful and engaging book. It gave a clear view of struggle when faced with adversity. It also dealt
with some aspects of travails of immigration.