Who Belongs Here?: An American Story [Paperback]

Margy Burns Knight (Author), Margy Burns Knight (Author), Anne Sibley O'brien (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 2003 | Age Level: 8 and up

Who Belongs Here? tells the story of Nary, a young boy fleeing war-torn Cambodia for the safety of the United States. To some of his new classmates, however, he is a "chink" who should go back where he belongs. But what if everyone whose family came from another place was forced to return to his or her homeland? Who would be left? This story teaches compassion for recent immigrants while sharing the history of immigration in America and some of the important contributions made by past immigrants. It is used in schools everywhere for units on immigration and tolerance.

The Who Belongs Here? Teacher's Guide, written by Margy Burns Knight and Thomas V. Chan, offers dozens of imaginative ideas for exploring immigration, refugees, and other topics related to diversity.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Following their well-received Talking Walls , Knight and O'Brien again team up for an affectionate if didactic exploration of connections among people world-wide. This time the message is filtered through the experience of Nary, a Cambodian refugee who immigrates to the U.S. with his grandmother after the death of both parents. Hostility toward immigrants and the impetus to work for change are explored. The central question, "What if everyone . . . whose ancestors came from another country was forced to return to his or her homeland? . . . Who would be left?" signals the book's design as a vehicle for discussion. The text itself pairs Nary's story with italicized information on immigration to the U.S. This strategy is only intermittently effective; younger readers may not be capable of making the conceptual jumps both Knight and O'Brien require, while older readers may chafe at the picture-book format. These limitations notwithstanding, the volume provides strong starting points for ongoing explorations of multicultural themes. Ages 7-13.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

Grade 3-5-Drawing on her experience as an ESL teacher, Knight introduces the fictional character Nary, a 10-year-old boy from Cambodia. Accompanying his story of leaving his homeland and settling in this country is a parallel text, set in italics, that expands some of the ideas presented. Sometimes it provides background information on U.S. immigration or history; at other times it serves to stimulate discussion, particularly on such topics as intolerance and prejudice. Notes in the back give additional material on individuals (Pol Pot, Dith Pran, Dolores Huerta) and concepts introduced earlier. Three-quarters of each double-page spread is covered with brightly colored, impressionistic pastel illustrations. Unfortunately, the texts do not blend well. Nary's story is choppy; the italicized portions are often superficial and not always relevant. For information strictly on Cambodian immigrants, consult Nancy Graff's Where the River Runs (Little, 1993).
Diane S. Marton, Arlington County Library, VA
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Paperback: 40 pages
• Publisher: Tilbury House Publishers (June 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0884481697
• ISBN-13: 978-0884481690
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 11.3 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #36,036 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars we need this book, December 18, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Who Belongs Here?: An American Story (Paperback)

Who Belongs Here is not as well known as Knight's other books probably because it is of controversial nature. But books such as this gem are perhaps the most important in our culture today. While the concepts in the book may go over the heads of youger children, an intriduction to taboo topics at an early age will prepare them to face realities as they grow. This, of course, depends on personal opinions about immigration and racism issues and how they should be addressed, but the story in this book can be used even through the high school years to allow students to look at the situation from an angle of a foreigner. We, as citizens of a conglomerate country, should thank Knight for bringing such a story to light.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The story of Nary's escape from the Khmer Rouge and his resettlement, October 5, 2009

By 

American Immigration Council's Community Educ... (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Who Belongs Here?: An American Story (Paperback)

Nary, a young refugee from Cambodia, is the subject of the book Who Belongs Here? Through narrative and illustrations, the story of Nary's escape from the Khmer Rouge and his resettlement, first in a Thai refugee camp and later in New York City, is told. Accompanying each part of the story is a running commentary on both how and why people immigrate to the United States. This story deals sensitively with the difficulties Nary faces and with the joy he experiences upon being accepted in his new community. This book would work well for young children, who might focus on Nary's story, and with older children, who may use Nary's experience as a way to study immigration history and the process of immigration.

2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars start a discussion in your classroom, April 21, 2005

By 

Mindy (St. Paul, MN United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Who Belongs Here?: An American Story (Paperback)

This book would work as a great discussion stimulator with older elementary school children. The fictional story of Nary, a young Cambodian refugee, is mixed with facts about immigration, citizenship, and other cultures. Young students may not be able to make the jump required to connect the story with the facts with the illustrations, but older students should not have a problem with this. The overall effect, though, is of disconnectedness. This won't be a book read for its story, though the story is an important one with themes teachers may want to use in their classrooms like immigration, multiculturalism, racism, tolerance, and refugees.