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The Newcomers
The Newcomers: Finding Refuge, Friendship, and Hope in an American Classroom | Helen Thorpe
From an award-winning, meticulously observant (The New Yorker) writer comes a powerful and moving account of how refugee teenagers at a Denver public high school learn English and become Americans. The Newcomers follows the lives of twenty-two immigrant teenagers throughout the course of the 2015-2016 school year as they land at South High School in Denver, Colorado, in an English Language Acquisition class created specifically for them. Speaking no English, unfamiliar with American culture, their stories are poignant and remarkable as they face the enormous challenge of adapting. These newcomers, from fourteen to nineteen years old, come from nations convulsed by drought or famine or war. Many come directly from refugee camps, after experiencing dire forms of cataclysm. Some arrive alone, having left or lost every other member of their original family. At the center of The Newcomers is Mr. Williams, the dedicated and endlessly resourceful teacher of Souths very beginner English Language Acquisition class. If Mr. Williams does his job right, the newcomers will leave his class at the end of the school year with basic English skills and new confidence, their foundation for becoming Americans and finding a place in their new home. With the US at a political crossroads around questions of immigration, multiculturalism, and Americas role on the global stage, Helen Thorpe presents a fresh and nuanced perspective. The Newcomers is a transformative take on these timely, important issues.
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crhealey
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Kelly
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The audiobook performer has some odd quirks but the book is really great. Can't wait to finish it.

18 likes1 stack add
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ShariEstaLeando
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Pickpick

I‘ve been working in education with refugees for my entire adult career, over 30 years and I don‘t plan on stopping. Thank you, Helen Thorpe, for getting it right, for loving our kids & their families, for seeing them, for listening to their stories, for working to understand, for appreciating why we do what we do. Thank you for bringing our beautiful, brilliant, tenacious, courageous students into the public eye. ❤️

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Floresj
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Pickpick

Great book following the students of South HS would are in a beginner level English acquisition class. This book is about the students, their path to the US, what it's like to be a refugee in the US, and how hard it is to learn English (if your native language is very different than English). Inspiring and heartbreaking, it led me to understand that I know NOTHING about how hard life can be.

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GeekGrl82
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Pickpick

I can't begin to do this book justice in the space provided here, so follow the link to my Goodreads review. And then get yourself to a bookstore or library and find this book.

Here is a review by Kristy: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2184004229

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Janasue
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Oh, America, land of the brave, here is the Syrian refugee of whom you‘ve been so afraid, and he is nothing more than a kid who goes to the library on the weekend so that he can prepare for class.

RaimeyGallant Welcome to Litsy! #LitsyWelcomeWagon Some of us put together Litsy tips to help new Littens navigate the site. It's the link in my bio on my page in case you're interested. :) 6y
1 like1 comment
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Janasue
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At one point, I commiserated with Lisbeth about her circumstances, but she did not require pity. Instead she said, with complete acceptance of where she found herself, “Es mi historia.” It is my story.

1 like1 stack add
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BookishMarginalia
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Lazy Sunday afternoon in Bradenton, Florida

TheLibrarian I‘ll be down there in February. Great place -you should check out the little art district. Enjoy!!! 6y
Redwritinghood Bradenton! I‘ve been there quite a few times. My old college roommate lives there. It‘s a lovely spot. Hope you are enjoying it. 6y
MallenNC I didn't know about this book. I really liked Just Like Us so this one is stacked! 6y
150 likes5 stack adds3 comments
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BookishMarginalia
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Happy Sunday morning, dear Littens!

Ashley_Nicoletto That coffee. 🤤🤤🤤 6y
alexbaysinger That disembodied head. 👌 6y
GlassAsDiamonds @alexbaysinger had to look again (complete focused on the coffee), yep, disembodied head...!! 🤨🤨🤨 6y
MrBook Top o' the moorrrnin' to ya! 6y
193 likes1 stack add4 comments
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BookishMarginalia
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Coffee break at #LunaLatte with my friend Sheri — maple bacon cupcake!

BooksForEmpathy Yum!!! 6y
Jennick2004 Yes please! 6y
170 likes2 comments
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BookishMarginalia
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Lunch = gyro and lime Diet Coke with a side of book. Yum! 😋

ephemeralwaltz I'll have an extra side of book, please!😂 6y
CAnne Yum!! 6y
MrBook Oooooh! 6y
145 likes3 comments
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BookishMarginalia
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Good morning, Littens!

hermyknee I‘d love to read this book! This looks great. I can‘t wait to hear what you think. Maybe I can convince my school to buy some copies 😬 6y
140 likes5 stack adds1 comment
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WanderingBookaneer
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@BookishMarginalia decides whether or not this goes home with us.

tysephine Is it sad that I knew this was a Barnes and Noble before I scrolled down to the other post about going to B&N? 6y
HardcoverHearts By that cheeky grin, am I right to assume it‘s getting packed? 6y
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WanderingBookaneer @tysephine: Not sad, just a sign of your highly observant nature! 6y
MrBook 😁👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 6y
MrBook You and @BookishMarginalia bring @BookBabe and I such delight ☺️👏🏻. 6y
100 likes6 comments
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BookishMarginalia
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Dinner at the Sarasota Barnes & Noble 👍🏼💜

MrBook Love it! 6y
Gissy Ahhhhh! 📚😍 6y
saguarosally Sarasota you say? I‘m an hour north. :) 6y
145 likes1 stack add3 comments
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Garabrandtreviews
Pickpick

I loved this book, but it was difficult to get through. Our author goes to Denver Colorado to sit in on an ELA class for teen refugees. Here she learns the stories of different families from different countries whose kids come to class to learn English. I enjoyed seeing the kids come together, but to imagine what they went through and the hate m any still see.... it hurts. I think it's a necessary read in our current political climate

ShariEstaLeando It‘s the life of every immigrant, and every ESL teacher. This is what we do. This is how it goes down. 6y
5 likes1 comment