The middle grade novel, Everything Sad is Untrue (A True Story), is written by Daniel Nayeri. Daniel was a refugee himself, leaving Iran and coming to Oklahoma at age eight. The book is his story, how he remembers it. Daniel’s story is heart-breaking but beautiful in the same moment. So many difficult and unfair things happen to Daniel and his family, but through it all he is resilient--something he learns from his mother. The way Daniel is treated will remind readers of the value of kindness and will make them think before they judge another for being different. This book is a great opportunity to discuss how we treat others, whether we are kind like some of the characters or whether we are cruel like others. It gives the reader the opportunity to empathize with Daniel’s experiences and is perspective altering. I would recommend it for 5th-grade readers and above. There are mentions of drugs at several points in the story, just to warn sensitive readers.
Reading is something that has brought me joy and helped me relate to others and the world around me throughout my life. I believe that sharing books together is one of the quickest and most effective ways to connect with one another. Sharing books about life experiences can bring us closer even when our experiences are vastly different. On this blog, I share some of my favorite books that help me connect with my refugee friends. I hope as you find out about great books about refugees you and your children will feel a connection with their experiences and recognize that we are all more similar than we realize. I also share books that might help you to teach the children in your sphere of influence more about compassion, tolerance, and kindness as these traits help bring us all a little closer in the world.
Voice Your Support for Afghan Adjustment
The Afghan Adjustment (AA) has been reintroduced in both the House (H.R.4627) and the Senate (S.2327) of the United States by a bipartisan group of legislators. We invite you to join us in honoring our promise to our Afghan allies by urging your representatives to pass the Afghan Adjustment!
Uniting for Ukraine: U.S. Sponsors Needed
Just as citizens in Europe and the U.K. have heroically supported displaced Ukrainians by opening up their homes or securing other housing, assisting with school enrollments, employment needs, and language learning, Americans now have the opportunity via the Welcome.us Sponsor Circles program to directly help newly arrived Ukrainians. The United States has committed to welcoming 100,000 Ukrainians temporarily for a period of two-years and the ability to apply for employment authorization in the U.S. as long as they have a U.S.-based sponsor to petition for them.
Call for Comments - Refugee Resettlement
If you have a story, experience or opinion to share in support of our Afghan allies, we ask you to share it to help us demonstrate public support for legislation that supports and aids these individuals and families.