Immigration Stories - coming to the U.S.: Welcome!

Children's fiction: Stories written for children.

These stories can be interesting and easier to read.

Fiction: Stories about people and events that are not real; books that tell stories which are imagined by the writer.

Some fiction for adults is difficult to read, but you will learn a lot of new words.

Graphic novel: Books that use drawings and words to tell a story; they can be fiction or true stories.

The pictures can help you to understand the stories.

Memoirs: Books where writers describe their true past experiences.

Memoirs are written for children, young adults and adults.

Young adult fiction: Stories written for teenagers between the ages of 13 and 18.

These stories can be interesting, and a little easier to read than fiction written for an adult audience.   

Many people have written great books about coming to the U.S. Use this guide to find a book to read about the experiences of people who have immigrated from one country to another. Here is some advice:

Find a book you like!

• Ask your friends who are learning English! Did they read a good book? Did they like it? What is it called? Write down titles.
• Look at different books. Read the back of the book and the inside cover. Is it interesting to you?
• Ask a librarian at Seattle Central College or the public library. They can help you find a book you like.

Find a book that isn't too easy or too difficult!

• Read the first page. Count the words you do not know.
  • If there are more than 5 words you do not know, this book might be too difficult.
  • If the number of words you don't know is 0 or 1, this book might be too easy.
• But remember: If a book is really interesting, you will want to read it, even if it's difficult!

Visit from ITESM Campus students to a foster home for girls by Talento Tec, 2012 (CC BY-SA 3.0)