Home of the Brave by Katherine Applegate

A novel written in verse, this book tells the story of Kek, a Sudanese boy who survives his country's Civil War and is relocated to the United States with other refugees. His new home (Minnesota in the middle of winter) is very different from his native land where it is summer all year long. Kek knows some English from the schools set up in his village, but he is still confused over American slang and idioms. A girl from his apartment building soon befriends him and helps him navigate through all the confusion. He is overwhelmed by the easy freedom and limitless choices available in his new country, and by the memories of his family left behind--many of whom are now dead. He does find a connection to his former life, though, when he discovers a tiny farm with one lonely cow to remind him of the herds of cattle that once roamed near his village. Home of the Brave is a touching and gentle reminder of what it means to be a stranger in a strange land, and how much we take for granted in America. This book would be perfect for ESL teachers to use with their students, because it reminds us that we are essentially a nation of immigrants.
A copy of this title is available at SMS Library. It is suitable for third grade to adult. Highly recommended, it is a quick read, which should make it popular with reluctant readers.