"Illegal" by Bettina Restrepo

Nora should be getting excited for her Quinceanera, her celebration of becoming a woman on her 15th birthday. But times are economically challenging in her family's small, Mexican town. The crops are not producing, money is low, and her family is running out of options. Nora's father pays a coyote to take him illegally across the border, into Texas, so he can find regular work. For months, he sends money home, but it's never quite enough. The crops are failing and there is no hope in sight. After the money stops altogether, Nora convinces her mother that they must go to Texas to find him. Using all of their savings, they risk their lives and cross the border into the unknown. Life as an illegal is not an easy one. Their English is not good, and they do not have government papers, making work hard to find. What has happened to Nora's father, and what do they have at home to return to?

"The Arrival" by Shaun Tan

With the current immigration legislation in Arizona, I was feeling inspired to re-read “The Arrival.” This book can transport you to a place that is truly magical, mysterious and enticing, all without using any words. In my mind, this is a true work of genius. A man packs up everything his owns, leaves his home and family, and takes a voyage to a new place. The trip is long, noisy and crowded. He’s alone and facing a strange and uncertain place, filled with mystical creatures and strange landscapes. Language barriers pose challenges with communication and finding work. He attempts to make a new life, aided by the support of new friends. This simple story about finding your place in the world holds true for anyone who has left home in search of a new life. Shaun Tan is one of my favorite illustrators and I consider this his magnum opus. Although I love "Tales from Outer Suburbia" and its take on current urban dwellings and the aliens who habitat them.

"Home of the Brave" by Katherine Applegate

Kek's village in Sudan was destroyed and he gets sent to Minneapolis to live with his aunt and cousin. Life in America is hard for Kek to adjust to. He's never seen snow, ridden a bus, or seen a washing machine. To make matters worse, his mom is missing and he can't locate her in any of the refugee camps. He makes friends with a neighborhood foster kid, who helps show him how things work and helps him learn English. In Sudan, Kek used to help his father herd their cattle. In America, he makes a new friend, Gol, who helps him adjust to his new reality in America.