RMSA Book Lovers September Meeting
Event Details
07:00PM - 09:00PM
Map address
The Newcomers: Finding Refuge, Friendship, and Hope in an American Classroom by Helen Thorpe
Helen Thorpe, an award-winning writer with The New Yorker, gives a powerful and moving account of how refugee teenagers at a Denver public high school learn English and become Americans. Her book, The Newcomers, follows 22 immigrant teenagers through a school year at South High School here in Denver, in an English language acquisition class created specifically for them. Speaking no English and unfamiliar with American culture, many come directly from refugee camps. At the center of this story is Mr. Williams, the dedicated and endlessly resourceful teacher. If he does his job right, the newcomers will leave his class with basic English skills and new confidence, their foundation for becoming Americans and finding a place in their new home. With the United States debating immigration, multiculturalism and America’s role on the global stage, Thorpe presents a fresh and nuanced perspective.
