The Newcomers: Finding Refuge, Friendship, and Hope in an American Classroom

There are millions of refugees in the world today, displaced by conflict and famine. Many seek a new life in the United States. For the school year 2015–16, journalist Thorpe volunteered in the newcomers' classroom at Denver's South High School. She chronicled her observations of the dedicated teachers and administrators and of the students who came from a dozen countries, including Mexico, Nicaragua, Eritrea, Mozambique, Congo, Syria, Iraq, Tajikistan, and Burma. She met the students' parents and interviewed the caseworkers from the social agencies working with resettlement. Thorpe describes the challenges of adapting to contemporary U.S. culture, both in school (homecoming and pep rallies) and out of school (rent subsidies, buying a car, paying bills). Some of the newcomers picked up English quickly and progressed to advanced classes. Thorpe followed up on the school year with a summer trip to Congo, where she met the relatives of two of the South High students. The experience was life-changing for Thorpe. She writes that "working with these students helps you find your humanity. They fill our hearts with hope, not fear." The narration by Kate Handford is excellent. She refrains from "foreign" accents and reads in a straightforward manner.