Six Words Fresh off the Boat: Stories of Immigration, Identity, and Coming to America by Writers Famous and Obscure. Edited by Larry Smith. Kingswell, 2017. $15.99. ISBN 978-136800838-9. 209 pgs. Ages 10-adult. P8/Q9
This book is a refreshing look into a complex subject. Six-word memoirs is a popular series where people are asked to describe their life in six words. This installment has an interesting twist where the focus is on immigration. Peppered through the book are poems, short stories, and anecdotes from immigrants and families of immigrants detailing their own experiences. The writers and producers of the new hit comedy, “Fresh off the Boat,” helped in the creation of this book and the levity is obvious. In a world where immigration is a fiercely contested and at times contentious subject hearing from those it directly affects is a great glimpse into what makes America truly diverse and amazing.
Verdict: Although initially I was apprehensive I found this book extremely enjoyable and easy to read. I gave it a popularity of 8 due to the series already being well known and well publicized. The quality to me is a 9 because instead of focusing on either the humor or the seriousness and at times sadness that immigration involves the editors were able to fuse both together in a way that would make this a great book for classrooms to help delve into the discussion of immigration. I also appreciated the information in the introduction regarding the available free teacher guide that you can download online. This book would be a great resource in middle and high school libraries as well as classrooms. I like the smaller size of the book and hardback binding. It feels sturdy in your hands but can be carried without being cumbersome. The use of multiple fonts and illustrations helped to break the book into section yet kept the flow of the book.
November 2017 review by Michelle Cottrell
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