Home of the Brave by Katherine Applegate
October 12, 2009 — Mary Childs
Written in poetry form using few words, Kek tells a compelling story about escaping from Sudan in Africa after his father and brother were killed, leaving his mother behind, and coming to live in Minneapolis. He comes to live with his aunt and cousin, arriving in winter to experience cold and snow for the first time. Riding to his new home with Dave from the resettlement center, he asks to stop when he sees a cow inside a fence along the road. That cow is his one connection to his old life.
The story goes on to tell how he adjusts to live in America, going to school in his ESL classes, meeting new friends, and finding a way to care for Gol, the cow. But all the while he worries about his mother back in Sudan. Everyone says he probably won’t see her again. He just can’t accept that. What do you think will happen?
Read this Maud Hart Lovelace reading list entry for a new way to think about students who come to our country–and our school–directly from another country.
