Reviews

The New Kids: Big Dreams and Brave Journeys at a High School for Immigrant Teens by Brooke Hauser

bookbear's review

informative inspiring medium-paced

3.25

bookwormmichelle's review

5.0

I really liked this one. There IS some language in it, from the kids. But this well-done nonfiction tracking several immigrant teens in a school in New York City is marvelously engaging, and heartbreaking. I cried like a baby at the graduation scene. These were some amazing kids, and some pretty terrific teachers.

saras's review

3.0

The author has a great subject, but I feel she didn't make the most of it. Reading the book was an uncomfortable experience as the narrative jumped from character to character and I had no sense of security regarding when or if it would return to any of them. I suppose it's roughly chronological through the school year but it seemed like more of a collection of essays on the same topic rather than a connected book-length piece.

sallysimply's review

4.0

I enjoyed taking a deep dive into the lives of these students and the specificity and care used in telling those stories. This was deeply personal to me. I am an immigrant, and while I came here when I was 5, I still related to so much of what these kids went through. On top of that, this school was literal blocks from one of my homes as an adult! Did not know that! I'm impressed by what this high school was able to do for these kids, and I hope they're still fighting that good fight.

Also, I spent the entirety of this book wondering what happened to these students. I need a follow-up!