Crossing Into America

This excellent anthology captures the experiences of new immigrants (those who have come since the legislative reforms of 1965) through fiction, memoir, poetry, and personal essays. The selections, by immigrants or children of immigrants, are organized to illustrate a chronicle of immigration. Part I portrays preparations and "the crossing;" Part II presents reflections on "the crossing" and on the place of arrival; Part III presents background and analysis. Noted authors such as Julia Alvarez, Sandra Cisneros, Jamaica Kincaid, Maxine Hong Kingston, Chang-Rae Lee, Frank McCourt, and Richard Rodriguez, as well as new voices, are represented in this stirring and poignant collection. The reading level and subject matter make this book appropriate for high school students. The book may also succeed with some high level TESOL students. It would work well as reading for social studies and English classes in studies of culture, immigration, point of view, genre, and style.