Living as a Refugee in America: Mohammed's Story

Now in an American high school, Mohammed, 15, tells the story of how he fled the Taliban in Afghanistan and wandered through Iran and Turkey before coming to the U.S. with his mother, brother and sister. Living as a Refugee in America weaves Mohammed's story with facts about Afghanistan's recent history and discusses the plight of refugees driven by war and famine across the world. The moving first person narrative, printed in italics, features full-color, captioned photos of Mohammed, his family and friends. It also discusses issues such as discrimination, cultural barriers and maintaining dual identity. This non-fiction book contains a glossary of helpful vocabulary as well suggestions for how students can take action to help the displaced by providing an annotated list of international human rights organizations to contact.

Facts about Afghanistan are interspersed throughout the story of Mohammed, age 15, now living in St. Louis, Missouri. Mohammed's memories of his family's journey to the U.S. by way of Iran and Turkey are powerful and often chilling. The reader begins to understand the struggles he and his family have endured and still face today. Glossary, Further Information, and "How You Can Help" included.