“Let Us Pick Up Our Books”: Young Adult Literature and the Refugee Experience

The complex and often controversial issue of the plight of refugees has been a hot-button topic of late. From local, national, and world news sources to Presidential debates to social media, one can find passionate opinions on both sides of this matter. In my work with preservice and inservice teachers of English language learners, I have heard multiple stories of how these often-polarizing opinions about refugees play out, sometimes in unfortunate ways, in the lives of the students they teach. With the wide array of opinions regarding refugees in the United States today, it is essential to spend class time discussing this topic in a safe space moderated by a knowledge-able educator. But how does a teacher even begin to broach the subject? Children’s and young adult (YA) literature that portrays the refugee experience may be just the place to start. In this article, I share a research project in which I sought to answer the question How is the refugee experience portrayed in middle and high school literature included on the Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People lists of the past five years? I follow this analysis with ideas for classroom implementation and other available resources for classroom use.