30 Middle Grade Books about Immigration and Refugee Experiences

Let me start off by saying I know that immigration and refugee experiences are two vastly different things. In fact, for every single person and family, the situation is different. But, what’s important is that for kids who are hearing the news about the U.S. and Mexico border, or what’s happening in Afghanistan and in other places around the world, they have a better understanding of exactly what it means to be an immigrant, a refugee, or an undocumented immigrant. The immigration system in the U.S. is very broken and sadly, that’s the truth. Even if you are here legally and have the correct paperwork, it’s not easy to go through the process of becoming a citizen, let alone for an individual or family that doesn’t have the correct documentation. And it’s not easy to get the right paperwork, even if you want to.

The stories below shed light on what it means to move to a brand new place where you may or may not know the language, may or may not know the traditions or culture, and may or may not even know a single soul. What’s important is that refugees and immigrants are looking for a home. They are looking for a safer place to raise their family with opportunities for education, careers, and a life.

Diversity

What I love is that just in these 30 books, you’ll see all different experiences, not all of which take place in the U.S. And families that are leaving their homes from around the world. It’s not just Mexico or Syria, Cuba or Sudan. I love that this list encompasses how different these experiences can be for each and every individual. If there was an easy way to fix the problems with our immigration system, I have to believe it would have already been done. The process needs to be easier for everyone involved and more humane toward people who are choosing this country to call home.

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