Make Your Home Among Strangers by Jennine Capo Crucet

Add this title to your “must read” pile, especially if you or someone you know experienced college as a first generation student. Jennine Capo Crucet does an excellent job of recounting relevant events and emotions in her new book, Make Your Home Among Strangers. The story begins in 1999 with Lizet Ramirez being the first student from her under-performing high school to attend Rawlings College, a fictional elite university. 

Lizet had applied without the knowledge of her immigrant parents, who were born in Cuba, but raised her in Miami.  As Lizet prepares for college, her parents decide to divorce and her home is sold; plus her older sister, Leidy, has to juggle work at a hair salon with becoming a single Mom to infant Dante.

Crucet’s descriptions and observations are extremely poignant as Lizet deals with confusion and cultural differences in scenes at the college campus involving roommates, administrators and professors.  Although Lizet struggles as a person of color (a label new to her), many of her encounters and misunderstandings could apply to students who differ on an economic/class basis as well.  Prior to reading Make Your Home Among Strangers, I watched this recent video (embedded below) about first generation students which made Lizet’s story even more immediate.
   

The video accompanied a New York Times article, “First-Generation Students Unite” and both share some moving stories.  

Of course, Make Your Home Among Strangers also refers to Lizet’s time in Miami, especially over Winter Break where Lizet (like all college students) has to adjust to changes in herself, her family and boyfriend, Omar. The immigrant Cuban community is in an uproar over Ariel Hernandez (think Elián González), a young boy who authorities are threatening to return to Havana. That plot thread was at times less compelling for me, but it illuminated the changes that parents face, too, and eventually helped Lizet to try to better understand her mother, Mami, and to confront assumptions held by her college classmates.

I am highly recommending Make Your Home Among Strangers for all faculty and mature students (there is some language, pre-marital sex and unconventional punctuation for dialogue which can make reading more difficult).  In fact, this title could possibly work for Junior Theme, especially if a class was focusing on the immigrant experience. Make Your Home Among Strangers received well-deserved starred reviews from both Booklist (“brilliantly crafted”) and Kirkus (“a talented novelist to watch“).

If you are interested in learning more about organizations which work with first generation college students, be sure to inquire about programs sponsored at individual colleges and universities and also start by looking into these (some national, some local) which work with multiple schools:

• Posse Foundation
• QuestBridge
• OneGoal  founded in Chicago
• Link Unlimited which in 2016 will be celebrating 50 years of working with economically disadvantaged African American high school students in the Chicago area, working towards graduation and college acceptance.

As the New York Times article notes, more knowledge and support leads to greater success for first generation students. Additional links and articles can be found on pbs, especially "Rethinking College" series or Inside Higher Ed (“Faculty Tips for First Gen Students“) or in The Atlantic (“First Generation College Goers: Unprepared and Behind“). Plus, other organizations, like I’m First or Roadtrip Nation (previously on pbs) and the federal government are involved, too. Opportunities to volunteer or seek assistance are numerous, but not always easy to find. Post High School Counselors will also have information and ideas. Do reach out and do read Make Your Home Among Strangers.

Goodbye Stranger by Rebecca Stead

I honestly believe that some of the best books are written for middle school students and if you know someone that age, be sure that he or she knows about Goodbye Stranger by Rebecca Stead.  In that brand new title, the Newbery Medal winning author explores themes of friendship and loyalty, sexting, and “fitting in” as each of her characters develops a sense of identity.

Emily is a talented soccer player beginning to discover boys and the manipulation of a popular crowd; Tab has a passion for social justice; and Bridge has survived a serious accident and wonders about her purpose in life. These girls have been friends since 4^th grade, promising no fights, but are finding difficulties in understanding each other as seventh grade approaches and some inevitable shifts in interest occur.  Patrick, David, and Sherm are their male classmates who also deal with making tough choices, resulting suspensions, and divorce.   Plus there are several high school students, especially older siblings Celeste and Jamie, who try to offer support while coping with their own friendship issues.  Goodbye Stranger is a great choice to share with middle school students as summer winds down and school (with all of its accompanying drama) is about to start.  

Goodbye Stranger received numerous starred reviews and I think that even some of our freshmen would enjoy reading and reflecting upon its messages. Other titles by Rebecca Stead include: When You Reach Me; Liar & Spy; and First Light. Stead’s Goodbye Stranger is both gentle and suspenseful in places, yet very honest and realistic with multiple points of view. Similar authors that students may have already discovered include Lynne Rae Perkins (Criss Cross) and or Jordan Sonnenblick (Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie) or Wendy Mass (A Mango-Shaped Space).

And, if you have not already seen it, be sure to look for the article “The Great Gift of Reading Aloud” by Meghan Cox Gurdon who stresses the value of reading with older children. Newbery Medal titles (rough target 3rd through 8^th grade) are perfect choices to share as gifts or as read alouds – adults will enjoy them, too!