Alien Nation: 36 True Tales of Immigration
A collection of 36 extraordinary stories originally told on stage, featuring work by writers, entertainers, thinkers, and community leaders. Spanning comedy and tragedy, Alien Nation brilliantly illuminates what it’s like to be an immigrant in America.


America would not be America without its immigrants. This anthology, adapted from storytelling event “This Alien Nation,” captures firsthand the past and present of immigration in all its humor, pain, and weirdness. Contributors—some well-known, others regular (and fascinating) people—share moments from their lives, reminding us that immigration is not just a word dropped in the news (simplified to something you are “for” or “against”), but a world—rich with unique voices, perspectives, and experiences.

Travel from the Central Park playground where “tattle-tales” among nannies inspire Christine Lewis’s activism to an Alexandrian garden half a century ago courtesy of writer André Aciman. Visit a refugee camp in Gaza as described by actress and comedian Maysoon Zayid, and follow Intersex activist Tatenda Ngwaru as she flees Zimbabwe with dreams of meeting Oprah. Witness efforts from comedian Aparna Nancherla's mother to make Aparna less shy, and Orange is the New Black's Laura Gómez makes an unlikely connection in a bed-and-breakfast. 

Compelling and inspirational, Alien Nation is a celebration of immigration and an exploration of culture shock, isolation and community, loneliness and hope, heartbreak and promise—it’s a poignant reminder of our shared humanity at a time we need it greatly, and a thoughtful, entertaining tribute to cultural diversity.

Whether you're an immigrant yourself or simply interested in the history and culture of immigration in the United States, Alien Nation by Sofija Stefanovic is a must-read. This anthology of stories and essays offers a diverse and nuanced look at the immigrant experience, with contributions from writers of color, LGBTQ authors, and undocumented immigrants.

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Alien Nation: 36 True Tales of Immigration
A collection of 36 extraordinary stories originally told on stage, featuring work by writers, entertainers, thinkers, and community leaders. Spanning comedy and tragedy, Alien Nation brilliantly illuminates what it’s like to be an immigrant in America.


America would not be America without its immigrants. This anthology, adapted from storytelling event “This Alien Nation,” captures firsthand the past and present of immigration in all its humor, pain, and weirdness. Contributors—some well-known, others regular (and fascinating) people—share moments from their lives, reminding us that immigration is not just a word dropped in the news (simplified to something you are “for” or “against”), but a world—rich with unique voices, perspectives, and experiences.

Travel from the Central Park playground where “tattle-tales” among nannies inspire Christine Lewis’s activism to an Alexandrian garden half a century ago courtesy of writer André Aciman. Visit a refugee camp in Gaza as described by actress and comedian Maysoon Zayid, and follow Intersex activist Tatenda Ngwaru as she flees Zimbabwe with dreams of meeting Oprah. Witness efforts from comedian Aparna Nancherla's mother to make Aparna less shy, and Orange is the New Black's Laura Gómez makes an unlikely connection in a bed-and-breakfast. 

Compelling and inspirational, Alien Nation is a celebration of immigration and an exploration of culture shock, isolation and community, loneliness and hope, heartbreak and promise—it’s a poignant reminder of our shared humanity at a time we need it greatly, and a thoughtful, entertaining tribute to cultural diversity.

Whether you're an immigrant yourself or simply interested in the history and culture of immigration in the United States, Alien Nation by Sofija Stefanovic is a must-read. This anthology of stories and essays offers a diverse and nuanced look at the immigrant experience, with contributions from writers of color, LGBTQ authors, and undocumented immigrants.

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Alien Nation: 36 True Tales of Immigration

Alien Nation: 36 True Tales of Immigration

by Sofija Stefanovic
Alien Nation: 36 True Tales of Immigration

Alien Nation: 36 True Tales of Immigration

by Sofija Stefanovic

Paperback

$17.99 
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Overview

A collection of 36 extraordinary stories originally told on stage, featuring work by writers, entertainers, thinkers, and community leaders. Spanning comedy and tragedy, Alien Nation brilliantly illuminates what it’s like to be an immigrant in America.


America would not be America without its immigrants. This anthology, adapted from storytelling event “This Alien Nation,” captures firsthand the past and present of immigration in all its humor, pain, and weirdness. Contributors—some well-known, others regular (and fascinating) people—share moments from their lives, reminding us that immigration is not just a word dropped in the news (simplified to something you are “for” or “against”), but a world—rich with unique voices, perspectives, and experiences.

Travel from the Central Park playground where “tattle-tales” among nannies inspire Christine Lewis’s activism to an Alexandrian garden half a century ago courtesy of writer André Aciman. Visit a refugee camp in Gaza as described by actress and comedian Maysoon Zayid, and follow Intersex activist Tatenda Ngwaru as she flees Zimbabwe with dreams of meeting Oprah. Witness efforts from comedian Aparna Nancherla's mother to make Aparna less shy, and Orange is the New Black's Laura Gómez makes an unlikely connection in a bed-and-breakfast. 

Compelling and inspirational, Alien Nation is a celebration of immigration and an exploration of culture shock, isolation and community, loneliness and hope, heartbreak and promise—it’s a poignant reminder of our shared humanity at a time we need it greatly, and a thoughtful, entertaining tribute to cultural diversity.

Whether you're an immigrant yourself or simply interested in the history and culture of immigration in the United States, Alien Nation by Sofija Stefanovic is a must-read. This anthology of stories and essays offers a diverse and nuanced look at the immigrant experience, with contributions from writers of color, LGBTQ authors, and undocumented immigrants.


Product Details

ISBN-13: 9780063062054
Publisher: HarperCollins
Publication date: 10/04/2022
Pages: 288
Product dimensions: 5.20(w) x 7.90(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

Sofija Stefanovic is the creator and host of This Alien Nation, a program that celebrates immigration, and the author of the memoir Miss Ex-Yugoslavia. She’s a regular storyteller with The Moth, and has traveled with their Mainstage, telling personal stories across the country. Her writing has appeared in the New York Times and other outlets. She lives in New York City. 

Table of Contents

Introduction 1

1 Alien and Familiar 5

The Inheritance of Bone Cleyvis Natera 7

The Scream Danusia Trevino 15

My Family WhatsApp Group Mazin Sidahmed 21

What It Takes to Make a Dream Come True Hass Agili 28

Is This Thing On? Aparna Nancherla 34

2 Then and Now 41

The Nostalgia Bug André Aciman 43

True Identity Tatenda Ngwaru 47

On Modesty Abeer Hoque 55

1993-2018 Khalid Warsame 62

Good Dogs, Good Humans Noël Duan 68

Don't They Have Irons in America? Magogodi oaMphela Makhene 74

3 Deep in New York City 85

The Table of the Kings Xavier Trevino 87

The Limpia Xochitl Gonzalez 94

A Little Tattle-Tale Around the Nannying Gig Christine Yvette Lewis 100

My Heart's Journey Home Dr. Hisla Bates 110

Birth Sofija Stefanovic 118

4 Attachments 123

The Heart Attack Uncle Alexander Chee 125

Three Decades of Unsolicited Fashion Advice from a Migrant Mother Alice Pung 130

An Island Unto Herself Roxanne Fequiere 136

Second Language Maria Tumarkin 142

Ungrateful Mashuq Mushtaq Deen 147

5 What Forms Us 153

Mortar, Porcelain, Brick Kay Iguh 155

C.R.I.S.I.S. (Christian Rappers Influenced by Scripture Infiltrating Satan) Rufat Agayev 160

My China Agustinus Wibowo 168

Don't Follow Your Dreams (Especially, the American Dream) Emma Ramos 173

Sweet Stinking Elevators Zuzanna Szadkowski 181

6 Being Here 187

Jaikisan Heights Suketu Mehta 189

The Great Divide: On a Trip Upstate, Learning to Listen Laura Gómez 196

The River Rojo Perez 204

Go Back to Your Country Maysoon Zayid 211

The Foreign Girl Siri Hustvedt 218

7 Finding Roots 223

Puerto Rico of My Dreams Sonia Manzano 225

Friendly Enemy Aliens Paul Holdengräber 233

Field Notes from My Youth Tanaïs 238

Where Did We Go? DJ Tikka Masala 244

Leaving Cabramatta Matt Huynh 254

Acknowledgments 263

Credits and Permissions 267

A Note from the Cover Designer 271

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