Understanding Adolescent Immigrants: Moving toward an Extraordinary Discourse for Extraordinary Youth

by Mary Amanda Stewart

Overview

As the immigrant population grows in countries such as the United States, so does the number of newcomer immigrant students in middle and high schools. Many scholars have noted that the education immigrant adolescents receive has a great bearing on the future of the nation. Understanding Adolescent Immigrants: Moving toward an Extraordinary Discourse for Extraordinary Youth highlights the voices of these young people by sharing the stories of seven newcomer youths aged 13 to 20 years in U.S. high schools. By learning their histories, present situations, and dreams for the future, we can understand both these students’ unique contribution to their new country and their schools’ roles in helping them achieve success.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781498544948
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Publishing
Publication date:	02/13/2017
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	170
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

Mary Amanda Stewart is assistant professor in the Department of Reading at Texas Woman’s University.

Table of Contents

Contents

Introduction

1.Extraordinary Youth

2.Miguel: A 20-year-old from Guatemala Persevering through High School

3.Alejandra: A 17-year-old from El Salvador Taking the U.S. by Storm

4.Lay Su Aung: A 13-year-old Refugee from Burma (Myanmar) Dreaming Big Dreams

5.Aisha: A 15-year-old from Uganda Longing to Learn

6.Nathan: A 16-year-old from the Democratic Republic of Congo Learning about Slavery

7.Andrés: A 15-year-old from Mexico Coming and Going

8.Sara: An 18-year-old from Colombia Preparing to Serve Her New Country

9.Extraordinary Youth: Adolescent Immigrants' Unique Strengths and Needs

10. Toward an Extraordinary Discourse

Endnote: Methodology

Appendix: Interview Questions

References

About the Author

Editorial Reviews

This book would be a useful read for middle and high school teachers. It reminds educators to examine the structural factors that their diverse student population may face and how these structural factors may also be a source of capital if approached from a different perspective that sees it as an asset.

American Journal of Sociology

The value in this book is directly attributable to learning the stories that each student has to share and seeing the glaringly obvious holes in the resources that they currently have. Educators and immigrant youth advocates should read Stewart’s book and use its teachings to improve the quality of education and resources used to provide students the best opportunity to become maximally productive in our modern society. .. I left this book feeling quite impressed with its depth and scope. For a relatively short book, it is ambitious and achieves enough to leave the targeted audience satisfied.

Law and Society AmeriQuests: Narrative

Stewart's illuminating book shines a light on the diverse experiences of immigrant youth in the US. While schools often focus on labels and test scores, Stewart looks through a more holistic lens that uncovers not only the challenges these students face, but also the talents and resources they bring to our nation.

Tatyana Kleyn

Rich and engaging, Mary Amanda Stewart’s work provides a timely contribution to our understanding of the rich potential of immigrant youth as well as the challenges they face in their journeys toward full citizenship. Stewart helps educators initiate a rich new discourse for and with immigrant students in our classrooms, a must-read for both new and practicing teachers. Children of immigrant parents represent one of the greatest resources in our society, and Stewart’s heartfelt inquiry and analysis guides us in the realization of their potential.

Rebecca Callahan