Awards

• Social Justice Literature Award Recommended Reading List

Overview

Since the founding of the United States, immigrants have made important contributions to the history and culture of the country. Yet immigration has always been a topic that stirs up strong passions. Throughout history, immigrants have faced anger, fear, and violence. The United States houses more immigrants than any other country in the world. Over forty million people living in the United States were born in another country. They are doctors, technology experts, construction workers, and teachers as well as parents, friends, and neighbors. So why do immigrants continue to face prejudice and even violence at the hands of other Americans? Walls and Welcome Mats: Immigration and the American Dream examines the ways immigration has shaped America and how the backlash against it has shaped the conversation around migrants and refugees. Author Lars Ortiz explores the history of immigration in the United States from before the country was born to present-day debates surrounding the southern US-Mexico border wall. This in-depth account of American immigration reveals the faces behind the issue, the past and present challenges faced by immigrants, and the optimism that leads people to seek a better future in a new land.

Full Product Details

9781728423999

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Reviews

A fact-based look at both historical and modern arrivals in what is now the United States, including European colonization, profiles of notable immigrants, and an overview of current events. Ortiz approaches the complex history and issues surrounding migration with a scholarly but accessible and compassionate tone, beginning with humanity's early fossil records. Readers explore early Colonists' travel to North America and the reasons behind it. The book continues, covering modern immigration, how authorities define legal versus illegal immigration, and how someone becomes a U.S. citizen. The text aptly supplements readers' basic history knowledge with often overlooked aspects of America's past, including the effects on and of Indigenous peoples, contributions immigrants have made to American industry and culture, and the backlash immigrants often face. The plight and power of new arrivals are not soft-pedaled: Readers are given facts on topics such as slavery, the Chinese Exclusion Act, the impact of the Mexican-American War, and the xenophobia faced by people of many different origins. Nativism and its impact on modern immigration policy, as well as the fallout of Covid-19 are also explored along with common immigration debates and myths. Readers are encouraged to explore their own families' immigration stories, no matter how far back they go. A combination of real-life examples, critical historical context, and engaging graphics and data presentation makes this a solid choice. An inviting, thorough, and accessible introduction to an important and perpetually relevant topic. --Kirkus Reviews -- Journal (12/15/2022 12:00:00 AM)

A combination of real-life examples, critical historical context, and engaging graphics and data presentation makes this a solid choice. An inviting, thorough, and accessible introduction to an important and perpetually relevant topic. --Kirkus Reviews -- (12/15/2022 12:00:00 AM) This is history presented through the lens of immigration, and readers learn the basics . . . along with new insights. --Booklist -- (1/15/2023 12:00:00 AM)

Author Information

Lars Krogstad Ortiz was raised by a family of musicians who met while playing in the Xalapa Symphony Orchestra in Mexico. After his family settled in Minneapolis, Lars went on to study political science and music at the University of Minnesota. His passion for serving the Latinx community led him to become an English teacher in Denver Public Schools, where he specialized in the instruction of English language learners. After returning to Minnesota he was principal cellist of the Civic Orchestra of Minneapolis, as well as a founding member of Lux String Quartet. With Lux, he helped run a chamber music camp for kids and he worked with both Minnesota Public Radio and Schubert Club to promote music education in schools. After years of performing in concert halls and school auditoriums, he finds joy in his studio teaching budding cellists of all ages. Lars continues to pursue his passions of music, teaching, and writing while splitting his time between his homes in Minneapolis and Puebla, Mexico.

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