Mai Ya's Long Journey (Badger Biography) (Badger Biography Series) - Tapa blanda

"As an ESL teacher, I find "Mai Ya's Long Journey "to be fascinating reading. From her birth in a refugee camp in Thailand to her graduation from UW-Milwaukee, Mai Ya's life is reminiscent of so many Hmong students I've known. Ms. Cohen's book would be great for teachers who want to lead a study of life in America from an immigrant's perspective.The glossary, discussion questions, and activities and projects provided make "Mai Ya's Long Journey"an excellent addition to any ESL or mainstream teacher's collection." (Ruthann Lewis, Program Support Teacher, ESL and Bilingual Education Division, Madison Metropolitan School District) "Mai Ya's story and the convergence of Hmong and U.S. interests during the Vietnam era is relevant to every American and Sheila Cohen deserves praise for bringing it to light in such a detailed and culturally sensitive manner. Touching on everything from traditional Hmong cultural practices to the challenges of growing up in 'two worlds, ' "Mai Ya's Long Journey "is accessible, informative and moving." (John Robinson, Manager of Exhibits and Community Relations Madison Children's Museum) ""Mai Ya's Long Journey "is an inspirational and compelling read, in the finest Hmong traditions of story telling. Mai Ya's experiences as a young girl in a Hmong refugee camp in Thailand who suddenly is transplanted half a world away are interwoven with recollections of her family about their life before and after war forced them to leave their home in Laos and Mai Ya's struggles to grow up American while staying true to her Hmong culture. "Mai Ya's Long Journey "is the story of her life and, at the same time, the story of the incredible challenges that the new Hmong immigrants are facing today as they come to the United States and Wisconsin."Mai Ya's Long Journey "guarantees that her experiences and the contributions of the Hmong people to our county and our community will not be forgotten or taken for granted." (Kathleen M. Falk, Dane County Executive)" 2005 Winner in the Juvenile Non-fiction Category from the Council for Wisconsin Writers 2005 First in the Children's/Juvenile Non-fiction Categoryfrom Midwest Independent Publishers Association Book Awards 2005 Honorable Mention in the Multicultural Books Categoryfrom Midwest Independent Publishers Association Book Awards2006 Cooperative Children's Book Center Choice " 2006 Cooperative Children's Book Center Choice 2005 Council for Wisconsin Writers Award in Juvenile Nonfiction 2005 First Place in Children's/Juvenile Nonfiction from the Midwest Independent Publishers Association 2005 Honorable Mention in Multicultural Books from the Midwest Independent Publishers Association

Mai Ya's Long Journey is the first book from the Wisconsin Historical Society Press in the new Badger Biography series, designed for upper elementary and middle-school readers to explore the stories of Wisconsin people. Mai Ya's Long Journey relates the personal story of Mai Ya Xiong and her family. Their journey from the Ban Vinai refugee camp in Thailand to a new life in Madison, Wisconsin, is extraordinary, yet typical of the stories of the two hundred thousand Hmong people who now live in the United States and who struggle to adjust to American society while maintaining their own culture as a free people. The author, who has known Mai Ya since she was a student in her seventh-grade ESL (English as a Second Language) class, brings her personal perspective to this compelling story.