Emma Lazarus’s poem “New Colossus,” followed by a new poem by Naomi Shihab Nye examining some of Lazarus’s lines in light of our nation today, open this compelling look at ways the United States has sometimes rejected, ejected, and exploited individuals wanting to make a home here. Ann Bausum introduces readers to denial, detention, deportation, and exploitation of immigrants through stories of individual lives. Each one builds on those that come before in the narrative, and Bausum explains how each story is one example of a specific practice that has been repeated in various ways in our nation’s history. There are fewer photographs and visual documents than in many National Geographic books, but the design of those presented is striking (although a few photo captions are confusing). From laws passed to prevent Chinese immigrants from coming to America in the nineteenth century to the struggles faced by illegal immigrants doing essential work today, this eye-opening volume offers a critical perspective on policies and attitudes of our nation. (Age 12 and older)