Hopes and Dreams

This 80-page easy-to-understand reader is one of 12 historical novels in the Hopes and Dreams series, whose diverse and fascinating characters, regardless of their ethnicity, face prejudice, danger, hardships, and setbacks, but survive with perseverance, a little bit of luck ,and a generous amount of love in their new home in the US. Downloadable audio recordings of all 12 novels and free supplementary materials for teachers are available (visit ProLinguaLearning.com for more details). Plot Summary for Amala's Hope: In 2011, the Najjar family decides to flee from their home in Aleppo, Syria, as the civil war comes closer and closer. The grandparents stay behind to take care of the family business. The Najjars drive to Jordan to stay with an uncle, but his house is very crowded and uncomfortable. As the war goes on, they go to a refugee camp, where they wait five years to be cleared for resettlement in America. Finally they arrive in Texas, where a church sponsors them. Only the daughter, Amala, speaks some English, but with the help of a neighbor, Marisol, they begin their new life. First, the children need to begin schooling, but with inadequate English they are placed below their normal grade level. Amala is relieved to discover three other Muslim girls wearing head scarves at the high school. Although the community is very supportive, they are harassed by anti-Muslim people, and the local mosque is burned. Meanwhile, back in Syria, the grandparents escape to a refugee camp in Turkey, where the grandmother dies. The grandfather is resettled in Germany as America closes its doors to Muslim immigrants and refugees. Despite their difficulties, the family gives thanks for what they have at their neighbor Marisol's Thanksgiving dinner.

This 80-page easy-to-understand reader is one of 12 historical novels in the Hopes and Dreams series, whose diverse and fascinating characters, regardless of their ethnicity, face prejudice, danger, hardships, and setbacks, but survive with perseverance, a little bit of luck ,and a generous amount of love in their new home in the US. Downloadable audio recordings of all 12 novels and free supplementary materials for teachers are available (visit ProLinguaLearning.com for more details). Plot Summary for The Magic Paper: This is the story of Teresa Garcia and Benito Cruz, two Mexican-Americans. In 1980 Teresa buys a fake visa and comes alone to Los Angeles to care for her sick aunt. Then she stays, working in a dress factory to send money home to Mexico. Benito crawls through a pipe into California, where he works as a migrant farmworker. They meet and fall in love. Benito moves to Los Angeles and works in a factory. They want to marry, but they can't because they are illegal. They work hard and save money to go to Mexico and bring Teresa's sister back. Finally they have enough money, but when they go to Mexico City, there is a great earthquake. Teresa's whole family is killed. They come back to the U.S. illegally. They continue to work hard and wait until a new law lets them apply to get the magic paper, to become legal, and to get married. At last, they feel safe.