Brockenbrough, Martha and Grace Lin. I Am an American: The Wong Kim Ark Story. Julia Kuo, Illus. Non-fiction. Little, 11/2021. [36]pp. $18.99. 978-0-316-42692-3. OUTSTANDING. GRADES 1-5.
In this simple and compelling non-fiction book, a boy named Wong Kim Ark is born in San Francisco but has to sue the government to re-enter the U.S. after visiting China as a young man. His case helped to verify that being born in the U.S., no matter where one’s parents were born, is what makes one a citizen. There is some helpful background information on Chinese immigration and the Chinese Exclusion Act that frames the story. The text will make a great read-aloud because the title phrase “I am an American” appears several times, and the full-color, digitally created artwork conveys the late nineteenth century time period. This book is especially useful because it involves local history but is engaging and topical considering immigration is still a flashpoint in our politics. The book ends with four pages of details on Wong Kim Ark, the court case, related historical points and laws, photos, and a map, making this useful for short history reports. This book has California-specific content.
Penny Peck, San Jose State University, iSchool