Welcome to the New World

The migration process is highly stressful – especially for refugees who can’t go back, need to adapt to a culture different from theirs, and need to learn a foreign language. This graphic novel is one such story: tracing a family that leaves Syria and arrives in the US on election day in 2016. The book’s focus is on the family adjusting to life in the US – learning a new language, adjusting to a new culture, and trying to make a living through low-paying jobs. Layered on the already difficult situation is the social polarization (and hatred) as well as the political hurdles that make it difficult for specifically Muslims to migrate to the US.

The story keeps its focus on the family, and their challenges. The political climate is mentioned, but only as it relates to the family. Illustrations are minimalistic (only black and white) and convey the situation’s starkness. There is a lot covered in a short book, probably as the events covered are synthesized from several events. It also means that the characters are not fully developed, and the story seems to flow quickly. However, the struggles and challenges are well portrayed and conveyed from the perspective of lived experiences – the best feature of the book. Recommended for students in middle and high school.