Last Airlift: A Vietnamese Orphan's Rescue from War, by Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch

Last Airlift: A Vietnamese Orphan's Rescue from War

This short narrative reads like a well-written novel, but it's the true story of Tuyet Son Thi Anh, a young girl who endured polio and war, and who was flown out of Saigon in 1975 by Americans, at the end of the Vietnam War.
Tuyet spent most of her early years in a Vietnamese orphange, caring for children younger than she was, and with only vague memories of her mother. After the fall of Saigon, Tuyet and hundreds of other Vietnamese children were airlifted to western countries--and Tuyet found herself in Canada.
Her memories, as told to the author, are fascinating and poignant. Having never seen a bed, a bathtub, or a fork, Tuyet had many adjustments to make. But luckily she was cherished in her new Canadian family, and has been able to survive and thrive.
An author's note at the end of the book tells of now-adult Tuyet's life today.
Highly recommended! 2011.
K. Muhm

Liberty's Voice: The Story of Emma Lazarus, by Erica Silverman. IIlustrated by Stacey Schuett

 Liberty's Voice: The Story of Emma Lazarus

Unless they have visited the Statue of Liberty, many young children may not have heard of the poet Emma Lazarus. This picture book biography tells the fascinating story of the woman whose poem, "The New Colossus" is engraved on a plaque in the Statue of Liberty. From the time she was a young girl, Emma loved learning and writing. She kept a notebook which she filled with her poetry. It is a little-known fact that at Emma's request, Ralph Waldo Emerson served as her writing coach. As she became increasingly more aware of the difficulties and injustices immigrants coming to the United States experienced, Emma wrote newspaper articles, plays and poems to raise awareness and change attitudes.

Although in picture book format, LIBERTY'S VOICE tells a story that will interest readers of all ages. The bright watercolor illustrations wonderfully capture the feeling of the nineteenth century. This book may even inspire a family trip to Liberty Park and Ellis Island.

2011

C. Buchanan