I'M NEW HERE

Young, vibrant narrators voice heartfelt concerns as Fatima, Maria, and Jin are each welcomed into new classrooms in a new country. Listeners will hear them wistfully voice their concerns about language fluency and establishing a sense of belonging in their new communities. The repetitive phrasing of each memory of “back home” is powerful. While the pacing of each vignette is leisurely, the joy is palpable in each narrator’s voice as each child grows in confidence in a new setting and experiences success in connecting with others. Classroom and playground sound effects, as well as muted student conversations, provide a backdrop. The production concludes with an afterword by the author in which she shares her experience as “the new kid” and offers suggestions for facilitating a welcoming community. A.R. © AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine [Published: FEBRUARY 2017]