A New Life
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A novella by Rukhsana Khan
Illustrated by
Nasrin Khosravi
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Published by Groundwood Books
62 pg, Softcover
$12.95 CDN
ISBN 978-0-88899-930-6
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A children's novella about a young girl's immigrant experience. This
book is a trade version (available for purchase) of Rukhsana's Coming to
Canada which was commissioned by the Canadian government and is being
distributed to each immigrant child who enters Canada.
"This book's first life was as Coming to Canada,
a publication funded by the government of Canada ... This revised
edition of the original, undoubtedly enhanced by Iranian-born artist
Khosravi's lively and lovely watercolours, makes for fine reading for
newcomers to Canada, as well as children born in Canada who may be
interested in how that new child in their class is experiencing and
dealing with a new country, new customs, new everything.
A New Life begins in Pakistan, as Khadija and her brother, Hamza, say
goodbye to their father, who is leaving for Canada to set up a house for
his family. Khadija is excited about the prospect of the family's move
to Canada, her brother less so... getting beyond the frightening
strangeness of a new language and homesickness, are milestones recorded
with sensitivity and elan by author Khan."
-The Globe and Mail-
"Eight year old Khadija and her family have come
to Canada from Pakistan. Her older brother Hamza hates their new country
and their new life. They are so much poorer in Canada, and it is so hard
to understand what people are saying. As Khadija expresses it: “The
feeling of not being able to swim and hardly being able to touch bottom
is kind of how I feel as I try to learn English.” ... Rukhsana Khan is
an author who focuses on telling tales of diversity. She has an ability
to blend poetic storytelling and stark realism...
A New Life is enlivened with illustrations by well-known Iranian-born
artist Nasrin Khosravi whose whimsical, somewhat surrealistic paintings
are integrated with the text on every page." Recommended
-CM Magazine-
"A New Life is a welcome addition to Western
immigrant literature for children. Khan draws readers into her story
through sympathy with Khadija, to the point that they are also able to
empathize with some of the challenges of being an immigrant – whether or
not they have direct experience of this complex situation themselves.
Children who want to know will be rewarded, as A New Life is both a
window and mirror between cultures."
-Paper Tigers-