Call Me American: The Extraordinary True Story of a Young Somali Immigrant
Abdi’s family, of Somalia’s Rahanweyn clan, lived a content, nomadic life before a drought in the 1970s forced his parents to the city of Mogadishu. When Abdi was six, a short war with Ethiopia followed by a tribal civil war brought utter devastation. Abdi’s infant sister died of starvation, while Abdi spent his childhood days looking for ways to earn money to buy food for his family. He hated school, where he was beaten if he failed to memorize passages of the Quran, and loved American movies—watched at night on a neighbor’s tiny tv. His love for Black American culture and music earned him the nickname “Abdi American.” As a young adult he met an American journalist and began recording a “diary” for an NPR program. This led to an American woman organizing “Team Abdi” to help him fulfill his dream of immigrating to the United States. Still, it took years, incredible determination, and luck to finally get a U.S. visa. In Maine, living with his generous sponsor, life was better but not easy; Abdi faced racism that he likened to the tribalism of Somalia. Abdi’s compelling account is an incredibly balanced perspective—he never makes sweeping generalizations about anyone or anything—in a memoir revealing how difficult it can be to enter the United States. ©2021 Cooperative Children’s Book Center
CCBC Age Recommendation: Age 12 and older
Age Range:
Grades 6-8 (Ages 11-13)
Grades 9-12 (Age 14 and older)
Formats:
Biography, Autobiography and Memoir
Substantial Narrative Non-Fiction
Subjects:
20th Century
Autobiography/Memoir
Immigration and Immigrants
Journalism and Media
Muslim People
Racism
Refugees
Somalis and Somali Americans
Survival
Violence
War
World History
Diversity subjects:
Arab
Black/African
Muslim
Publishers:
Delacorte, Random House
Publish Year: 2020
Pages: 255
ISBN: 9781984897114
CCBC Location: Non-Fiction, 305 Iftin