Going Home

A young Vietnamese-American girl and her parents take a special trip to visit their former home in Vietnam. The journey marks their first return since leaving as refugees years ago. The family navigates both physical and emotional terrain as they revisit familiar places in their homeland. Through their encounters and experiences, they grapple with questions of identity and belonging. Mai, the young protagonist, discovers connections between her American present and Vietnamese heritage during this journey with her parents. The trip becomes an opportunity for three generations to process their shared history. This story explores themes of cultural identity, family bonds, and the complex meaning of "home" for immigrant families. Through a child's perspective, it addresses universal questions about roots and belonging that resonate across cultures.

Readers value this picture book's realistic portrayal of a Mexican-American family's experience visiting their former home in Mexico. Parents and teachers note it helps children understand immigration, cultural identity, and family connections. What readers liked: - Clear, accessible way to discuss complex topics with young children - Eve Bunting's straightforward writing style - David Diaz's vibrant illustrations - Prompts meaningful discussions about heritage What readers disliked: - Some found the story too brief - A few mentioned it lacked emotional depth - Several wanted more historical context Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (1,124 ratings) Amazon: 4.6/5 (89 reviews) One teacher wrote: "My students related to feeling caught between two cultures." A parent noted: "This opened up important conversations with my kids about their grandparents' immigration story." Common Sense Media recommends it for ages 6-9, with readers praising its age-appropriate handling of cultural identity themes.

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🌟 Eve Bunting drew from her own immigrant experience when writing "Going Home" - she moved from Ireland to the United States as a young woman in 1958 📚 The book highlights the complex emotions of first-generation Americans, particularly children who feel more connected to their new country than their parents' homeland 🏠 The story's setting is inspired by the real migrant farming communities in California, where many Mexican families work seasonally 🎨 David Diaz, who illustrated the book, won the Caldecott Medal for his work on another Eve Bunting book, "Smoky Night" 🗣️ The book includes Spanish phrases throughout the text, reflecting the authentic bilingual experience of many Mexican-American families