Come On In ARC Review

Come On In: 15 Stories about Immigration and Finding Home edited by Adi Alsaid

2020

Short Story Anthology, Fiction

 Thanks to Netgalley and Inkyard Press for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review. 

Come On In is a moving collection of short stories edited by Adi Alsaid that chronicle the experiences of young immigrants. The stories range from fitting in at a large family wedding to a character leaving her home country for the first time to go to university. I loved the format of the anthology because the short stories balanced the harsh realities faced by young immigrants and children of immigrants with stories of pride and happiness.  

Considering that the interest in diverse stories is only growing, there are many people who can benefit from reading a book about people who emigrated from all over the world. As someone who’s never lived outside of my country, I found it interesting and heartbreaking to read what it’s like to leave your home in hope of a better future. These short stories were at times eye-opening for me, but I’m sure there are many young people who will love reading about characters who have undergone the same experiences of balancing family, culture, and identity as themselves. 

 

One of the reasons I think Come On In works is because of the incredibly important themes the book presents. Many of the characters must work to balance their identity as an immigrant or as a child of immigrants to fit into a foreign culture that isn’t overly accepting. Racism and microaggressions are littered throughout the book as a reminder of how difficult life in America is for people who look and sound “different” than Americans (as if there’s one definition of what an American is.) The themes of family are some of my favourite in the book, showing how familial support is more important than anything else.

Rating: 5/5 Whether you are looking to connect with characters whose lives are similar to your own or you want to learn about the diverse experiences of newcomers to your country, Come On In is a celebration of culture and diversity that anyone can pick up and find a story they’ll love.