Undocumented Immigrants in the United States: An Encyclopedia of Their Experience

Gr 10 Up—The topic of American immigration has surged in recent years due to debates in and out of the American judicial and legislative theaters. Thus, this book arrives as another welcome addition to recent reference literature, such as the newly updated American Immigration: An Encyclopedia of Political, Social, and Cultural Change (Sharpe, 2013 ). These short essays, written by a variety of scholars, focus primarily on immigrants from Spanish-speaking countries, although those from other countries, such as from Asia, are also included. Employment, culture, and health care are some of the topics addressed, as well as historical and recent laws enacted at the state and federal levels that directly affect immigrants and their family members who may have been born in the United States. The essays are brief, one to three pages each, and include a useful "see also" section and few suggestions for further reading. The reading level is fairly high, so this set will be most useful for upper high school and college students. The index is very thorough, and additional resources are included. Researchers will find substantial material, while others seeking more simple information—explanation of green cards, NAFTA, or ELL—will also come away satisfied. Black-and-white photos are interspersed with the text, connecting the topics to very human issues surrounding the subject matter. Recommended for all collections supporting history and cultural studies curriculums.—Carol Fazioli, Barth Elementary School, Pottstown, PA