Motema’s Feast

This book describes three friends: Umeed, Matondo and Tabassum. Their families are from Pakistan, Ghana and Afghanistan, respectively. Umeed and Tabassum were born abroad and came to the United States as refugees. Matondo was born in the United States but has an "aunt," Motema, who wishes to be admitted to the United States as a refugee but has not been successful so far. The children are in the same class for ESL instruction. One day, a spelling test with the word "gratitude" spurs them to plan a feast. At the feast, they and their parents will wear their original countries' clothing, decorate the table according to those countries' practices, and serve food from their families' country of origin. They invite their teacher, Mrs. Cohen, whose grandparents escaped Europe before the Holocaust happened. She is thrilled that her test inspired the children to express their culture and gratitude through a feast but saddened by remembering her family's experience of persecution. The children are sympathetic to her story when they understand that the family who remained in Europe perished. The book tells a universal, though challenging, story that continues to be relevant today. Its hopeful and positive manner helps the young reader understand this difficult topic.