This book exudes hope, transforming the journey of displacement and resettlement of the author himself, as well as that of the ten students from refugee backgrounds whom he interviews. Aljaffery carries the stories of these students with an ethics of care paralleled by his lyrical writing. The result is a masterpiece, offering new ways of thinking about these youths lives and education, and hearing anew their translanguaging.
Ofelia García, Professor Emerita, The Graduate Center, City University of New York, USA
In its potent weaving of personal experiences and a careful interview study, this book helps us reimagine what it means to teach and learn with students from refugee backgrounds. Aljaffery simultaneously offers a fierce critique of the status quo in multilingual education and a deeply inspiring guide for educators. In these times, I can think of no more important book for educators, educational leaders, and policy makers to read and have inform their action.
Audrey Lensmire, Professor of Education, Augsburg University, USA
Shifting the narrative about students refugee backgrounds is necessary for educators to be able to teach the whole student. Aljaffery not only provides that deep understanding, he also outlines in detail how to approach teaching that will fully engage students so their educational experience is meaningful and successful. Masterful!
Karen Monkman, Professor Emerita, DePaul University, USA
Aljaffery draws on his own life experiences and the knowledge he has garnered in his professional work and education to point to specific, feasible, and potentially transformative practices that teachers can adopt to support their plurilingual refugee students. He shows how teachers can better recognize and build on the linguistic, cultural, psychological, sociological, geographical, and geopolitical knowledge that refugees bring, creating spaces for them to share with each other and to teach those of us who have not had to face such challenges.
From the Foreword by Marjorie Faulstich Orellana, Professor, University of California, Los Angeles, USA
