Abdi Nor Iftin first fell in love with America from afar. As a child, he learned English by listening to American pop and watching action films starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. When U.S. marines landed in Mogadishu to take on the warlords, Abdi cheered the arrival of these Americans, who seemed as heroic as those of the movies.
Sporting American clothes and dance moves, he became known around Mogadishu as Abdi American, but when the radical Islamist group al-Shabaab rose to power in 2006, it became dangerous to celebrate Western culture. Desperate to make a living, Abdi used his language skills to post secret dispatches, which found an audience of worldwide listeners. Eventually, though, Abdi was forced to flee to Kenya.
In an amazing stroke of luck, Abdi won entrance to the U.S. in the annual visa lottery, though his route to America did not come easily. Parts of his story were first heard on the BBC World Service and This American Life. Now a proud resident of Maine and a recent U.S. citizen, Abdi Nor Iftin has written a dramatic, deeply stirring memoir that’s truly a story for our time: a vivid reminder of why America still beckons to those looking to make a better life. (From the Penguin Random House website.)
Abdi is a radio journalist, public speaker, translator, student, and the author of Call Me American, the true story of his heroic survival in war-ravaged Mogadishu and his incredible journey to a new life in America.
Author Biography – Abdi Nor Iftin
Revised Discussion Questions for Call Me American
Call Me American Critical Reviews
Background on Somalia
Event Videos
The Immigrant Experience: A Panel Discussion
Somalis in Wisconsin Panel Discussion
An Open Discussion About Islam, Muslims and Contemporary Issues
Immigration Today with Professor Ed Fallone
For a taste of Somalian food similar to what Abdi grew up with, check out Blue Star Café at 1619 N. Farwell Ave., Milwaukee’s only Somalian restaurant. The food is inexpensive, and portions are generous. Prepare for an onslaught of the scents of cumin, cinnamon, cloves and more, depending on what you order.
We want younger readers and even pre-readers to enjoy Tosa’s All-City Read too. Consider exploring the books below so your youngsters can read and talk about some of the same themes that appear in our adult book. These books are available at the Wauwatosa Public Library and at The Little Read Book on State Street in the Village.
For high school students
High school readers will enjoy the themes and characters in Call Me American or the they might prefer the adaptation for young adults: Call Me American (Adapted for Young Adults): The Extraordinary True Story of a Young Somali Immigrant, also by Abdi Nor Iftin. They may also be interested in the book Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Alcevado.
For middle readers (ages 8-14)
On These Magic Shores by Camille Saied Méndez
Grade level 3-4, 278 pages
Dear America: Young Readers’ Edition: The Story of an Undocumented Citizen by Jose Antonio Vargas
Grade level 3-7, 144 pages
When Stars are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed, illustrated by Iran Geddy
Grade level 4-7, 264 pages (graphic novel)
Other Words for Home by Jasmine Warga
For grades 4-8, 352 pages (a novel in verse)
It’s Trevor Noah: Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood (Adapted for Young Readers) by Trevor Noah
Grade level 5-6, 304 pages
Home of the Brave by Katherine Applegate
Grade Level 5-6, 272 pages
A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park
Grade Level 5-7, 128 pages
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind, Young Readers Edition, by William Kamkwamba, Bryan Mealer, et al
Grade level 5-9, 304 pages
Amina’s Voice by Hena Khan
Grade level 6-8, 209 pages
Out of Nowhere by Maria Padian
Grade Level 7-9, 352 pages
For Preschool to Grade 3 (ages 4-8)
Where Are You From? by Yamile Saied Méndez
Preschool-grade 2, 40 pages
The Boy Who Dreamed of Infinity: A Tale of the Genius Ramanujan
by Amy Alznauer, illustrated by Daniel Miyares
Kindergarten-grade 4, 48 pages
Thank you to our Children’s Book Sponsor, Mathnasium, for giving away 50 copies of The Boy Who Dreamed of Infinity.
For Younger Students: How have your community and your interests shaped you as a person? (Community can be your neighborhood, school, city, church, etc.)
For High School Students & Adults: In Call Me American, author Abdi Nor Iftin tells the story of how he adapted and survived in war-torn Somalia and acclimated to a new culture in the U.S. Describe a time when you had to adjust to a new culture or environment. What were the challenges you faced and how did you adapt?
THE WINNERS:
GRADES 3-5
First place ($30) Especially Emerson by Emerson Brown (McKinley School)
Second Place ($20) The Importance of Ballet by Luca Cooper (Roosevelt School)
Honorable Mention: Shaped but Not Yet Formed by Judah Smothers (Washington School)
GRADES 6-8
First place ($50) How Lacrosse Helped Me by Peter Litzau (Longfellow/STEM)
Second place ($30) Italian Dance Community by Charlotte Desjarlois (Longfellow)
Honorable Mentions:
Firefly by Manita Mahapatra (Longfellow)
How Wauwatosa Impacted Me by Clare Kasdorf (Longfellow/STEM)
Taking a Step by Camila Cavazos (Longfellow)
HIGH SCHOOL
First place ($75) Call Me American by Adriana Xiong (Wauwatosa East)
Second place ($45) Burdens of the Past by Hamze Boulaleh
ADULT
First place ($100) Learning – While in Rome Do as Romans Do by Vinay Kumar
Second place ($60) Ripples by Paige Brown
Congratulations to all and thank you to everyone who entered this year’s essay contest!
