If you can't make an in-person book discussion at one of our branches this month or our author's visit, you could try our online discussion. And even if you are coming to the library discussions, you can get the most out of the experience by participating online, too! You'll be able to leave comments on the discussion topics below for the entire month of March. Click on a question to begin.

Discussion questions are courtesy of the The Great Michigan Read.

1. All immigrants assimilate—in varying degrees—to life in their new home. What are some examples of assimilation? What factors play a role in this process? Does it matter whether an immigrant assimilates to a lesser or larger extent? Why?
2. Refugees are those who escape a country or power to evade persecution. Throughout history, many have claimed this status in an attempt to immigrate to the United States. Why did the United States government assist the immigration of Vietnamese refugees in 1975? Why might it help in the case of some countries but not others?
3. Newly arrived immigrants often settle in communities consisting of other recent immigrants, usually of the same background. Why is this the case? Is this always true? Compare immigrant communities now with those of the past.
4. Recent technological advances—the Internet, satellite television, international phone services—allow immigrants to maintain strong links with their country of origin. How might this affect the experience of immigrants in their new country?
5. How do forces like peer pressure, popular culture, and mass marketing affect the formation of one's cultural identity? How have they shaped your identity?
6. Consider all of the ways that people can differ in terms of culture. Can you think of a community where everyone's culture is the same? Think of communities where, on the surface, this might appear to be true. Do you think this is actually the case? How so?
7. Compared with other issues, do differences in religion pose additional challenges when it comes to acceptance and understanding? Why do you believe this is the case?
8. How does the Vietnam War continue to impact the American political, social, and cultural landscape? How does this compare with other conflicts, like World War II, which is often called "The Good War"? Is there such a thing as a "good war"?
9. Free Discussion - Use this space to raise your own issues or talk about any other aspect of the book.