Book of Unknown Americans

“The Book of Unknown Americans” describes a series of causes and effects that lead the Toro family to never return to visit Panamá.

Match the boxes that shows which cause leads to
each effect.

• The Toros make a life in their new home.

• The narrator’s father sees the airplanes flying into the towers on television.

• The last trip to Panama is cancelled.

• The narrator’s father calls the class president to tell him they will be coming to the reunion.

• Rafael knows he doesn't belong in Panama

• The narrator’s father gets a job in America.

Tags

CCSS.RI.4.3

CCSS.RI.5.3

CCSS.RI.6.3

CCSS.RI.7.3

CCSS.RI.8.3

What is the main theme of the text?

• The struggles of fitting in as an immigrant

• The importance of family bonds

• The impact of political conflict on personal lives

• The nostalgia for one's home country.

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.9

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

How did the narrator feel about their identity?

• They identified more as an American.

• They strongly identified as Panamanian.

• They were confused and unsure of their identity.

• They didn't care about their cultural background.

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.9

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

How do the characters’ thoughts about and reactions to the setting relate to the themes
of the selection?

Tags

CCSS.RL.5.3

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.9-10.3

The novel's title, The Book of Unknown Americans, emphasizes the idea in the excerpt that the characters struggle to...

• Find out about their past.

• Locate their other family members.

• Return to their former home.

• Fit in with their new culture.

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.9

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

Which sentence best fits the theme found in The Book of Unknown Americans?

• Life as an immigrant is easy.

• Home can only be one place.

• Adjusting to life as an immigrant is a difficult and lengthy process.

• Most immigrants choose to let go of their roots and embrace being American.

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.9

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

The novel’s title, The Book of Unknown Americans, emphasizes the idea in the excerpt that the characters struggle to

• find out about their past

• locate their other family members

• fit in with their new culture

• return to their former home

Tags

CCSS.RL.5.3

CCSS.RL.5.7

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.6.9

As used in paragraph 25, what does the word recruit mean?

• to hire

• to strengthen

• to enlist

• to renew

Tags

CCSS.RI.7.4

CCSS.RI.8.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

What is the primary setting of 'The Book of Unknown Americans'?

• A) A small town in Delaware

• B) A bustling city in California

• C) A rural area in Texas

• D) A suburban neighborhood in Florida

Tags

CCSS.RI.11-12.9

CCSS.RI.9-10.9

CCSS.RL.11-12.9

CCSS.RL.9-10.9

CCSS.RL.K.6

Which character in 'The Book of Unknown Americans' struggles with learning English?

• A) Alma Rivera

• B) Mayor Toro

• C) Rafael Toro

• D) Maribel Rivera

Tags

CCSS.RI.11-12.9

CCSS.RI.9-10.9

CCSS.RL.11-12.9

CCSS.RL.9-10.9

CCSS.RL.K.6