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 gets a job in America.

• 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 sees the airplanes flying into the towers on television.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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

• to hire

• to strengthen

• to enlist

• to renew

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

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

• A) Alma Rivera

• B) Mayor Toro

• C) Rafael Toro

• D) Maribel Rivera