Mustafa tells the story of a family that is emigrating overseas in the hopes of finding a better life. The story remains a personal one, showing the emotions and adventures of this boy and his family. It is also a good way to humanize immigrants, a group of people who are often viewed as strange or different. Background information about the immigrant experience will help students make connections with the events in the book and encourage them to explore an ask questions. Team up with a social studies teacher or use other resources available in the community to develop a unit to educate students about the real-world issues this story addresses.
