Paquettes driver en melkegård i Vermont, men står i fare for å miste gården etter farens ulykke. Cruz-familien er fra Mexico og har immigrert til USA på jakt etter et bedre liv. Historien er fortalt gjennom øynene til to 11-åringer, Tyler Paquette og Mari Cruz. Denne viktige boken hjelper elevene med å bygge en dypere forståelse av immigrasjon og arbeidsinnvandrere, og hvordan vennskap kan bryte ned stereotypier og bygge broer til en bedre verden.
Be elevene lage en tekst til selvforbindelse til Return to Sender ved å velge favoritt sitat eller scene og illustrere hva det betyr for dem.
Storyboard Tekst
FAVORITE QUOTE from RETURN TO SENDER by Julia Alvarez
Mari and Tyler's social studies teacher Mr. Bicknell speaks up during the town meeting when a motion is raised by Mr. Rossetti regarding immigration. Mr. Rosetti says, "We got laws in this nation and anyone hiring illegals ought to be put behind bars. Anyone who's not here legally needs to be rounded up." Mr. Bicknell reminds Mr. Rossetti that his ancestors were also immigrants, coming from Italy in search of a better life. Later in the book, Mr. Rossetti learns the true weight of his words when the Cruz family is forcibly taken from the farm and put in jail. With the three daughters crying and missing their parents, he acknowledges, "That's no way to treat decent folks!"
"This country [was] built by people who gave up everything in search of a better life, not just for themselves but for their children. Their blood, sweat, and tears formed this great nation . . . We're all born human beings. But we have to earn that e at the end of human with our actions so we can truly call ourselves humane beings."