Mai Ya's Long Journey is the first book from the Wisconsin Historical Society Press in the new Badger Biography series, designed for upper elementary and middle-school readers to explore the stories of Wisconsin people. Mai Ya's Long Journey relates the personal story of Mai Ya Xiong and her family. Their journey from the Ban Vinai refugee camp in Thailand to a new life in Madison, Wisconsin, is extraordinary, yet typical of the stories of the two hundred thousand Hmong people who now live in the United States and who struggle to adjust to American society while maintaining their own culture as a free people. The author, who has known Mai Ya since she was a student in her seventh-grade ESL (English as a Second Language) class, brings her personal perspective to this compelling story.

 

This book was recognised in the Nonfiction category by the Midwest Book Award. It was recognised in the Multicultural category by the Midwest Book Award.

This book features in the following series: Badger Biographies, Badger Biography .

There are 80 pages in this book. This book was published 2005 by University of Wisconsin Press .

Sheila Cohen has taught English as a Second Language in the Madison Metropolitan School District for twenty years. She is a freelance writer and has served on the Board of Directors of United Refugee Services. She lives in Madison, Wisconsin.