The Middle of Everywhere : Helping Refugees Enter the American Community

The New York Times 's best-selling author of Reviving Ophelia, Mary Pipher connects us with our greater familythe human family. Over the past decade, Mary Pipher has been a great source of wisdom, helping us to better understand our family members. Now she connects us with the newest members of the American familyrefugees. In cities all over the country, refugees arrive daily. Lost Boys from Sudan, survivors from Kosovo, families fleeing Afghanistan and Vietnam: they come with nothing but the hope and desire to experience the American dream. Their endurance in the face of tragedy and their ability to hold on to the virtues of family, love, and joy are a lesson for all Americans. Their stories will make you laugh and weep, and give you a deeper understanding of the wider world in which we live. The Middle of Everywhere moves beyond the headlines into the homes of refugees from around the world. Working as a cultural broker, teacher, and therapist, Mary Pipher has once again opened our eyesand our heartsto those with whom we share the future. The bestselling author of Reviving Ophelia and Another Country profiles refugees from around the world who emigrate to the United States.In cities and towns all over the country, refugees arrive daily. Lost Boys from Sudan, survivors from Kosovo, families fleeing Afghanistan and Vietnam: they come with nothing but the desire to experience the American dream. Their endurance in the face of tragedy and their ability to hold on to the essential virtues of family, love, and joy are a tonic for Americans who are now facing crises at home. Their stories will make you laugh and weep—and give you a deeper understanding of the wider world in which we live.The Middle of Everywhere moves beyond the headlines, into the hearts and homes of refugees from around the world. Her stories bring to us the complexity of cultures we must come to understand in these times. “Pipher enters the hearts and homes of refugees who now live virtually from coast to coast, chronicling their struggles.... Her work is a plea for others to join her in a campaign of understanding.”—USA Today“Pipher unites refugees, people who have fled some of the most oppressive regimes in the world, with all of us.... [She] is taking this moment to teach us un-American behaviors: Patience, manners, and tolerance.”—Milwaukee Journal Sentinel“Drawing upon anthropology, sociology and psychology, [Pipher] offers a deft, moving portrait of the complexity of American life...Pipher's ambitious undertaking of combining personal stories with global politics is wonderfully realized.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

Over the past decade, Mary Pipher has helped us understand our family members. Reviving Ophelia did for our teenage daughters what Another Country did for our aging parents. Now, Pipher connects us with our greater family—the human family.
In cities and towns all over the country, refugees arrive daily. Lost Boys from Sudan, survivors from Kosovo, families fleeing Afghanistan and Vietnam: they come with nothing but the desire to experience the American dream. Their endurance in the face of tragedy and their ability to hold on to the essential virtues of family, love, and joy are a tonic for Americans who are now facing crises at home. Their stories will make you laugh and weep—and give you a deeper understanding of the wider world in which we live.
The Middle of Everywhere moves beyond the headlines, into the hearts and homes of refugees from around the world. Her stories bring to us the complexity of cultures we must come to understand in these times.

Harcourt is donating a portion of the proceeds from this book to the Pipher Refugee Relief Fund of the Lincoln Action Project.

Over the past decade, Mary Pipher has been a great source of wisdom, helping us to better understand our family members. Now she connects us with the newest members of the American family—refugees. In cities all over the country, refugees arrive daily. Lost Boys from Sudan, survivors from Kosovo, families fleeing Afghanistan and Vietnam: they come with nothing but the desire to experience the American dream. Their endurance in the face of tragedy and their ability to hold on to the virtues of family, love, and joy are a lesson for Americans. Their stories will make you laugh and weep—and give you a deeper understanding of the wider world in which we live.
The Middle of Everywhere moves beyond the headlines into the homes of refugees from around the world. Working as a cultural broker, teacher, and therapist, Mary Pipher has once again opened our eyes—and our hearts—to those with whom we share the future.

Cultural collisions on the Great Plains The beautiful laughing sisters-an arrival story Into the heart of the heartland All that glitters ... Children of hope, children of tears Teenagers Mohammed meets Madonna Young adults "Is there a marriage broker in Lincoln?" Family "A bundle of sticks cannot be broken" African stories Healing in all times and places Home-a global positioning system for identity Building a village of kindness. Coda: We're all here now. The best-selling author of Reviving Ophelia presents a stirring glimpse of the world beyond our borders, told through the tales of refugees who have escaped countries riddled by conflict and ripped apart by war to realize their dream of starting a new life in America, vividly detailing their triumph over adversity. Reprint. 35,000 first printing.