Meet Kirsten - Book Discussion

Hi everyone! I hope you all were able to read Meet Kirsten so we can discuss it. Sorry I was a few days late! If you don't have copies of these books going forward at home, you can check to see if a local library has them, and if no libraries have them, you can make an account at the Library of Congress's Internet Archive and check them out there.

Meet Kirsten, the first book in Kirsten's series, follows Kirsten as she travels from Sweden to America. She takes a journey to her new home in Minnesota, becoming closer to her family, and dealing with loss along the way. But she know's she's doing it for a better life...

When I was rereading this book, several things came to mind about the themes within, and both their historical context and what it means to be a girl in 2025. I don't want these posts to be too long, so I'll list my thoughts, and let you discuss these topics as well in the comments!

1. Kirsten is experiencing a new country for the first time, and can only travel by boat. What do you think is different for immigrants now?

   There are two things that are different, one positive and one negative. It's positive that most immigrants don't have to travel by boat anymore. But it takes a lot longer to immigrate now due to wait times and restrictions, as well as anti-immigrant stigma.

2. Kirsten travels to America to help her uncle and for a better life. Why do you think so many people want to come to our country?

   For that exact reason - for a better life. Some people are escaping conflicts, human rights violations, and other things - while other people just want to be here in this country.

   
   

3. When Kirsten sees the fancy dresses in America, she tells her mom, "I wish we could wear such pretty dresses." Her mom responds with "We don't need to be ashamed." Why do you think she said that?

   In a unfamiliar culture, or when people are different overall, it's easy to want to assimilate. After all, people don't want to be seen as "different", or be teased or bullied for it. But Kirsten's mother is proud of her heritage, and doesn't want Kirsten to forget where she came from.

   
   

4. On the way to Minnesota, Kirsten's best friend Marta dies because she got sick. How do you think Kirsten deals with her grief?

   Losing Marta is just one more loss in Kirsten's life. She lost her home country as she moves to America, she lost the language she knows, the culture she knows, and now, has lost her best friend. But she sees it also as the start of a new life. A new country, new friends, and a chance to start over.

   
   

Next week, we will be reading Kirsten Learns A Lesson!