From Yard to Foreign is billed as “an original contemporary Caribbean immigrant chapter book for adolescents.” Readers who migrated to U.S. in their formative years may recognize some of the experiences of 12-year-old Kenny, the main character who, along with his mom and sister, joins his father in the Big Apple. His reaction to various events such as his first subway ride and a visit to the "beach" at Coney Island definitely brought back memories. Although the work is geared toward middle school students, author Lyn Davis says, “It is for readers who are struggling, whether it’s with a language barrier or from a lack of regular instruction. Students can find a topic in the book to spark their curiosity and can engage in rich discussions about the themes. ” Davis, who is of Jamaican heritage, was completing a master’s degree in education and during her research discovered that books about immigrant children of Caribbean descent transitioning into larger countries were few and far between. “After completing the book I realized it could be anyone’s story,” says Davis, who wrote it as part of a thesis project. “I wasn’t ready for the impact of writing such a book. I wasn’t ready for gaining the insights I did about the experiences of the immigrant child.” The author had much more to say: On what was the most difficult thing about writing From Yard to Foreign: “Reflecting on my own experiences when I first came to the United States as a young adult was the hardest thing for me. There were no support systems as there are now when I was a middle schooler. Thinking about what happened to me when I was younger as I was creating the plot for my characters was not easy.” On the book being a part of a series: “The characters in From Yard to Foreign will show up in other books and handle their own challenges. I feel that it is not only important to tell the story of a Caribbean immigrant child, but also the story of other children in the same age range. The middle school years are some of the toughest both academically and social-emotionally for children, let alone having to fit in to a new school, a new country and many times, a new continent.” On the benefits and drawbacks of self-publishing: “You can produce a story with subject matters that are really important, especially in these volatile times. If you send it to a large publisher it may not even be read, let alone published. On the flip side, when you self-publish you don’t have the opportunity to have an agent with connections who can expose your work to a wider audience and in the ‘right’ circles.” On the advice she would give to the main character in the book: “I would tell Kenny to continue to stick close to his family and to always speak up for himself and others. He should never forget his roots and where he came from.” To learn more about writer Lyn Davis, visit her Instagram page @From_Yard_to_Foreign or her Facebook page From Yard to Foreign. The pages are interactive so visitors can pose questions and exchange views with others. Christmas is around the corner so add From Yard to Foreign to your wish list or get it as a stocking stuffer for the youngsters you know. Order your copy from amazon.com today! Team G.C.