People of the Book: Book reading by FSU immigrant adolescents in Israel

This article sheds light on the “forgotten” medium in the lives of immigrant adolescents, books, by focusing on the youth from the Former Soviet Union, who have immigrated to Israel since 2000. Book reading patterns found in the study reflect the immigrant adolescents’ need to express, comprehend, and legitimize their feelings of sadness, loneliness, and helplessness caused by immigration. The research points, therefore, to the therapeutic function of books, one that enables immigrant youngsters to gain insight into the inner-world of books’ characters, to identify with them, and to learn from their life experiences. Furthermore, books also serve as an accessible cultural resource, as they raise immigrant teens’ self-esteem and confidence, as well as help them to resist the negative stereotypes ascribed to them by local peers.