Senem is a Turkish woman living in the United States and taking care of her family-her husband, Tarkan, and their son, Hasan-while adapting to a new language and new customs. Her task becomes even more challenging when Hasan is kidnapped and when she gets word of a natural disaster back home. With the help of her family and her new friends, however, Senem manages to find the strength to thrive in her unfamiliar setting and make new beginnings in her life.

A modified version of this story is also available on our website, www.press.umich.edu/esl/stories/.

The MICHIGAN Stories for Newcomers are original fiction written for adult English learners who wish to improve their reading and English skills.