In Somalia, Abdi Nor Iftin grew up amidst a blend of cultures. His mother entertained him with vivid folktales and bold stories about her rural, nomadic upbringing. As he grew older, he spent his days following his father, a basketball player, through the capital city of Mogadishu. But when the threat of civil war reached Abdia�TMs doorstep, his family was forced to flee to safety. Nicknamed Abdi the American, he developed a proficiency for English that connected him a�" and his story a�" with news outlets and radio shows, and eventually gave him a shot at the annual U.S. visa lottery.
Age Range: 12-17 | Grade Level: 7-9 | Lexile Measure: 900L