Some of Us: A Story of Citizenship and the United States

by Rajani LaRocca, Huy Voun Lee (illustrator)

Discover what it means to become a US citizen and how the process unfolds in this "inspiring picture book" (The Washington Post) about immigration and naturalization.

What does US citizenship look like? Some of us are citizens by birth. Some of us are born beyond the United States and gain citizenship through immigration and naturalization. With lyrical prose and luminous mixed-media artwork, this nonfiction book outlines the process by which some of us—spanning every age and background—travel to the United States to live, work, study, and contribute to the fabric of our new communities. After years, without relinquishing who we are or where we came from, if we are fortunate, we can choose to become naturalized citizens. We can become American.

This insightful story honors the many different paths to citizenship and celebrates all people who enrich our country by striving to participate in our democracy.

Genres: Picture Books, Nonfiction, Childrens, Immigration, Poetry, United States

32 pages, Hardcover

Published May 27, 2025

About the author

Rajani LaRocca was born in India, raised in Kentucky, and now lives in the Boston area, where she practices medicine and writes award-winning books for young people, including Red, White, and Whole, which won a 2022 Newbery Honor, the Walter Dean Myers Award, Golden Kite Award, and New England Book Award. Her other books include: Midsummer’s Mayhem (2019), Seven Golden Rings (2020), Bracelets for Bina’s Brothers (2021), Much Ado About Baseball (2021), Where Three Oceans Meet (2021), My Little Golden Book About Kamala Harris (2021), The Secret Code Inside You (2021), I'll Go and Come Back (2022), and more. She’s always been an omnivorous reader, and now she is an omnivorous writer of fiction and nonfiction, novels and picture books, prose and poetry. She finds inspiration in her family, her childhood, the natural world, math, science, and just about everywhere she looks. To connect with Rajani and learn more about her and her books visit her at www.RajaniLaRocca.com and on Twitter and Instagram @rajanilarocca.

Reviews

[Krissy J.]

Review content from Social Justice Books:

The narrative opens with, “Some of us are born American. Some choose,” a reductive interpretation of the reality of immigration and citizenship, which disregards the fact that birthright citizenship has been long challenged. Though the author acknowledges that some folks immigrate to flee war, oppression, and poverty, she neglects to directly address that these are conditions which contribute to forced immigration. The first allusion to this appears in the author’s note where LaRocca states, “Enslaved people were brought here against their will,” as if forced immigration is only relegated to the past. Yet the United States continues to support regressive governments, the climate crisis, global trade policies, and wars that force people to flee their home country in search of refuge in a land that doesn’t welcome them. As journalist David Bacon explains, migration is a last resort and most immigrants would prefer the right to stay home. LaRocca goes on to state in her note that some people are denied the right to immigrate due to arbitrary or racist laws and delves a bit into the history of the struggle for suffrage across minority groups, but concurrently states that “all U.S. citizens have the same rights and responsibilities,” a confusing, contradictory takeaway for the young elementary target audience. LaRocca falls into infantilizing optimism rather than offering an accessible and accurate portrayal of the current state of our country.

Right now, there is a prevalence of racist rhetoric that incites fear of deportation in undocumented U.S. citizens with the promise of an indefinite barred return. The administration’s call for “voluntary” deportation leaves unacknowledged the reality that immigrants have no choice but to return to the war, oppression, and poverty they were escaping from in the first place. Some immigrants, who have lived here for most of their lives and have played a crucial role in creating the culturally diverse and rich tapestry that the United States is supposed to stand for, are finding themselves in a now foreign land with no home and no community, not to mention the cases where immigrants who have been legally granted citizenship have also been “mistakenly” kidnapped and incarcerated.

While intended to inspire pride, this book is an immigration fairytale.

[TheRetiredSchoolLibrarian |Mrs. Ferraris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brief summary: Some people are U.S. citizens by birth, while others arrive from different countries and choose to become naturalized citizens. This picture book offers a meaningful way to introduce the many paths to citizenship and the personal stories behind why people choose to become Americans.

Comments: The illustrations are created with paper samples and Procreate.

The author's note in the back shares about the author's own immigration from India and becoming a naturalized citizen.

On a personal note: My mother is an immigrant, and I still remember her carefully reading her workbook, studying for the citizenship test. I watched with pride as she raised her hand to take the Oath of Allegiance, standing alongside others in a naturalization ceremony at the Ohio Statehouse in downtown Columbus.

This book could be shelved in the picture books or in the nonfiction section of 304.

Rating: 4/5 📗📗📗📗

[Debra · Rating 4 out of 5]

In simple text alongside and around gorgeous illustrations by Huy Voun Lee, Rajani LaRocca explains why people have chosen to immigrate to the United States and that there is a process for naturalization in this country. There are facts and dates in here for students who want to research this issue, but overall it is a simple story of citizenship and what that means to so many people, those of us born her and those who went through the process to become legal citizens.

Certainly a timely book and a strikingly beautiful book. I especially loved the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights in the backmatter.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful illustrated poem that talks about many different stories of citizenship, the reasons for coming to the United States, and the amazing diversity of the people who live here. Backmatter includes some of the history of citizenship, including some of the racist injustices that have led to limited citizenship opportunities for certain kinds of people.

The illustrations incorporate a wide diversity of people and United States symbolism and made me think of Blue Sky White Stars.

[Bookishrealm · Rating 5 out of 5]

This might by "too on the nose for some," but this is the type of book that we need for younger readers during this current political climate. The imagery created by Huy Voun Lee is absolutely brilliant. It captures the power of LaRocca's words. One line that stood out to me in particular was "and then we take an oath-no to the president, not to Congress, but to the ideals of the United States: freedom, justice, peace, equality." I think that some people need that reminder. If you haven't had the chance to pick this one up, I highly recommend reading ASAP.

[Lesli · Rating 4 out of 5]

An homage to the path towards citizenship and many people, reasons, and paths to the United States. I like that it says, "without relinquishing who we are are where we came from." The artwork shows a wide variety of cultures and people. Given the current political climate, I think it is an important reminder that becoming a naturalized citizen involves many years of trying to come to the US, followed by more years of working and studying to become a citizen.

[Shanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

An important book for reading about the immigration and naturalization process. It also lists the basic rights of every human being in the back, as defined by the United Nations. This is a book that is needed and will be instructive to many.

Mia’s 2nd Year of Books: Day 137

#WeNeedDiverseBooks #OwnVoices

[Erin Buhr · Rating 4 out of 5]

A clearly written, beautifully illustrated, and timely nonfiction picture book about the immigration process and path to becoming an American citizen. Between the words and illustrations the diversity and range of immigration and citizenship experiences are well captured. A great book for a classroom, a conversation starter, for the Fourth of July or to celebrate a naturalization.

[Pamela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simply told, an important message that no matter how it happened, all citizens of the US are protected equally under the law and that our loyalty is to the ideals of the US: freedom, justice, peace, and equality. Back matter includes the author’s journey to citizenship and some important historical dates in our country’s somber journey to offering citizenship to more people.

[Rachel Huntsman-Petersen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Describes immigration and the path to citizenship. A very empathetic description of the process to achieve citizenship and how people come from all over for various reasons. One of my favorite pages showed all different kinds of street food that was brought from immigrants.

Very cute. Very timely.

[Meredith · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think most of the world forgot to read the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights at the end. The fact that I'm wondering if I would get pushback from having this book in my school library says a lot.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

An inspiring story about what the process of and what it means to become a U.S. Citizen. A wonderful story that brought tears to my eyes.

At the end of the book is an Author's Note; Beyond Citizenship: The Rights of All Peoples; and a Selected Bibliography.

[Jenna Daucunas · Rating 5 out of 5]

So needed for kids to understand the make-up of the United States and what people go through to become citizens. As a family with a parent who became a citizen a couple years ago, I loved sharing this with our daughter.

[Marcie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is lovely. The jacket describes it as lyrical prose. The back matter is wonderful and beautifully presented. Love the summarized 1948 United Nations' Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

[Marcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another gem from Rajani LaRocca. A simple and straightforward introduction on citizenship and immigration. Perfectly done for young audiences and a timely resource. The book is a celebration of all Americans and honors their contributions.

[Lucia Duncan]

EVERYONE NEEDS TO READ THIS.
EVERYONE NEEDS TO UNDERSTAND THIS.

[Candace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect book about citizenship for these times.

[Rachael · Rating 4 out of 5]

I saw a review critical of this book. I need to reread before leaving a full review - but on my first pass through I feel like this is a clear book about migration & citizenship for young kids …

[K.C. Norton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maybe I should get my mother-in-law a copy of this book.

Clear, direct language, beautiful imagery, and something every kid in the US should understand, since so many politicians don’t seem to.

[Theo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful message combined with stunning illustrations -- an automatic add to our collection!

[April · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rajani LaRocca has done it again. Beautiful writing, interesting topic... this was a delightful and fascinating read about gaining citizenship through immigration and naturalization.

[Elizabeth Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful picture book with simple text about immigration and citizenship in the United States. Timely and masterfully handled.

[Jessie · Rating 3 out of 5]

While this mentions citizenship by birth, this is mostly about the process and value of naturalization. A really good intro to that for kids!

[Lauren Z · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful! This book is outstanding for teaching civics and the process of citizenship and what it means to become a citizen.

[Madeline · Rating 5 out of 5]

“We all deserve safety, respect, opportunity”.

[Emily Sharpe · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent book to wrap up our module on Human Rights; considered the many ways people are American.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

timely. one to own in every library

[Joan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent nonfiction picture book designed to teach the basics of what it means to be an American to young audiences. Beautifully illustrated. Back matter includes more detailed information.

[PottWab Regional Library]

O

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars
Celebrating citizenship in the US whether naturalized or born to it. With the reminder that there are rights and responsibilities as citizens.