For April's book club, Leeds Humanists have chosen Beautiful Country: A Memoir of an Undocumented Childhood by Qian Julie Wang. A memoir is a wonderful way to explore complex issues from a deeply human angle, always remembering that we are really talking about people whenever we hear politicians talk about issues.  

This memoir draws on the author's experience coming to the United States as a seven-year-old child and the shock to her system from her comfortable life in China.

Her parents were professors in China, but in New York, they had to work in a sweatshop to make ends meet. Her family, like other undocumented families, faced ongoing struggles daily, living with this lack of security from one day to the next.   

As humanists, we know that, behind the issues in the news headlines, are people trying to live the best lives they can, often in circumstances we can barely imagine. Therefore, we place compassion and care centre stage, as well as reason.

Let this book provide a means of bringing humanist values to the discussion of illegal immigration. What answers would humanists seek and why?

Join us at the John Lewis Community Hub to share your thoughts.