Ann Gianola Knihy

Oscar has made it. When he arrived in the Unites States thirty years ago he spoke very little English and the only work he could get was washing dishes. He washed a lot of dishes and, over the years, worked his way up the ladder. Now he runs his own very popular Mexican restaurant, he is married, has two daughters, and owns a house. In short, he has achieved the American dream. Everything is perfect, until the pandemic breaks out. Oscar, his family, and everyone he knows has to work out how to survive physically, mentally and financially. In these extreme circumstances, will he lose everything he has fought so hard for? Is the American dream over? Oscar has made it. When he arrived in the Unites States thirty years ago he spoke very little English and the only work he could get was washing dishes. He washed a lot of dishes and, over the years, worked his way up the ladder. Now he runs his own very popular Mexican restaurant, he is married, has two daughters, and owns a house. In short, he has achieved the American dream. Everything is perfect, until the pandemic breaks out. Oscar, his family, and everyone he knows has to work out how to survive physically, mentally and financially. In these extreme circumstances, will he lose everything he has fought so hard for? Is the American dream over?

Ruby takes pride in the way she looks. She resents the unfairness of a system in which people are not treated equally, and she wants the world to know. She has become a regular protester, rioting and looting in downtown Portland. She is angry, not just about what happened to George Floyd, but at the way people like Melvina and her mother dare to question her beliefs and actions. After all, everything she’s doing is for Melvina and other people of color. Shouldn’t Melvina be grateful? It takes a tragic event for Ruby to wake up and begin to learn from the real consequences of her actions. Ruby takes pride in the way she looks. She resents the unfairness of a system in which people are not treated equally, and she wants the world to know. She has become a regular protester, rioting and looting in downtown Portland. She is angry, not just about what happened to George Floyd, but at the way people like Melvina and her mother dare to question her beliefs and actions. After all, everything she’s doing is for Melvina and other people of color. Shouldn’t Melvina be grateful? It takes a tragic event for Ruby to wake up and begin to learn from the real consequences of her actions.

The Stolen Reader + Delta Augmented (DELTA Crime and Thriller)

Tien is a talented artist. Three years out of art college, she finds herself still working in her Auntie Chau’s nail salon. Feeling dissatisfied and unfulfilled, she worries about her future. However, a chance robbery at the nail salon opens up new doors for Tien, both professionally and romantically… But the main question remains – will Tien’s ultimate dream of having her very own exhibition at an art gallery ever come true? Portrait of a Nail Salon is a lighthearted read about hope and perseverance and how you can never really know what is around the corner… DELTA Readers Me and my World is a series which aims to share stories about people’s lives around the world and the issues they are confronted with. This reader includes: explanations of new vocabulary directly at the bottom of each page activities to check understanding and develop your language skills Think about it: opportunities to reflect on what you have read Find out more: questions and tasks designed to help you learn more about what you have read