Home of the Brave by Katherine Applegate

Kek immigrates to Minnesota from Africa where his family has been torn apart by war. He has seen his father and brother killed and doesn't know the fate of his mother. He moves in with an aunt and cousin who are already living in the U.S. and have adjusted to things like living in an apartment and surviving in the winter. Kek remains hopeful in spite of his horrific past and the difficulties he faces in America. He makes one friend and finds a job caring for a cow, which reminds him of all he lost in Africa. The story is told in free verse and Kek uses a lot of imagery in his comparisons between his old and new lives. This is a sort of quiet book for the kind of reader who likes to empathize with characters in tough situations.