**"Newcomers: Book One"** by Lojze Kovičič is a novel that explores themes of displacement, identity, and integration through the experiences of immigrants in a new country. The book is known for its poignant portrayal of the challenges faced by newcomers as they navigate their new surroundings and strive to build new lives.

### Key Themes and Plot Points:

1. **Immigration and Displacement**: The novel focuses on the experiences of immigrants who have recently arrived in a new country. It delves into the difficulties and adjustments involved in leaving one's homeland and starting over in an unfamiliar environment.

2. **Identity and Belonging**: A central theme is the struggle for identity and a sense of belonging in a new country. The characters grapple with their cultural heritage while trying to adapt to and integrate into their new surroundings. The novel explores how their identities are shaped by both their past and their present experiences.

3. **Cultural Integration**: The book examines the process of cultural integration, highlighting the tensions and negotiations involved in adapting to a new culture while maintaining connections to one's own cultural roots. The characters face various challenges as they try to find their place in a society that is different from what they have known.

4. **Personal and Social Struggles**: The characters' personal struggles are depicted alongside broader social issues related to immigration. The novel addresses themes of economic hardship, social exclusion, and the search for acceptance and opportunity in a new land.

5. **Narrative Perspective**: Kovičič’s writing provides a detailed and empathetic view of the immigrant experience. The narrative may include multiple perspectives to give a well-rounded portrayal of the challenges faced by different individuals and families.

6. **Emotional and Psychological Impact**: The novel delves into the emotional and psychological impact of immigration on the characters. It explores feelings of loss, hope, resilience, and the longing for a sense of home.

In summary, *Newcomers: Book One* by Lojze Kovičič is a compelling exploration of the immigrant experience, focusing on themes of displacement, identity, and cultural integration. Through its detailed portrayal of the challenges faced by newcomers, the novel provides a nuanced and empathetic look at the complexities of building a new life in a foreign land.

This was rather emotionally raw and at times a bit overly detailed account of Slovenia's national author's rather rough transition (serious language troubles & poverty) from Switzerland to Yugoslavia during WWII. It ends on a cliffhanger of the invasion of the area and so, there is no real conclusion (it's part of a series, something I hadn't realized). Kovacic writes well (as does the translator, Michael Biggins) and his story is an interesting insight on the inter-WW society of Yugoslavia and the European concerns around ethnicity and community. Readers would benefit from an general understanding of the non-German/British situations in inter-war Europe, a world of new national boundaries, as Aloyse, the narrator, is too young, too trapped in a linguistic limbo to guide the reader.