Children of immigrants are different. They are their parents' guides to American ways. PROUD AMERICANS: GROWING UP AS CHILDREN OF IMMIGRANTS includes a collection of inspirational stories about approximately 50 people's joys and struggles while coming of age in the United States as children of immigrants.Included are Hollywood stars, high-profile media and business people, award-winning athletes, members of the President's cabinet, elected officials and those whose names may not be recognizable but whose stories are certain to be memorable.You'll meet people like Tony Xiong, whose dream is to become a police officer. Who would have guessed that's what he would want to become after growing up with two gang-member brothers who were often in trouble with the law? Then, there's Natalia Estrada, a hair stylist who is the daughter of Mexican immigrants who were farm workers. Estrada's coming-of-age wisdom shows how she dreamed of a different heritage but grew to become a proud Mexican American. Dorothy Takeuchi remembers growing up as the child of Japanese immigrants and the time her family was forced to live in internment camps in the United States. In spite of the hatred and discrimination she witnessed, Takeuchi harbors no resentment and is proud to be an American. Hani and Maher Ahmad know what it's like to have people call you names because of the color of your skin or the sound of your last name. They both lead productive lives and work against discrimination.U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta mentions he's the son of Italian immigrants in every speech he gives. Panetta remembers his parents' reminders that they came to America to give him and his brother better opportunities. "Make us proud," they would tell him.PROUD AMERICANS' author Judie Fertig Panneton is a child of immigrants who are Holocaust survivors. This is her second book based on a collection of stories. Her first was THE BREAST CANCER BOOK OF STRENGTH & COURAGE. She is an award-winning journalist with experience as a print, TV, and radio reporter. Also featured, based on research, are individuals including: Hines Ward, Dr. Mehemet Oz, Jay Leno, Ann Curry, George Stephanopoulos, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, Leonardo DiCaprio, Rahm Emanuel, Jennifer Aniston, Christina Aguilera, Michael Savage, IvankaTrump, Apolo Ohno, Maria Menounos, Maurice Sendak, Timothy Geithner, Michael Dukakis, and Margaret Cho.