If Your Name Was Changed at Ellis Island by Ellen Levine

by Ellen Levine

Describes, in question and answer format, the great migration of immigrants to New York's Ellis Island, from the 1880s to 1914

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Childrens, American History, Picture Books, Middle Grade, Reference

Hardcover

First published April 1, 1993

About the author

Ellen Levine's books have won many awards and honors, including the Jane Addams Peace Award. Although she enjoys writing both fiction and nonfiction, most of Ellen's books for young readers have been nonfiction. "Writing nonfiction lets me in behind the scenes of the story. I enjoy learning new things and meeting new people, even if they lived 200 years ago."

Ellen Levine was born in New York City. She received her B.A. degree in Politics from Brandeis University, graduating Magna cum laude. She has a Master's degree in political science from the University of Chicago and a Juris Doctor degree from New York University School of Law. She has worked in film and television, taught adults and immigrant teenagers in special education and ESL programs, and served a law clerkship with Chief Judge Joseph Lord, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania. A former staff attorney with a public interest law group, Levine now devotes her time to writing, lecturing, and teaching. She is on the faculty of Vermont College's MFA program in writing for Children and Young Adults.

Ellen Levine divides her time between New York City and Salem, New York.

Reviews

[Melki · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is estimated that nearly one out of every two Americans has a relative who passed through Ellis Island.

This history book for younger readers presents a fairly detailed look at who and how millions of immigrants came to the U.S.A - from harrowing sea voyages to the wait for clearances at Ellis Island.
Mentioned are just some of the things we take for granted that were brought here by immigrants - symphony orchestras, bowling, ice skating, and Santa Claus.

[Lorie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This question and answer formatted book covers all aspects of immigration during the turn of the century. It begins with who came and why the people left their homeland (willingly or not). It continues with what Ellis Island had in store for the immigrants, and concludes with the important contributions immigrants made to society. A graphic organizer to help students outline the information would take a great deal of information and streamline it to the most important to know.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read for CC3 wk#16. Good book that gives you a lot of information about immigrants. Ben rated 4 stars, Karen 3 stars, Jacob 2 stars, and Ellie 1 star. The book was longer than the kids anticipated and wanted to move on to something else but we stuck to it and finished. This book was more of a public school type textbook (which Ben and I are used to but the kids are not).

[Peggy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Children's book. Good overview of Ellis Island. I hope to visit there soon.

[Khadija Bensaadoun · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book highlights the struggles that the immigrants from Europe dealt with as they came to the United States. This book can be used as social studies lesson on immigration. Grades 1-5.

[Caterpickles · Rating 4 out of 5]

What the book's about:
Ellen Levine's book talks about what it was like for people who immigrated to the United States through Ellis Island between 1892 and 1914. Although the title implies that the book talks mostly about what happened to immigrants who had their names changed at the border (whether by choice or by imposition), Levine actually covers much more than that. Levine breaks down the process of immigration through Ellis Island into one or two page chunks that cover issues like medical exams, literacy tests, what happened if/when people were detained, and the situations in which families were allowed to stay together or broken up.

Why The Nine-Year-Old thinks you'll like it:
"The one-sentence stories about people who had their names changed and why are really interesting. One guy changed his name from SomethingSomethingNelson* to just Nelson because he was afraid the longer version would be too hard for Americans to say and so they wouldn't let him into America at all." (*I would like to note for the record that in telling me this story The Nine-Year-Old said the man's real name, not SomethingSomethingNelson, but I didn't write the name down at the time and now I can't remember what that original name was.)

[Rachel Driscoll · Rating 3 out of 5]

"If Your Name Was Changed At Ellis Island" by Ellen Levine is one book in a series from Scholastic that is set in important times and places in history. The book is structured as a series of questions and answers that a student would typically have concerning the important historical site or event. In this book about Ellis Island, some of the questions are, "Did all immigrants come through Ellis Island?", "Why did people leave their homelands?", and "How long did you stay at Ellis Island?" to name but a few. The answers to the questions are very concise and easy to understand. The drawings and artwork support the information on the pages.
The reading level of this series makes it a good choice for grades 3-6. This series is a great resource for students researching many aspects of Social Studies. It could also be useful as an introduction to text features often found in non-fiction.

[Alyssa]

If Your Name Was Changed At Ellis Island is a greatly insightful book. This is an nonfiction/info text that describes what Ellis Island was and what it was like for immigrants to arrive when moving to America. The text has a lot of valuable information about Ellis Island for anyone of any age. The book talks about what it was like traveling to America, what it was like to arrive at Ellis Island, the kind of examinations people had to pass before being accepted into America, what happened if you were sick or had no money, and even what happened after arriving. I would recommend to teachers to have this book (or any of the books in this series) in their classroom library and to use it in read-alouds. It is a grades 2-5 interest level, with an upper third grade reading level, but it would be used as a research resource in the upper elementary and a read aloud in any grade.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent resource of factual information about Ellis Island and immigrants coming through in the late 1800s and early 1900s. An easy read for middle and upper elementary grades, the author explains all details of immigrants' journeys into America. Other American ports are mentioned as well. Reasons for the huge immigration into America during this time-frame are explained. All the processes involved to come to America from overseas (such as getting to the foreign ports, the conditions of the ship ride, leaving loved ones behind, diseases checked for, etc.) are thoroughly described. I appreciated the facts at the end of the book regarding the contributions the immigrants gave to our country. The author wrote this book in memory of her grandfather who passed through the Great Hall of Ellis Island.

[Meghan Brigan · Rating 4 out of 5]

...If Your Name Was Changed at Ellis Island is written in the form of informative questions about Ellis Island. There are pictures to help children learn about the various different things that immigrants went through at Ellis Island. This book is an informative book. It should be read by children ten years or older. There is more text than pictures. Children are often told of how their ancestors came over from other countries with this book they will be able to make connection with their ancestors and what they went through during immigration.

[Anita · Rating 2 out of 5]

As what it was aiming to be - a prettily illustrated overview of How Ellis Island Worked for a younger demographic - this was an fine book. I've already read a very nice overview of How Ellis Island Worked, and it wasn't aiming at quite such a young audience. It was called "Island of Hope." I was honestly hoping this book would have more than two pages of its space devoted to the subject in its title, that is, name-changes at Ellis Island. Oh, well. I guess most of my difficulty appreciating it is just a matter of misplaced expectations.

[Etta Mcquade · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had to read this book because my grandmother Anna Bucsko came through Ellis Island in 1899 from Austria-Hungary, later Henclova, Slovakia, when she was 19 years of age. Her passage was paid for by her brother who lived in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She later visited a brother in Wisconsin and met Joseph Gulan from Poland, who came to America via Baltimore, Maryland. They were married in 1900 and settled in the state of Washington. How I wish I had thought to ask her about her coming to the United States. She died when I was 11.

[Imani ♥ ☮ · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is one of those books that I would spend hours reading, and re-reading. It was part of that "If you lived in..." series and this was always my favorite. I don't know why because at the moment, I am having trouble recalling much more than the requirements of immigrants once they got to Ellis Island.

But, overall, I really like this book. It's a childhood favorite.

[Jennifer Mallory]

Describes, in question and answer format, the great migration of immigrants to New York's Ellis Island, from the 1880s to 1914. Features quotes from children and adults who passed through the station.

[Debbie · Rating 2 out of 5]

An interesting view of immigration historically. I did learn some things and found some things inaccurate - discovered that there's an update to the edition I have, so I imagine that one is a bit better if you're looking for a copy.

[Charity · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although everyone in America is an immigrant or a descendant of an immigrant, there have always been some people who want to keep newcomers out. Others have welcomed them. This has been true for all of American history.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice summary of what happened at Ellis Island. I think I got more out of this book because I have visited recently and went on the audio tour (thanks Mom and Dad).

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a great series, we've read many of them. Breaks the history into question and answer format and takes a kid point of view on the details.

[lola Franco · Rating 3 out of 5]

a little dry for kids, even for non-fiction. the name changing takes up only one page.

[Tamara · Rating 5 out of 5]

First Battle of the Books entry that I have read this year. Very good. Lots of great info. :) I can visualize the scenery as I read.

[Deborah Harris]

AR Quiz No. 18481 EN Nonfiction
Accelerated Reader Quiz Information IL: LG - BL: 6.4 - AR Pts: 1.0
Accelerated Reader Quiz Type Information AR Quiz Types: RP, VP

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good information on what the immigration process entailed before, during, and a bit after. Nice book to supplement immigration studies.

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

we have to read this for immigration rotation

[Mellanie C · Rating 4 out of 5]

I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/14109399

[Kristen Luppino · Rating 3 out of 5]

Questions and answers about immigration. A thoughtful view. Title could have been better.

[Abraham Ray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great children’s book about immigration and Ellis island in particular!

[Marie Ahlander · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was pretty good. It is about immigrants who pass through Ellis Island. It was a little slow but a pretty good book.

[Marcy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I appreciated most of the information, told in a straightforward manner easily digestible by older elementary children. However, regarding the titular question regarding whether some immigrants names were changed AT Ellis Island, this particular query has been DEBUNKED! It is a misrepresentation of of the immigrant experience to perpetuate this myth, and does a disservice to the rest of the credible information shared in this book. I would love if Scholastic publishers would consider rewriting that section, and even re-issue this book with an updated title.

[Ani M · Rating 4 out of 5]

I checked out this book from my school library for my Battle of the Books team (if you don't know what I'm talking about, it's a competitive book group at some schools) and I really liked it! Even though I definitely would not have picked it if it wasn't for my group, I thought it was interesting, enjoyable, and an easy read!

[Kate Nelson · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent overview of the immigration process at Ellis Island in its heyday. I enjoyed the little anecdotes, like how one immigrant who had never seen a banana ate it peel and all before being told that it gets peeled. I wish there would have been more detail and substance, especially as the book is touted as a must-read for middle school students.