Hope In My Heart: Sofia's Immigrant Diary

Sofia's Immigrant Diary #1

by Kathryn Lasky

When Sofia and her family arrive in Ellis Island after a long and difficult journey from Italy, a cruel twist of fate separates Sofia from her parents and sends her into quarantine. There, in a state-run hospital, she and her new friend, Maureen, must learn to overcome the twin hardships of immigration and alienation, while they maintain the hope that they will be reunited with their families.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Childrens, Diary, Middle Grade, Historical, Fiction, American History

106 pages, Library Binding

First published November 1, 2003

About the author

Kathryn Lasky, also known as Kathryn Lasky Knight and E. L. Swann, is an award-winning American author of over one hundred books for children and adults. Best known for the Guardians of Ga’Hoole series, her work has been translated into 19 languages and includes historical fiction, fantasy, and nonfiction.

Reviews

[Sheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Immigrants coming to the United States faced an uncertain future. Before they could start their new lives in America, they had to make it through the "Golden Door" of Ellis Island, but not all were allowed to travel on. Immigrants were denied entry to the United States for health or other, vague, reasons like prejudice.

Sofia and her family travel from Italy, arriving at Ellis Island only to have one family member, nine-year-old Sofia, be detained and quarantined for health reasons. Alone in an unfamiliar place with no one who speaks Italian, she navigates her new surroundings with resilience while displaying compassion for others. Her experiences show the realities of separation from family, the struggle with language barriers, and navigating corrupt officials who made money through bribery, thievery, or just straight cold-heartedness.

I appreciated the novel quarantine viewpoint and that several characters and their obstacles were shared offering a more complete look at the reasons for detention and/or quarantine. An honest look into an important part of America's history.

[Verona · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice read for 3rd/4th grade girls. You learn a bit about history and difficulties that immigrants to the USA may have encountered when they arrived.

[Katie Barton · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book hope in my heart is an ok book; the book is about a girl and her family immigrating to America. There is a little girl named Sofia, she is the narrator in the book. Her and her family are coming to America and they go on the ship and did is long and everyone got sea sick, but as they got close they would look for the statue of liberty because they new that is the first thing they would see as they entered Ellis Island. When they got to Ellis Island her family passed the inspections but the dust from the statue of liberty got in her eye so they thought it was infected so they put her in quarantine. She meet a girl named Maureen and the same thing happened to her, they would always help this one man whose brain didn’t work that well named Joe eat and drew in cards. They would always stick together and they went on walks with a guy named Rafi and he would bring them to the garbage to get food and things but then one day he left them treats and disappeared. While in quartile Sofia would always think of her family and would say why are we in here, I am never going to get to see my siblings grow up, or see my parents she thought they would forget about her. She wanted to get out and find her family. One day she got out and was able to leave quarantine she didn’t need to be there anymore, so she went on the boat ride off the island and was free she could finally go back to her family. She finally got to America after living in Italy are many years so she could live the American dream.

I liked all of the dialogue in the book and how they would say what they were thinking. I was so intrigued by the way they wrote it they had diaries of every day and what happened and from Sofia’s perspective she told her story as an immigrant coming to America. The part I didn’t like as much about the book was how short they made the description of the boat ride over. They should have made it more detailed and interesting so that we would feel like we are actually there on the boat with them. Also if they made it longer we would have felt how much pain and torture they had to go through for a long to time, and they did it to get to America.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is part of the “My America” series and a three-book story about an immigrant child from Italy who writes in her diary as she experiences arrival at Ellis Island. She documents her separation from her family, the loss of her immigration papers, being quarantined after being accused of harboring a contagious disease, and all of the other traumatic and hopeful situations that came along with many immigrants' journeys to America.
Looking for a better life with her family, Sofia, 9 years old, barely speaks English, and her life is placed almost entirely in the hands of the officials and doctors of Ellis Island, many of whom are corrupt and intolerant. Sofia forms a friendship with an Irish girl and a few of the authority figures at Ellis Island help her along her journey after she is separated with the rest of her family.
Alienated and scared, Hope in my Heart tells Sofia’s tale of strength in the most unlikely of situations. I think stories like this – realistic fiction/historical fiction – are a great way to teach adolescents about significant historical events or time periods. Although I can see how authentic diaries from real people would be more beneficial in many ways, I enjoyed that there are many historical notes about Ellis Island and real-world situations included in the text. While not every immigrant’s story was as difficult as Sofia’s (some were even worse, many were better…), this provides young readers with a glimpse into some of the hardships faced by young immigrants. I would say this book is good for grades 3-6, depending on reading level. It’s a fairly easy read, only 112 pages, but part of a series which allows interested students to delve even further into the story. I also think this might spark some interest in further Ellis Island/immigration research, so it would be a nice way to introduce a unit on the subject. Or, it could simply be a companion reading activity or option for those interested in reading further.

[Fatima A · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a spoiler review. It's about a girl named Sophia who comes from Italy, and imagrates to the United States. She passed every one of the rooms but except Medical. They think she has an eye disease, but really what happened was she was looking at the Statue of Liberty, when a ash from the torch, flew into her eye. She was separated from her family and sent to quarinteen. She was there for weeks. There was a man named Mr. Joe. He got yelled at by "mean nurse" for not knowing how to open a banana. Mean nurse, didint like Sophia or her friend, Marine. So, one day when a baby across the hall, that had just been born, dies, mean nurse knows that Sophia and Marine have nothing to do with it, but tells Nancy another nurse in the hospital, that Sophia and Marine, killed the baby. Nancy knew that they didint do that. So she just says ok. Then when the snack cart was coming this lady named Madam Lazel Coco, Marine and Sophia's friend, told them that she had seen mean nurse put powder in the milk that Marine and Sophia where supposed to drink. Marine and Sophia dropped the glass of milk, and then mean nurse ran to the kitchen. One morning, they had found out that Mr. Joe died of a heart attack. Then one morning, a priest, came to the hospital and asked Marine and Sophia why they were at the hospital. They told them about what had happened. The priest said that is not a way to treat people. When Marine and Sophia were sleeping, they heard a strange noise outside. They sneeked out and saw a helicopter. They were flying away from the hospital. Then Sophia spotted someone. Someone with chubby cheeks- It was her baby brother Marco! The priest lowered the helicopter and Sophia ran to her family. That's the end if my review. This took a long time to type, and this book was GREAT!!!!

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nine-year-old Sofia Monari and her family have left Italy and traveled to America in hopes of finding a better life. But on Ellis Island, their trouble begins. Sofia is suspected of having a contagious disease and is separated from her family and sent to live in quarantine. There, she finds nightmarish conditions and longs to be reunited with her parents, sister, and brothers. As the weeks go by, she wonders if she will be trapped in quarantine forever, even though she was never sick to begin with. When another girl her age, an Irish immigrant named Maureen, comes to live in quarantine, Sofia makes a friend. Maureen's friendship gives Sofia the strength she needs to make it through this separation from her family, but will she ever see them again? I recommend this new book to fans of the My America series.

[James Crawford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sofia and her family are coming to America from Italy in 1903. The story is mainly, though, about her time on Ellis Island. The story tells about how immigrants were checked by doctors and could be kept out of the country temporarily for some ailment, or even refused admission altogether and returned to whatever country they came from.

It's also a story about graft and corruption on Ellis Island, and how the doctors, nurses and others managed to bilk the immigrants of their money and even stole things from them, reselling the stolen items later for even more profit for themselves. There was almost nothing at all the immigrants could do about this.

The historical section of the book talks some about this problem with corruption.

An interesting, but somewhat upsetting book.

[Melanie Hetrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Part of the "My America" series, this simple diary-style chapter book is told from the point of view of a 9-year-old Italian immigrant child in 1903. She is falsely detained at Ellis Island for having Trachoma, the eye disease so feared in immigrants. She is sent to the hospital for quarantine and later realizes that her records have been "lost." In the end a kindly priest help her and her friends get off the island, but not before tragedy strikes.

Historical notes on immigration and Ellis Island included.

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This entire series is a wonderful way to learn history or teach it to adolescents. I find today's generations seem to recall more when they learn through other people (pop songs, celebrity gossip, etc.), so what better way to teach history than through someone else's perspective? Yes, "authentic" diaries would be "better", but would the language really hold the modern student's attention? Did the diary writer know what WOULD be important in the context of history? Probably not.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

a young italian girl meets a young irish girl in the quarantine at ellis island at the immigration bubble of the turn of the last century. although this is a young adult fiction, themes such as corruption of officials, kindnesses of strangers and adventures of young people in a new land make for informative reading for any age

[Katy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A truly touching story about a young girl who immigrates from Italy to America. Along the way she gets seperated from her family on Ellis Island, gets stuck in a hospital, and put in the hands of a mean nurse who will do anything to make her pateint's live's miserable.

[Dee · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cute book in Junior Fiction about a 9-yr old girl immigrating to the US.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a pretty good book, but since it was written for younger kids, it was a really easy read!

[Mas5thgrade2014 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sophia is really a advertures and corages girl
KittyKatLove1313

[Elisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

How do you read a book

[Caroline Nichols]

An inspiring read

[Sarah Cole · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have always loved My America and Dear America books. This is about a little girl named Sopia who travels from Italy on a ship to America and is detained on Ellis Island for no reason.

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like how it's written like a diary. And she makes a friend when in quarantine.

[Meghan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I remember reading this around the time it was first published. Even when I was younger I thought that Sofia’s explanation for why she was initially detained was silly. If the book had been written today, it would probably not use the term “Gypsy” in the historical note, though that would be accurate for the term Sofia would use in the story.

[Erina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this was a great book but I wish it was a bit longer. Other than that, I loved it.

[Jennifer Stanford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short, easy to read. Very interesting. I think my students would like it.

[Peregrine Tell · Rating 3 out of 5]

different stories are often the good ones

[Gracie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a page turner, finished it on one day. It was very interesting, and I like this book the best book I have ever read about Ellis island. It is a memorable book.

[Emily Pool]

A solid 3/4 - Ellie read it as part of her immigration unit and I read along with her.

[Terry Filkohazi · Rating 4 out of 5]

An insight on what happened to immigrants when they came to Ellis island

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

A nice middle grade historical fiction.

[Ellie Gaidai · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really depicts the hardships of being on Ellis island and just being an immigrant.

[Annie Hughes]

Title: Hope in My Heart

Author/Illustrator: Kathryn Lasky

Genre: Historical (realistic) fiction

Theme(s): Overcoming Fear, Change, Life

Opening line/sentence:
January 30, 1903
Onboard the steamship Florida
Sometimes I think that what coming to AMerica really means is choosing - choosing between bad choices and worse.

Brief Book Summary:
This is a story about Sofia, an Italian immigrant who moves to America. After her and her family arrive to America, she is separated from her family. Being only nine years-old, alone, and being able to speak very little to no English, Sofia was terrified. Creating a friendship with an Irish girl and having support from a kind official and a priest helped her life become bearable, up until she as reunited with her family again.

Professional Recommendation/Review #1:
Janet L. Rose (Children's Literature)
http://www.clcd.com/#/bookdetail/1/0/...
Sofia's entrance to the United States was far from enjoyable. Her excitement on seeing the Statue of Liberty turned to fear and anger. After a three-week trip on the boat from Italy, she was separated from her family and put into quarantine due to an eye injury that the doctors labeled highly infectious. Although Sofia's experience was not the norm, 20% of the immigrants coming through Ellis Island in the early 1900s were detained due to vague reasons. Corrupt officials would accept bribes and sell illegal citizenship papers. Unable to communicate and eat the food, Sofia fortunately met another nine-year-old girl from Ireland who was also being sequestered due to an eye injury. One of the nurses was especially mean--yelling at the patient's, stealing from them, and making their lives miserable. An illusive gypsy boy, who was also being detained but had "escaped" and was hiding from the authorities, showed the girls trash bins with stolen goods. Baggage helpers and dishonest inspectors stole the immigrants' property right off the boats and sold them to people in New York City. Finally the girls were "rescued" and reunited with their families. This book is part of the series, "My America," and includes historical notes and pictures.

Professional Recommendation/Review #2:
Hazel Rochman (Booklist, Dec. 15, 2003 (Vol. 100, No. 8))
http://www.clcd.com/#/bookdetail/1/0/...
Reviewed with Kathryn Lasky's Home at Last. An Italian immigrant child writes her diary in these two small books that are part of the My America series. Hope in My Heart is the most dramatic. After the family finally arrives at Ellis Island, nine-year-old Sofia is separated from her parents and quarantined. Terrified, angry, and knowing almost no English, she is at the mercy of officials and doctors, some of whom are prejudiced and corrupt. Only her friendship with an Irish girl and the support of a kind official and a priest make her life bearable, until her heartfelt reunion with her family. Home at Last is a conventional account of Italian Americans who struggle and eventually make it in the North End community of Boston. A teacher makes a huge difference, as does a doctor, whose character is based on a real person, Lasky's husband's grandfather. As is often the case with books in this series, the diary format is an awkward contrivance, but it certainly makes the tale more immediate. A historical note and archival photos add to the story.

Response to Two Professional Reviews:
Both of these reviews don’t necessarily talk about what good or bad things come of the story, rather they talk more about the summary. Reviews usually have opinions, yet these, especially the first one chosen, does not. The second review does talk about how the historical notes and photos at the end of the book add to the storyline making it more realistic for the readers.

Evaluation of Literary Elements:
This book is not a true story, however it is based off of true events that occurred. The plot I think is very well done and as sad as some of the events are, I think it is a great book for older grade schools to read. This book can be a great start of a lesson about immigration and the struggles they go through, especially back then. This book is written like it is a diary, a great example to show students that there are many, many different types of literature.

Consideration of Instructional Application:
Because this historical fiction book is written like a journal, have the students start one of their own. This can be a small thing that they do at the end of every day for about 10 minutes. This can not only get the students to write, but it can also be a time to write anything down that they want. A lot of students could also use this as time to get feelings out that they don’t usually get to.