Island of Hope: The Journey to America and the Ellis Island Experience

by Martin W. Sandler

The moving story of immigration to America as told through the passionate voices and stories of those who passed through Ellis Island.

On January 1, 1892, a fifteen-year-old Irish girl named Annie Moore made history when she became the first person to be processed at a new immigrant station at Ellis Island in New York Harbor. In the next 62 years more than 12 million other immigrants would follow. Many of these newcomers would be "pushed" into America--fleeing religious persecution, political oppression, or economic harships in their native lands. Millions of others would be "pulled" into the United States by the promise of new opportunities.

Once they arrived at Ellis, they were put through the traumatic experience

Genres: Nonfiction, American History, History

144 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 2004

About the author

Martin W. Sandler has written more than seventy books for children and adults and has written and produced seven television series. He has twice been nominated for the Pulitzer Prize and has won multiple Emmy Awards. He lives in Massachusetts.

Reviews

[Doctor Sax · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book delves nicely into the Ellis Island immigration wave that engulfed the country from the late 1800's to 1954 when the Island was closed. Great photographs accompany very interesting first person accounts of what it was like to go through the ordeal of Ellis Island and its examinations/procedures.

[Annie Oosterwyk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short but full of important information and wonderful photos of immigrants on their journey through Ellis Island to American citizenship.

[Marty · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am amazed at how generous and welcoming the Americans were toward the immigrants passing through Ellis Island. I am amazed at how organized the system was. I am amazed at the money and resources that were given to the immigrants. They were given free medical care, food, interpreters, etc. They had to buy their own train tickets, but they were helped to find the right train, etc. I realize that it must have been a horribly crowded, chaotic place. But 98% of the people who arrived did make it into America. Only 2% were sent back to Europe. (The ships were required to take them back for free.) Why don't we have some kind of a system like this today for the immigrants arriving from Latin American countries? Why don't we get them registered at the borders, question them about their plans, and send them on their way? We could require them to have a citizen sponsor them or to have a job lined up already or something, instead of this clandestine process we now have. Boy, have attitudes changed!

[Lydia Selden]

This is one of the best books I have ever read!
Martin Sandler's grandfather, Louis Sage was one of the many who was going to be forced to go into the Russian army, so he got on a ship heading for America, and sailed first to a place called Ellis Island, where you had to go through strenuous exams, hoping that you would be able to go into America. "why should I fear the gates of hell?" one of the Immigrant's wrote on one of Ellis Island's walls, "I have been through Ellis Island."
This book has many amazing stories, such as, you where required to have 25 dollars, someone who had $25, after being asked to show there $25,would slip it to the next person in line
"I swore that the Same $25 was passed around, from person to person" Said one man.
there are so many great stories, and I really want to tell them all, but that would give away the book!

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was like you were hearing it in a court room from hearing it on both sides with witnesses.In some parts of this book its like walking into Ellis Island main building and being a fly on the wall and staying there. It tugs at your heart strings for what those people did go through. Then to be dump into tenement houses that were dirty and shabby.Then to earn a living they worked full time for little wages.They were the builders of America.

[Charles · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing 12 million immigrants were processed on Ellis Island between 1892 and 1954, and they were from a wide variety of cultures. Up until 1924, the source countries were widely varied, but new laws that took effect in 1924 set quotas from certain areas and countries. This book is a brief explanation of the process and brief mention of their stories and what their lives were like once they were accepted and left Ellis Island.
The best aspect of the book is the inclusion of photos of some of the people that have arrived for processing. There is the Greek man in full military uniform that looks like a dress, there is a picture of two Russian Cossacks trying to look fierce and a Norwegian woman wearing clothes that look Scandinavian. One of the most interesting aspects is how the immigrants, most of which had never traveled far from their home in the old country, reacted to seeing immigrants from other countries. They commented on how different they looked.
There is also coverage of what their lives were like after their processing, specifically life in the crowded tenements. In those small and crowded rooms, entire families did what was called piecework, repetitive tasks that could be done by children and where the pay was in pennies.
Written at the level of the young adult, this is an excellent addition to the study of American history. Given the current debate over immigration policy, it is helpful to review the extent to which immigration built the United States.

[Benjamin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Martin W. Sandler is the author of numerous books. "Island of Hope" is one he describes all aspects of Ellis Island Experiences. Relates the story of immigration to America through the voices and stories of those who passed through Ellis Island, from its opening in 1892 to the release of the last detainee in 1954. After January 1, 1892, a fifteen years old Irish girl named Annie Moore become the first person to be processed at a new immigrant station at Ellis Island in New York Harbor. In the next 62 years, more than 12 million other immigrants would follow.
I think is very important to have our kids to read this kind book with the real historical event. It is a very good way to let our students learn the difficult of the immigrants and learn the perseverance from them.

[Kim]

Enjoyable extension of The Next Ship Home by Heather Webb. I appreciate all that I’ve learned about the experiences of early immigrants via both books. Next up: visiting Ellis Island - and perhaps Angel Island (learned of in this text).

[Alyson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rounded up from 3.5--see http://www.eatreadandbemommy.com/2018... for details!

[Leslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read aloud to kids ages 4, 6, 9, and 11. Excellent history of Ellis Island. There are some wonderful pictures.

[Laurie Wheeler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting book about immigration that we read in our homeschool Dialectic history studies.

[Angela Hutchinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book discussed how the immigrants migrated to America. It discusses the Island of Hope and the questions, answers, and tests that everyone had to go through to be able to enter America. The island was also know to those that were detained as the Island of Tears, because sometimes they were their for day, weeks, months, and in some cases more than a year. It discusses how the immigrant entered into American and how they helped build America to what it is today. This book would be great for a reference text for a research project about immigration or Ellis Island.

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fabulous book covering personal accounts of the struggles and challenges our ancestors faced. They understood the importance of working hard and saving as much money as they could to achieve their dreams. The immigrants proved themselves with their work ethic and did not expect handouts. This book would be good for schools to have on their mandatory reading list. It is not difficult to read and the students would find the real stories well worth it.

[Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great nonfiction. As someone who does have relatives who came through Ellis Island I found this very interesting. The author did a very good job of weaving multiple first hand accounts into flowing narrative.

[Jen Barker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book. It covered so many aspects and the author had a wonderful perspective, in my opinion. Patriotic and honest-showed the good and the bad. I learned a lot and renewed my gratitude to be fortunate enough to live in America.

[Mrs. G · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this view into the past. It really gave some good information and can be related easily to children.

[Keeli Billings · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this because I enjoyed Moon Over Manifest so much and this was some historical background. I have to say that I enjoyed the pictures more than the story itself. A good easy read.

[Angel · Rating 5 out of 5]

We smiled and cried a lot while reading this book aloud. My kids and I were totally sucked into it.

Full of photographs, stories, and direct quotes of immigrants who went through Ellis Island.

[Eric Hildreth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think it was good. I learned how Ellis Island works and what you have to do in order to become a citizen.

[Mellanie C]

I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/13132150