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the Tale of Ellis Island: the Island Between Worlds
Before they were Americans, they were processed. Examined. Judged.
More than 12 million immigrants passed through Ellis Island. Some stepped into freedom. Others were turned away.
The Tale of Ellis Island tells their story in two parts.
the history. The real Ellis Island — its crowded registry halls, its medical inspections, the fear of a single chalk mark that could end everything. The waves of Swedish, Italian, Jewish, Irish, and German immigrants who came with nothing and built America all the same.
the human moments. Nine intimate vignettes inspired by true stories — a Swedish girl with a violin carved from birch bark, an Italian seamstress with a wedding dress folded into a pillowcase, a Jewish boy whose name was changed at customs and never given back.
Together, they reveal what it truly meant to stand between two worlds — no longer belonging to the old country, not yet accepted by the new.
This is not just history. It is a remembering.
If you've ever wondered where you come from — or what it truly cost to become American — this book will stay with you long after the last page.
More than 12 million immigrants passed through Ellis Island. Some stepped into freedom. Others were turned away.
The Tale of Ellis Island tells their story in two parts.
the history. The real Ellis Island — its crowded registry halls, its medical inspections, the fear of a single chalk mark that could end everything. The waves of Swedish, Italian, Jewish, Irish, and German immigrants who came with nothing and built America all the same.
the human moments. Nine intimate vignettes inspired by true stories — a Swedish girl with a violin carved from birch bark, an Italian seamstress with a wedding dress folded into a pillowcase, a Jewish boy whose name was changed at customs and never given back.
Together, they reveal what it truly meant to stand between two worlds — no longer belonging to the old country, not yet accepted by the new.
This is not just history. It is a remembering.
If you've ever wondered where you come from — or what it truly cost to become American — this book will stay with you long after the last page.
204 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 2, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
November 7, 2025
I really enjoyed this book. There was two parts: the first part was more of a history of Ellis Osland, how immigrants arrived and what happened once they were taken to Ellis Island, the second part, was stories from the view of immigrants and how they became citizens of the country. I too have relatives who went through Ellis Island.so this story really grabbed me. I felt the author really captured the whole immigration process through Ellis Island. It really made the visit to Ellis Island so much more alive after reading this story!
August 20, 2025
A really nice read!
I have been doing genealogy for over 50 yrs. I have been to visit Ellis Island. Although my ancestors arrived before Ellis Island I can still relate. It’s a wonderful place to visit. You can almost see and hear those immigrants who waited in line to come into America. I thank the author for writing this in her lovely way of writing. This is truly a wonderful book!
I have been doing genealogy for over 50 yrs. I have been to visit Ellis Island. Although my ancestors arrived before Ellis Island I can still relate. It’s a wonderful place to visit. You can almost see and hear those immigrants who waited in line to come into America. I thank the author for writing this in her lovely way of writing. This is truly a wonderful book!
October 24, 2025
I felt like I was right there
What a beautifully written book. Both sets of my grandparents immigrated through Ellis Island as did my husband’s paternal grandparents and this book brought to life what they went through. I highly recommend reading it. Esther Warren manages to take the reader into the emotions, hearts and fears of the immigrants .
What a beautifully written book. Both sets of my grandparents immigrated through Ellis Island as did my husband’s paternal grandparents and this book brought to life what they went through. I highly recommend reading it. Esther Warren manages to take the reader into the emotions, hearts and fears of the immigrants .
July 31, 2025
Wonderfully written
I visited Ellis Island, the Statue of liberty a few years ago. Reading this book makes me want to go again, not as a tourist moving swiftly through by to read and savor the sanctity of it's history.
I visited Ellis Island, the Statue of liberty a few years ago. Reading this book makes me want to go again, not as a tourist moving swiftly through by to read and savor the sanctity of it's history.
Read
November 28, 2025This was a very good, informative book. For anyone interested in ancestry at all, it gives a very clear picture of how or what your ancestors went through coming to America. Mostly a quick read for most, but I read before bed and unfortunately get too sleepy 😉.
July 15, 2025
3 stars
Too much said again and again. Couldnt finish the book. Thankyou tho for writing it. 5more words, i dont have more.
Too much said again and again. Couldnt finish the book. Thankyou tho for writing it. 5more words, i dont have more.
August 10, 2025
Interesting book sharing the facts and stories of European immigrants!
October 20, 2025
Great
This beautiful, poetically-crafted book not only gives details and data about Ellis iIsland but relives the lives of those who entered its door. Well worth the read.
This beautiful, poetically-crafted book not only gives details and data about Ellis iIsland but relives the lives of those who entered its door. Well worth the read.
January 29, 2026
Tales of ELLIS ISLAND ETC
Good story about the beginnings of Ellis Island and its history. Also includes some stories which even though are fiction, could be true and authentic.
Good story about the beginnings of Ellis Island and its history. Also includes some stories which even though are fiction, could be true and authentic.
October 4, 2025
I loved how emotional this book was, and how it helped me understand what things were like back then. I liked how I learned from this book, and how it focused on ordinary people (or should I say on how nobody is ordinary). I didn't like how I got a bit confused, more then once, by the poor editing.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews