Land of Hope

Ellis Island #1

by Joan Lowery Nixon

Russian immigrant Rebekah Levinsky hopes desperately that her dream will come true in America. On the difficult ocean journey to the "land of opportunity" she meets two other girls--Kristin Swensen from Sweden and Rose Carney from Ireland. The three quickly become friends as they share their visions of the future and endure life on the overcrowded ship.



Once they reach Ellis Island the girls must separate and Rebekah and her family settle in New York on the Lower East Side. Instead of finding streets paved with gold, they slave seven days a week in a sweatshop. Will Rebekah find the courage to conquer the odds and find happiness in the United States of America.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Young Adult, Historical, Middle Grade, Fiction, Childrens

176 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1992

About the author

Author of more than one hundred books, Joan Lowery Nixon is the only writer to have won four Edgar Allan Poe Awards for Juvenile Mysteries (and been nominated several other times) from the Mystery Writers of America. Creating contemporary teenage characters who have both a personal problem and a mystery to solve, Nixon captured the attention of legions of teenage readers since the publication of her first YA novel more than twenty years ago. In addition to mystery/suspense novels, she wrote nonfiction and fiction for children and middle graders, as well as several short stories. Nixon was the first person to write novels for teens about the orphan trains of the nineteenth century. She followed those with historical novels about Ellis Island and, more recently for younger readers, Colonial Williamsburg. Joan Lowery Nixon died on June 28, 2003—a great loss for all of us.

Reviews

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

RTC

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed going, through this book, from Hungary to Austria to Hamburg to Liverpool and finally New York in May 1902. I appreciated "seeing" the experience through the eyes of the Levinsky family, an Orthodox Jewish family. They are a faithful and close family who face challenges together. The majority of the story is told through the eyes of 15 year old Rebekah, the oldest daughter.

The first half or so of the book is traveling and being in steerage for the 3 week ocean crossing. I could really picture the experience through this story. Reading about the emigration journey increased my interest in learning about Jewish traditions and culture as well as wondering if I have ancestors that came through Ellis Island.

The latter half is focused on arriving in New York and a series of unexpected events. About adjusting to many things in a strange land and trying to remain true to your values, beliefs, and former life while rushing in to so many new things. Books 2 & 3 in the series follow the 2 girls Rebekah befriends on the ship as they continue their journey from Ellis Island farther West.

"Don't expect instant answers to all your questions, daughter. Life is a series of questions, and you'll have to find your own answers for most of them." pg 45

"Rebekah...wondered why they had to hurry just to stand still, crammed together, waiting to be told again to hurry." pg 78

"You are impatient with your parents because you are young. You do have a life of promise before you. Your parents, whom I know you love and respect, are more concerned with problems of the present. They are adults, with most of their lives behind them. They willingly left all that they knew in order to make a better life for their children, whose years lie ahead of them." pg 159

Considerations:
Language: pg 74 “What if the pallor was not from being cooped inside a hellhole for two weeks, but was actually a sign of an incurable illness?...enough to cause the inspectors to refuse admittance?”

Violence: pg 119, 161 16 yr old boy discovers gangs and is present during a fight when a knife is used. This violence is not encouraged, glorified, or in any way condoned. It is used to explain how different immigrant groups occupied different areas of the city.

Family: pg 22 16 yr old girl is upset with her father for the decision to emigrate. She avoids her parents while on board and encourages 15 yr old Rebekah not to ask parents’ permission to sleep on deck at night guessing what the answer would be (pg 37). Rebekah brings her older brother with them, her mother discovers what happened the next morning and it is discussed.

15 yr old Rebekah isn’t against marriage and family but she does dream of going to college and becoming a teacher. She struggles knowing her parents only want her at home until they feel it is time to arrange her marriage. She does have a budding romance with a boy.

Wholesome budding romance: pg 6 brief talk of boys/crushes at age 14 commenting that it is too soon to be thinking of that. Pg 41 15 yr old female falls asleep against shoulder of a 17.5 yr old boy who wraps his arm around her shoulders and kisses her forehead, on the next page her friend says “He was good-looking wasn’t he!” Later they briefly hold hands.

Pg 51 the 3 girls discuss boy/girl partner dancing and their pastor’s views on it “Pastor Larsen says it’s a tool of the devil.” The Russian and Swedish emigrant girls have never danced with males, the Irish emigrant girl enjoys dancing. She later performs a solo traditional Irish jig (from what I could infer) on the ship while her uncle plays music.

[Rodger · Rating 4 out of 5]

In 1902, the boundaries of nations in Europe were such that the Russian Empire encompassed much of eastern Europe. To escape pogroms, a Jewish family from the shtetl of Ostrog (present day Ukraine, in Rivne oblast) saved up and left their home to start a new life with family in the United States of America.

This book covers their journey as well as a period of time after arriving, showcasing the adjustment of expectations and the difficulties being immigrants.

The journey seemed similar to and consistent with the book Letters from Rifka, which takes place about 17 years later. Both books have a Jewish family travel from Ukraine to the United States, and both cover similar aspects of the journey, including screenings to enter the ship, stormy seas, and screening again at Ellis Island. However, the journey was just about half the book.

To me, this book got really interesting when they came to live in New York City. It was almost like a new story and the plot started building. However, I wished the story would continue longer.

I've read a lot of books with Jewish people. I was really impressed with this book because it does a good job insisting on observing their religion. To me, that is primarily what earned the 4 stars.

Content considerations:
One instance of the 'h' word.

[Shelley · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book gives just a small glimpse to what immigrants went through to get to America. This book made me reflect on how good I have it and realize how blessed I am for being born in the United States of America, and having so many choices, freedoms, and opportunities to do whatever I want with my life. I'm grateful to those women involved in the old school woman's movement, and the men who supported them.

[Avigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this umpteen times when I was younger and loved the journeys and the friendships Nixon weaves together. Decades later and I have a PhD in history and have taught US immigration—this book is accurate!

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

It took me a long time to read this short book. It was a good story about a family immigrating to the US, their experience at Ellis island and how they adapted to life in the US.

[Sandy Carmichael · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good YA story about a young Jewish girl coming to AM. from Russia, and her adjustments in her new life.

[Nadia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about a girl named Rebekah Levinsky who comes from a Russian Jewish family. Rebekah lived with her mother, father, her two older brothers, her younger sister, and her grandfather. Rebekah and her family use to live in Ostrog, Russia until they decided to move to America which they call The Land Of Hope. When the Levinskys set out to America they have to stay in steerage with a whole bunch of other people. Soon Rebekah makes two friends aboard the ship around the same age as her an...more This book is about a girl named Rebekah Levinsky who comes from a Russian Jewish family. Rebekah lived with her mother, father, her two older brothers, her younger sister, and her grandfather. Rebekah and her family use to live in Ostrog, Russia until they decided to move to America which they call The Land Of Hope. When the Levinskys set out to America they have to stay in steerage with a whole bunch of other people. Soon Rebekah makes two friends aboard the ship around the same age as her and they all discussed how they were scared to go to a different country. When America is only a few more days away steerage gets worse as the smell of old vomit fills the air and people not bathing. When the Levinskys arrive in America Rebekah's grandfather, Mordecai has to return to Russia because he failed the final inspection. After that things get worse because the family has to work long hard hours only to be payed pennies. When Rebekah thought that nothing else bad could happen she receives a letter saying that her grandfather is dead. But the Last think Rebekah's grandfather did before he died was write a letter to Rebekah never to give up her dreams. And later on Rebekah gets to have the education she wants.

I am going to do a text-to-self connection because i think i can connect to Rebekah. I think i can connect to Rebekah because she is a really outgoing person and i can connect to that because i think i can be an out going person too. I can also connect to Rebekah because she loves to learn about new things. and i can connect to that because i love it when i learn new things.

I give this book five stars. I give this book five stars because i thought that the plot was great and i really enjoyed how each conflict was really big to the main character. I recommend this book to readers who like to read about immigration.

[Nadia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about a girl named Rebekah Levinsky who comes from a Russian Jewish family. Rebekah lived with her mother, father, her two older brothers, her younger sister, and her grandfather. Rebekah and her family use to live in Ostrog, Russia until they decided to move to America which they call The Land Of Hope. When the Levinskys set out to America they have to stay in steerage with a whole bunch of other people. Soon Rebekah makes two friends aboard the ship around the same age as her and they all discussed how they were scared to go to a different country. When America is only a few more days away steerage gets worse as the smell of old vomit fills the air and people not bathing. When the Levinskys arrive in America Rebekah's grandfather, Mordecai has to return to Russia because he failed the final inspection. After that things get worse because the family has to work long hard hours only to be payed pennies. When Rebekah thought that nothing else bad could happen she receives a letter saying that her grandfather is dead. But the Last think Rebekah's grandfather did before he died was write a letter to Rebekah never to give up her dreams. And later on Rebekah gets to have the education she wants.

I am going to do a text-to-self connection because i think i can connect to Rebekah. I think i can connect to Rebekah because she is a really outgoing person and i can connect to that because i think i can be an out going person too. I can also connect to Rebekah because she loves to learn about new things. and i can connect to that because i love it when i learn new things.

I give this book five stars. I give this book five stars because i thought that the plot was great and i really enjoyed how each conflict was really big to the main character. I recommend this book to readers who like to read about immigration.

[Miss Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

gr 5-7 169 pgs


1902. Russia/New York City. 15 year old Rebekah's family makes the difficult decision to leave their shtetl after a pogram happens at a nearby shtetl. On the long miserable voyage, Rebekah is befriended by Kristin from Sweden (whose story is continued in Land of Dreams) and Rose from Ireland (whose story is continued in Land of Promise). Together the girls shared their hopes for their new country and promise to achieve their dreams no matter what.

Rebekah is determine to find a way to continue her education in her new home, but when her grandfather, who has always supported her dreams, is sent back from Ellis Island, Rebekah must somehow convince her parents on her own.

[Jack · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is about a Russian Jew by the name of Rebekah. Her and her family were immigrating from Russia to live in America. The reason I read this book is because in Social Studies we are doing immigration, and this book sadly did not give me any information I didn't already know. Also, the ending of this story seemed wrong, as there were still many loose ends to tie up. For all I know, there is a sequel, and if this were true, my opinion of the book would most likely change for the better.

[Hadley]

I have this book out from the library, and i need to read it.

[Cws]

JAR5-Nix

[Conley Morris · Rating 3 out of 5]

it was sort of boring
rhe style of writing is more for adults

[Lucy]

Really accurate and inspiring.

[Richard]

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6... and I didn't read it yet so people don't spoil it for me.