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Rebecca
Rebecca learned at a young age how important it is to be liked, when her family left Russia to settle in Hirsch, Saskatchewan, a mostly Jewish community. But Rebecca's close-knit extended family returns from her triumph on-stage at an amateur night to find their home in flames. With everything they own destroyed, the family is devastated and penniless. They move to Winnipeg, where Rebecca's father struggles to find work, and where all the family members try to adjust to life in a big city. Rebecca is sent to live with a non-Jewish family until her parents get settled. There, she learns the true meaning of bravery, loyalty, and friendship. As she struggles to re-unite her family, Rebecca bridges the distance between the old world and the new, between her family's traditional immigrant values and the opportunities of the modern world.
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First published October 31, 2000
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
April 22, 2025
This book has lived in my head rent free for the past few years. I know that sounds dramatic, but I've thought about it often and found myself wanting to reread it just to see if it "holds up."
Now that I've reread it, I can tell you that it really isn't that great and I can't imagine why I loved it so much when I was younger. The only reason I can think of is that my middle name is Rebecca and as a child, that must have made this book feel much more "personal" than it really is. The reality is that Rebecca, as a character, is not anything impressive. I'm aware she's only 11 and moving to a new place and going through a lot (and by "a lot" I mean literally her house burning down and flagrant racism, so "a lot" is putting it mildly) but there was something about her demeanour that really frustrated me just because I'm so not that way.
This book still had me smiling fondly at it as I turned the last page, though. I remember being really moved by Carol Matas' books as a child, and that feeling hasn't really gone away. The JOY I felt at digging this out from underneath my parents' stairs can't truly be described - it was borderline a sense of mania I felt when I unearthed it - so this still has to get a 3. A nostalgic 3, to be sure, but 3 nonetheless.
Now that I've reread it, I can tell you that it really isn't that great and I can't imagine why I loved it so much when I was younger. The only reason I can think of is that my middle name is Rebecca and as a child, that must have made this book feel much more "personal" than it really is. The reality is that Rebecca, as a character, is not anything impressive. I'm aware she's only 11 and moving to a new place and going through a lot (and by "a lot" I mean literally her house burning down and flagrant racism, so "a lot" is putting it mildly) but there was something about her demeanour that really frustrated me just because I'm so not that way.
This book still had me smiling fondly at it as I turned the last page, though. I remember being really moved by Carol Matas' books as a child, and that feeling hasn't really gone away. The JOY I felt at digging this out from underneath my parents' stairs can't truly be described - it was borderline a sense of mania I felt when I unearthed it - so this still has to get a 3. A nostalgic 3, to be sure, but 3 nonetheless.
January 23, 2020
3/5 Stars - Good read, but not anything amazing.
I was given this book as gift but was disappointed, as I had already read one of the author's books and HATED it. But still, I gave Rebecca a try, mostly for the giver's sake.
I went into reading it thinking that I would hate it and quit it, but boy, was I wrong.
Although the plot isn't too exciting and isn't action packed, it did draw me in by the first chapter. Basically the story is that Rebecca's family has to move to a city (now I can't remember which one!) due to their house being burnt down. But their family is too large and they don't have enough money, so Rebecca and her siblings have to live with other people. Rebecca was given to a family, but the father and the brother hate jews so she's unhappy. But she makes friends to the daughter, although no one is happy with it. Things happen, Rebecca does things, and then she's told she can't be friends with the daughter anymore. What will happen?
I found the plot to be too predictable, and too lucky. Other than that, I liked it and would read more of the author's books.
I was given this book as gift but was disappointed, as I had already read one of the author's books and HATED it. But still, I gave Rebecca a try, mostly for the giver's sake.
I went into reading it thinking that I would hate it and quit it, but boy, was I wrong.
Although the plot isn't too exciting and isn't action packed, it did draw me in by the first chapter. Basically the story is that Rebecca's family has to move to a city (now I can't remember which one!) due to their house being burnt down. But their family is too large and they don't have enough money, so Rebecca and her siblings have to live with other people. Rebecca was given to a family, but the father and the brother hate jews so she's unhappy. But she makes friends to the daughter, although no one is happy with it. Things happen, Rebecca does things, and then she's told she can't be friends with the daughter anymore. What will happen?
I found the plot to be too predictable, and too lucky. Other than that, I liked it and would read more of the author's books.
September 11, 2009
A good story of a Jewish farm girl who must move to the city (Winnipeg). She is sent to live with a foster family while her parents get on their feet. Though the family is Ukrainian Catholic, Rebecca becomes a friend with their daughter.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews