| Title | : | Gittel's Journey: An Ellis Island Story |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 1419727478 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9781419727474 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Hardcover |
| Number of Pages | : | 42 |
| Publication | : | First published February 5, 2019 |
| Awards | : | Sydney Taylor Book Award Picture Book (2020) |
The book includes an author’s note explaining how Gittel’s story is based on the journey to America taken by Lesléa Newman’s grandmother and family friend.
Gittel's Journey: An Ellis Island Story Reviews
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A lovely nostalgic picture book about a nine-year-old girl, Gittel, who must leave Poland to emigrate to America. She was going with her mother, but her mother had an eye infection, was denied passage on to the boat, Still, she sent (her beloved) Gittel (who looks like her, which somehow makes the separation more wrenching) anyway, explaining that it was not safe for her to stay where they had been living.
Apparently we need all the reminders we can get about why it is refugees leave their homes, and the desperation they face, but this will only be happening more and more in our world in the future. You don't do this to your family if you don't absolutely have to. The artwork by Amy June Bates is pen and watercolor, period-specific. The story is based on two (desperate, necessary, and finally successful) stories of immigration from Newman's own family.
Fearing and admiring the bravery of a child traveling alone is central here, but there's also a bit of serious drama: Gittel carries with her the name and address of her cousin, but her tears smear the address and make it illegible. All she has is a first name, in New York City! The customs people take a picture of her, though, publish it in one of the Jewish newspapers, and. . . well, good news sometimes happens, though we can imagine it going another way very easily.
My mother's and father's families immigrated through Ellis Island, as so many hundreds of thousands did, and I've visited there a couple times. You really get this powerful sense of hope as you stand near the Statue of Liberty, even today. "Give me your tired, your poor. . ." We're not full; not nearly, as a country. Not as long as we have food and shelter and others don't. Good for kids to study as they see images of imprisoned children at borders in various countries. -
This is a very touching, rather text heavy picture book (on most 2 page spreads there is a short but not that short page of text on one page and an illustration on the other page) about a young girl who must travel to the U.S. alone when her mother isn’t allowed to travel due to a health condition. The mother sends her anyway since she is Jewish and it is not safe for her to stay where she is in Eastern Europe, sometimes Poland/sometimes Russia. The story and its illustrations is lovely and evocative throughout. I was emotionally affected by the entire journey, particularly regarding those left behind and regarding the help Gittel receives when she arrives on the U.S. side of the Atlantic.
Both the gorgeous illustrations and the melancholy but hopeful story are special.
I appreciated the three pages of extras at the end that include an author’s note explaining the details of the two true stories this historical fiction story is based on, women close with the author, with photos included. Also featured is a short glossary and a bibliography with a short list of books and a short list of websites.
Highly recommended for Jewish children, children who are immigrants or those who know immigrants, children who must face a difficult challenge, and just about everyone who can enjoy children’s picture books, also school libraries and for gift giving. Best for independent readers, I think. -
Featured in a grandma reads session.
Remember the days when safety-pinning was a legit communication method between grownups regarding the little person who was the Safety-Pinned Messenger? Well, this is that writ large!
The older members of my group have been interested in refugees and migrants and immigrations, and so this fell off our shelf and was read. Gittel is one brave little girl, and Mother who stays behind is brave, too, to let her go ALONE, with a hope and a prayer that between God and the Kindness of Strangers, her girl will make it to a family member in New York. This is a child's book, the art evocative, and not a thing hints to anything darker. However, my old mind, as I read aloud, wondered if in real life there wasn't a much darker narrative we never hear. Or, maybe not. Maybe people were genuinely better, nicer. I digress.
We loved the story, and successful reunion of Gittel with her family member in NY, NY! We will always take a happy ending. -
Beautiful. Lovely story and exceptional illustrations.
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When nine-year-old Gittel and her mother arrive at the seaport, ready to board a ship in order to emigrate to America, the health inspector tells Gittel's mother that her eye infection precludes her from going. Putting Gittel on board the ship by herself, with their cousin's name and address in New York City, the mother instructs her to be brave. So begins a weeks-long voyage, as the young girl experiences life on board ship, and eventually finds herself at Ellis Island, in New York Harbor. But when the slip of paper with Cousin Mendel's address is illegible, what will Gittel and the kind interpreter who helps her at Ellis Island do...?
Based upon two different stories handed down in her family, author Lesléa Newman, who has written seventy books for children in her long career, spins the tale of Gittel, a young girl who must make an unimaginable journey on her own. Poignant, powerful, and ultimately hopeful, the narrative here explores themes such as persecution - at one point, Gittel's mother tells her that it isn't safe for them, in their home country - immigration, and the strength that religious and familial customs can give, in difficult times. The accompanying artwork by Amy June Bates, whose illustrations can also be found in such titles as the wonderful
Ketzel, the Cat Who Composed, are stunningly beautiful. Her use of light is particularly adept here, and the overall composition of many of the scenes, with the decorative borders, had a lovely, folk-art feel to it that reminded me a bit of the work of
Ivan Bilibin. High praise indeed! Recommended to anyone looking for stories about the immigrants who came through Ellis Island, particularly child immigrants, as well as to those who appreciate beautiful picture-book art. -
Such a gorgeous true story of a young girl and her journey to the US all alone amazing story!
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A great book for classroom discussion when discussing early immigration. Newman does a nice job of highlighting different obstacles and decisions people had to make before immigrating to the United States. Some of these decisions included leaving everything behind, families traveling separately or being denied entry based on medical conditions, and finding family when media did not exist. A valuable book about an immigrant's experience.
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This was an absolute delight to read. Not only was the art very well made, but shading and detail really helps the reader to settle into the mind of the main character. For example, the main characters color pallet is much brighter than the rest of the scene, and in most pictures with a zoomed out scene, there is a spot right next to Gittel, where her mother was supposed to be. I think this is a very inspirational story overall, and I necessity for children to be exposed to at a young age.
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A beautifully told story of a young girl immigrating alone to America.
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Beautiful art and book design enhance this familiar but powerful immigration story.
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Other than feeling like it jumped into the story, we enjoyed it thoroughly.
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A fine addition to a classroom collection on immigration stories, this picture book is actually based on two family stories, which adds to its poignancy. When Gittel and her mother are ready to leave the Old Country (the area claimed at various times by Poland and Russia), her mother is turned back by an inspector because she has an eye infection. But Mama insists that the girl board the ship for the United States because their home is not safe. She gives her daughter her precious candlesticks, a ticket, and a paper with her cousin Mendel's address. There are adventures, new sights, and new friends on the voyage as well as difficult times, but Gittel remains strong, partly through her memories of her mother but also by clutching that piece of paper. Once the ship draws close to the Statue of Liberty and passes inspection, she is ready to be claimed. But there's a problem: She's smeared and erased all the ink with the address she needs. Thanks to some kind new friends and some clever thinking, she meets her cousin. The story is told in an engaging fashion, making readers feel as they are right alongside Gittle, trusting in the kindness of strangers and hoping for the best even while longing for what is familiar. The illustrations are created with soft colors, surrounded with a folkloric border, and feature Gittel's distinctive red scarf in almost every scene. An Author's Note tells the inspiration for the story as well as sharing family photographs. It's hard to imagine the courage it took for Gittel to get on that ship without her mother while leaving almost everything and everyone else that she knew behind her. I appreciate the author's deft touch with this subject matter, only hinting at the violence and danger that prompted Gittel's mother to want to move to another country.
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What a great (true) story for children to read and to learn about history of this immigrant country we live in. In some ways, the story is sad but inspiring and to think, still, young people are forced to immigrate to America on their own. It really puts into perspective the unaccompanied minors who cross the border every month in the US. This phenomenon is not new but a recycled story about an immigrant's journey to a better life. As long as we have countries that are placed in the 'haves' and 'have nots' categories, we'll have stories like Gittel but brought up to date. Written by Leslea Newman and illustrated by Amy June Bates, the author tells the story of her aunt's journey to America from Russia or Poland (the grandma can't remember because she said in those days-late 18 to early 19th centuries-the borders kept changing), mentioning the author's grandmother is key but it combines the aunt's and grandma's journey to America. 9 y/o Gittel starts the journey with her mother but soon must go it alone because the immigration authorities medically prevents her mother from the journey due to an eye infection, possible trachoma, which was rare in the US. Gittel boards the ship alone and waves goodbye to her mother. She endures a two-week journey aboard the ship by her self and remembering to be brave like her mother told her. The words of her mother keeps her going and yet makes her sad, wishing to be her. She lands at Ellis Island and encounters some confusion but soon is united with her mother's cousin who claims her. Later she writes to her mother to let her know that everything is fine. They mother replies stating that her infection is cured and she will soon arrive to reunited with Gittel. And they do. Unfortunately, the author's aunt who made the journey by herself as a preteen, made the journey to America but never saw her parents again. They never made the journey.
This reminds me so much of young unaccompanied minors from Central America who have been making the journey to the US southern border for years. Some about the same age as Gittel, who walk, takes buses or trains (la bestia) by themselves risking, gangs, robberies, kidnappings or worse, just for a better life than what they had.
The drawings are vivid and colorful and somewhat dark but not drab. The dark red scarf that Gittel and her doll, Basha wears is distinct against the dreary background of a bunk in the steerage part of the ship. The drawing of Gittel is spot on the author's aunt's photo. Gittel's mother's eye is tearing from the infection and against her weathered skin you can clearly see the tears. It's such an endearing book for 3rd to 8th graders to read, especially those EL students who have actually made their own unaccompanied journeys to the US. They could relate to Gittel and find comfort that even she was unsure about how America would welcome her.
Sadly, I'm filled with disgust that still, to this day, children are making the journey to America on their own. They must be a better way to alleviate their situation at home to make these unaccompanied journeys a thing of the past. -
When living in their small Jewish Eastern European village is no longer safe for Gittel and her mother, they decide to emigrate to the United States, where Mama's cousin Mendel lives. When an eye infection prevents Mama from boarding the ship to the US, she decides to send Gittel alone. Clutching Cousin Mendel's address, scared and along, Gittel makes the crossing, but by the time she reaches New York, the ink on the paper has rubbed away and no one read the address. Luckily, a kind Yiddish interpreter and a photographer have an idea about how to unite Gittel with Cousin Mendel.
This is a lovely story that highlights the bravery of children (or for that matter, anyone) leaving their home and traveling far despite the difficulties for a better life in America. Gittel's Journey is based on two true stories from the author's family (see the Author's Note). The watercolor illustrations are done in subtle browns, yellows and blues, with Gittel and her mother the only full color figures throughout. The illustrations and Newman's expressive text are frames in woodcut designs, giving the book an old-fashioned, yet timeless, feel. Back matter includes a Yiddish Glossary, and a Bibliography. -
I read this beautiful picture book this morning and sent my husband out to find the tissues!
Gittel's Journey is a family story of a young girl who sets out from the old country - sometimes Russia, sometimes Poland, the national borders kept moving (or, as my grandmother called it "Russia-Poland") - to board to ship to America. Due to unexpected circumstances, she makes the journey alone. She is scared, she is lonely. But other children invite her to play and share kindness. And, upon reaching Ellis Island, when she finds that she has clutched the paper with her cousin's address on it so tightly that it can no longer be read, caring and creative immigration officers help her connect with her people.
A timeless story, brought to new relevance as our nation debates the fate of unaccompanied child refugees.
Based on real-life events in the author's family, with a glossary, notes and historical context. -
Gittel is a nine-year-old Jewish girl from Eastern Europe. Gittel's mother decideds that she and Gittel must leave for America because it has been too dangerous to stay in Russia/Poland. After saying goodbye to their friends and goat named Frieda, Gittel and her mother head to the seacoast. It is while trying to gain passage aboard the boat that Gittel's mother is denied access due to an eye infection. During that time period, many Eastern Europeans were denied passage to America due to trachoma a contagious and sometimes deadly eye infection.
Gittel's mother decides that Gittel must travel to America alone and meet her cousin Mendel who is waiting for them. Momma writes down Medel's address in New York, she instructs her to give the address to the inspector when she arrives at Ellis Island. During her voyage, Gittle accidentally smears the ink and the address is illegible.
Ellis Island is loud, crowded and she does not understand the language she is being spoken to. Scared and alone, Gittel begins to cry. A kind translator helps Gittel communicate with the agent and entertains her while they decide how to find Mendel. The translator takes a silly picture of Gittel and later decides to have it posted in a Jewish newspaper. After a long night alone in Ellis Island, Mendel comes to take Gittel home. After many months, Momma's eye infection clears up and they are reunited at last.
This book is a Sydney Taylor Award winner. According to the author, this story is based upon two stories of her own family who immigrated from Russia/Poland in 1900. The artwork in this book is absolutely beautiful. Each picture looks like a watercolor painting that creates vivid images to enhance the beauty of the story.
Gittel's Journey would be a great supplement for any social studies unit reading curriculum about immigration and Ellis Island. -
A beautiful story about a Jewish child who travels to America by herself in the early 1900's. The story is based on a true story of two family members of the author's family. This book is a great reminder of what the Statue of Liberty means to immigrants, the sadness felt when families are separated, and a hope for a better future in America.
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A sweet and endearing story based on true events. Nine yr. old Gittel, a Jewish girl, makes the journey to America alone.
After her mother's request to travel to America is denied, Gittel is encouraged to make the trip to Ellis Island and meet up with her mother's cousins. Beautiful illustrations and the font is perfect for this old world story. -
A child travels from pogroms to Ellis Island, alone. I think right NOW would be a good time for everyone to read this book.
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This picture book for children is based on the life of the author's mother's best friend Phyllis. It is similar to, and thus emblematic of, the stories of other immigrants who passed through Ellis Island around the turn of the 19th century. Millions of people were desperate to get out of their own countries, or at least get their children out, in order to protect them from danger and/or to enable them to have better lives.
Many Jews, like Gittel, the little girl in the story, came from families who lived in “The Pale of Settlement.” The Pale, officially designated as such between 1791 to 1917, was a western region of Imperial Russia in which the residence of Jews was legally authorized. "Beyond the Pale," Jewish residency was mostly forbidden. Jews from other parts of Russia and Eastern Europe were relocated to the Pale, although it was not exclusively Jewish. (The English term pale is derived from the Latin word palus, a stake, extended to mean the area enclosed by a fence or boundary.)
In the late 19th and early 20th century, Jews in the Pale were subjected to massive anti-Semitic attacks called pogroms. These violent riots generally entailed looting, rapes, and even murders. They were carried out with government approval and even by government officials themselves.
The worst pogroms were in the years between 1881-1883 and 1903-1906, causing a mass exodus of Jews to other countries. Some two million Jews emigrated from there between 1881 and 1914, mainly to the United States.
[As it turned out, they were fortunate not only to escape the pogroms, but to be far away from Hitler’s advance troops into Russia in World War II, the Einsatzgruppen. The mission of the Einsatzgruppen as they went through the former Pale was primarily to kill Jews. They were remarkably successful, as only five percent of Jews in the area survived the Holocaust.]
When Gittel and her mother went to the port for the ship to America, Gittel’s mother was not allowed to leave because she was suspected of having a virulent and contagious form of eye infection. She insisted Gittel go on without her, and gave her a piece of paper with the address of a cousin in New York for when she arrived. [There is an interesting and informative article on the suspicion of immigrants having trachoma and its association with anti-immigrant sentiment, particularly against Jews,
here.]
Needless to say, the address was illegible by the end of the trip. A Yiddish interpreter helped Gittel by putting her picture in the Jewish newspaper and asking if anyone recognized her. By the next afternoon, her mother’s cousin came to take her home.
In this story, Gittel’s mama arrives in the United States soon thereafter. In the actual story told to the author as related in the Author’s Note at the end of the book, Phyllis never saw either her mother or father again.
The Author’s Note also provides some information about the pogroms and Ellis Island.
The illustrator, Amy June Bates, commented in
an interview that her art for this book drew inspiration from
Ivan Bilibin, the great Russian illustrator from the turn of the century. She stated:
“I wanted it to have a little bit of a folk tale feel because I really feel like being an immigrant it is a part of our collective American story.”
She explained that she designed her pages to look as if readers were looking through beautifully carved window casements into a different world.
When you read the book you will notice that the windows change when Gittel arrives in America.
Besides the Author’s Note, the author includes a glossary and bibliography of materials related to Ellis Island.
Evaluation: This warm story presents the immigrant experience in a realistic light, providing resources for a more in-depth look if readers want to pursue the subject. -
Why we chose this book:
I am totally a book-cover judger. If the cover catches my eye, I'm so much more likely to read the synopsis. And doesn't Gittel's scarf just catch your eye, too? Abrams provided a review copy.
Mom's Review (V)
An emotional account of young Gittel's journey to America alone.
Based on two true stories from the author's relatives, Gittel's Journey recounts how fictional Gittel's mother is turned away by immigration officials, prompting her to send Gittel alone to a relative in the United States. Nervous and alone, Gittel bravely follows her mother's directions, retains the address of her relative, and speaks with immigration officers on Ellis Island. It is there, however, that a second seemingly insurmountable obstacle appears. When Gittel shows the officer the slip of paper with the all-important address of her new home, the officer sees nothing but a smudge of ink. Gittel has held the paper so tightly during her voyage that all the ink has bled together. She does not know the last name of her relative, nor does she recall the address. The interpreter with whom Gittel speaks Yiddish is compassionate and proactive, placing her photograph in a Jewish newspaper. The cousin sees it and comes to take Gittel home; months later her mother arrives.
T was enraptured. He did not even ask questions or wiggle during the entire reading. We often chat as we read, but he was so spellbound and I didn't want to break that spell. I am still not entirely certain what was most compelling, as he could not or would not articulate it. Perhaps it was the beautiful artistry of the illustrations and frames. Perhaps it was the rawness of the emotions Gittel feels on her journey. Perhaps it was the powerful story of what someone will endure for a better, safer life. Perhaps it was the craft with which the story was woven. Perhaps it was the uncertainty of what would would happen along the way. Or, most likely, it was the combination of all of these. Newman and Bates work together to pull the audience in so completely that you feel as though you are right there with Gittel the whole way. From leaving her goat with her best friend, to clutching the shabbos candlesticks alone in her berth on the ship, to eventually hugging her mother again, the reality of immigrating to a new, unknown home is conveyed in this heartfelt picture book.
Powerful.
My advice? Get your hands on it and read, read, read!
Son's Review (T)
(Age: almost 4 years old)
Son: I felt sad because she had to leave and the goat didn't get to come.
Mom: I felt nervous that she wouldn't find her mother's cousin. I was relieved when he found her.
Mom: Did you have a favorite person?
Son: Her mother's cousin...I liked Gittel, that she was alone.
Mom: Mendel? I liked the interpreter because he was kind when he didn't have to be.
Mom: Do you think Gittel was brave?
Son: I thought she wasn't pretty much brave since she had to say goodbye and she did some tears.
Mom: It's okay to cry; that doesn't mean you're not brave. She was scared to go, but she did it anyway. That's what being brave is.
Son: I felt like she was very, very, very brave to travel on her own.
Mom: What if you had been traveling with Gittel?
Son: I would just say, "Hello," to Gittel. She wouldn't be sad since she had company.
Mom: Who should read this book?
Son: [My friend] D. Because that's just good.
Mom: What would he like about it?
Son: That it's about traveling. That's what he would like about it?
Mom: What's the most important thing to know about Gittel's Journey?
Son: That Gittel is traveling on her own. That's what I think is amazing. -
Gittel must have the courage to travel to America alone when her mother is deemed unfit to make the journey with her. Gittel is afraid to go so far alone, but she makes friends and clings to the address of her uncle who her mother says will take care of her until she can join her. After many days at sea, Gittel and the other passengers see the statue of liberty standing proud in the harbor. Gittel approaches a man with her precious piece of paper that contains her uncle's name and address. The first man doesn't understand her, but a translator comes and she gives him her paper. He helps her and cares for her. A photographer takes her picture and it appears in the newspaper that her uncle sees and comes to take home. Eventually, Gittel's mother joins her when her eye has healed.
This is a beautiful picture book both in story and in art. It is hard to imagine what many children must have felt as they left friends, home, and family behined to emmigrate to America, but this book does just that. Through the sober, warm watercolor illustrations and the story, a reader is able to immagine the emotions of little Gittle as her mother pushes her onto the ship, carrying a little food and silver candlesticks. We understand how strange and frightening it is to be alone and to wonder if you might be alone forever. The watercolors are very reminiescent of the time period of the story in subdued shades and hues that feel like the turn of the last century. Yellow browns contrast with Gittel's bright red scarf and make it easy to find her in each illustration. At the back of the book are some pages in which the author shares her inspiration for the story and more details of what it was like for immigrants to come through Ellis Island. This book is highly recommended for it's historical accuracy, beautiful illustrations, and moving account of a little girl on her own. -
When Gittel and her mother are about to get on the boat that will carry them from Russia to America, Gittel’s mother is turned away due to an eye infection. Gittel at age nine, is sent alone to America. She has a note with her mother’s cousin’s address in her pocket. She checks on it constantly to make sure she hasn’t lost it on the long journey. She spends much of it alone, but also meets children on board the ship. However, when she reaches Ellis Island, the ink on the note has run and no address can be read. How will Gittel ever find her family in a foreign land?
Newman tells a story inspired by two real life stories of her family and friends’ journeys to America. The story is firmly rooted in the Jewish faith with the celebration of Sabbath and speaking Yiddish on both ends of the journey. Gittel’s mother gives her the Shabbat candlesticks to carry with her on her journey. The story is beautifully told in slightly longer prose than many picture books, allowing details of the immigrant experience to be shared. The mystery of getting Gittel in touch with her family is solved by kindness and ingenuity and offers a satisfying end to Gittel’s adventure.
The illustrations by Bates have a lovely softness to them that is accompanied by rich color. Gittel herself is distinctive on every page given her small size and red scarf. She also carries a yellow cloth bag filled with her belongings. Gittel’s journey is depicted as difficult but not squalid and even when she is lost there is not a sense of danger but hope thanks to the illustrations.
A lovely look at immigration through the eyes of a child. Appropriate for ages 4-7. -
Gittel’s Journey: An Ellis Island Story
Text to Text
Gittel’s Journey: An Ellis Island Story reminds me of the book The Dress and the Girl by Camille Andros. The books are similar in that they both of girls who set off to travel to America. They are different because one girl is traveling by herself because her mom got detained and the other girl travels with her family but loses her favorite dress along the way. The girl and her dress just want to have a fancy life but once they get separated they realize there life was full of adventure even though they did not think so.
Text to Self
I have my dog and drag drag junior just like she had her doll. I would be so scared if I had to get on a boat without you. She must be very brave like you say I am. I like how in the book she has a red scarf so you can always find her. Is that why you always put me in neon shirts when we go to the zoo so you can find me? (My answer: Yes the exact reason!) (These are my son’s words)
Text to World
I have seen pictures of the Statue of Liberty in books but I have never been there before. I can’t imagine how scary it would be to arrive in American on a boat all by myself and not know where I was supposed to go. I would like to visit the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island in New York City. I think it would be fun to learn about what happened on the Island when you arrived on a boat not a plane. (My sons words)
APA:
Andros, C., & Morstad, J. (2018). The dress and the girl. New York, NY: Abrams Books for Young Readers.
Newman Lesléa, & Bates, A. J. (2019). Gittels journey: an Ellis Island story. New York: Abrams Books for Young Readers. -
Gittel berusia 9 tahun, saat ia dan ibunya harus berimigrasi ke Amerika Serikat, karena negeri tempat mereka tinggal, sudah tidak aman, terutama karena mereka penganut Yahudi. Namun, saat dilakukan pemeriksaan kesehatan di pelabuhan, Mama dilarang pergi karena matanya sakit (di akhir buku dijelaskan bahwa pada awal abad ke-19 terjadi wabah infeksi mata di Eropa, yang dapat menular dan menyebabkan kebutaan).
Gittel pun harus pergi sendiri. Naik ke kapal besar dan mengarungi lautan bersama para imigran lainnya. Mama membekali Gittel dengan secarik kertas bertuliskan nama dan alamat sepupu Mama. Saat tiba di Pulau Ellis, Gittel menyerahkan kertas tersebut pada petugas, tetapi tulisan pada kertas telah hilang karena Gittel menggenggamnya sangat erat. Apa yang harus Gittel lakukan? Bagaimana petugas dapat menemukan kerabat Gittel?
Kisah yang cukup mengharukan, berdasarkan kisah nyata nenek, nenek buyut, serta tante penulis buku, yang termasuk imigran di masa awal imigrasi warga Eropa ke AS. Imigran pertama yang memasuki AS melalui Pulau Ellis (Patung Liberty berlokasi di sini) adalah Annie Moore, gadis remaja dari Irlandia, yang masuk AS pada 1 Januari 1892.
Sepanjang 1892-1954 terdapat 2 juta lebih imigran yang datang mengadu nasib ke AS. Sementara itu, sekitar 3 juta kaum Yahudi dari Eropa Timur (asal Gittel) datang ke AS antara 1880-1924. Pulau Ellis sendiri saat ini dijadikan sebagai Museum Imigran. -
Newman, L., & Bates, A. J. (2019). Gittel's journey: an Ellis Island story. Abrams books for young readers.
C.B.- Sydney Taylor Book Award
Orlev, U. (1984). The island on bird street. Houghton Mifflin.
Text to Self- While certainly not as serious as being forced to separate from my parents, this makes me think of when I left home for college. I came from Arizona to Nebraska where I had no friends or family. It was scary, but like Gittel, it was the foundation to having a good life.
Text to Text- In the novel “The Island on Bird Street”, the main character, Alex, is separated from his father in the Warsaw Ghetto. He must hide from Nazis and use his wits to survive. Like Alex, Gittel is separated from her mother and is on her own as she journeys to America, where she will be safer and have a better life.
Text to World- Survival stories from the persecuted during World War II are remarkable and real. When I taught 8th grade English, we had a guest speaker come talk to our students about his experiences during this time. He, too, was a child on his own escaping and outsmarting Nazis in the Netherlands during World War II. He provided my students with a very real world perspective to this historical event. -
Gittel’s Journey: an Ellis Island Story by: Leslea Newman
Historical Fiction
Awards: 2019 Jewish Award Winner and 2020 Sydney Taylor Honor Book
Audience: 1st-3rd grade
Gittel’s Journey is about Gittel and her mother who are planning to migrate to America together, but during this adventure Gittel’s mother is stopped by a health inspector causing Gitel to go on this long journey by herself. The setting takes place in the 1940’s where it is no longer safe for Gittel and her mother to live in their small Jewish village; they go to a seaport in Poland where Gittel spends most of the time on the board ship then finally arrives in New York where she meets her cousin.
In Gittel’s Journey the point of view is coming from the author telling the story of how young people, alone are forced to immigrate to America all on their own and gives Gittel’s story of what happened to her during this time. In the back of the book it tells real stories of what it was like for the authors family members. This book was based on true events so it helps the reader feel emotional for the little girl and all that is going on.
