Swain, Gwenyth. Hope and Tears.

Swain, Gwenyth.   Hope and Tears.   Boyd's Mills/Calkins Creek    115p  $17.95  978-1-59078-765-6     ms/hs       E-BN      Historical fiction/nonfiction

This beautiful book would best be used by a classroom teacher or teacher-librarian who is leading a study of immigration to the US. The author has researched some of the many immigrants who made their way to America through Ellis Island, as well as the people who worked there, and even some contemporary people who have immigration-related stories to share.  From her research, and the wonderful photos she dug up, she has written poems, letters, and even e-mail messages ostensibly "by" the historical figures she discovered.  The concept is perhaps a little "hokey", but the end result is fascinating and thought-provoking.  The book is a creative mix of fact and imagination that will draw kids into the Ellis Island immigration experience of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.  However, students may not pick up this book and read it on their own (unless they are personally fascinated with Ellis Island to begin with).  So they may need a teacher or librarian to introduce the book to them, in the context of a unit on immigration.

Or, parents may want to purchase the book after a family visit to Ellis Island or a browse through old family photos of the "old country".

The organization, writing, and choice of photos are all brilliant. This is highly recommended! Don't let it be neglected on a shelf!      This is recommended for middle schools and high schools that study immigration to the United States, and for any public library.    

Immigration, Ellis Island                                        -- Carol Kennedy  

Benoit, Peter. Immigration.

Benoit, Peter.    Immigration.      Scholastic/ Childrens Press   64p   $30.00  978-0-531-23057-2           elm/ms      Series: Cornerstones of Freedom (Scholastic/Childrens)            VG-BNS

This volume traces the history of immigration to the United States, from the earliest settlers to current controversies, utilizing documents, photos, important people and links to additional material.     This well-researched and nicely laid out volume will certainly appeal to middle-grade readers, for browsing and research.  The historical information is presented in a straightforward manner and highlighted with many additional features.  Text boxes that begin with the words “spotlight on” give additional information about the Triangle shirtwaist fire, Paul Revere, border patrol, and other topics.  “Today’s Perspective” presents current topics in immigration law.  “Yesterday’s Headlines” presents important historical developments in immigration.  Other features are “View From Abroad” and “First Hand Look”, which directs readers to the back of the book for a list of URLs leading to additional information or primary-source documents.  This feature may prove cumbersome to younger readers, as the reader must correctly copy the URL to access the information.  And, for older readers, the URL might have been more useful imbedded in a text box.

The strangely blurry colored illustrations sometimes detract from the overall quality of the volume.  However, supplemental features such as a glossary, timeline, list of influential individuals, bibliographical references and a comprehensive index are well done and add much to the volume.  A good resource for grades 4-8, this volume is part of the third series in the Cornerstones of Freedom.  There are 40 volumes in the series at this time, introducing important topics in United States history in an engaging format for middle-grade readers.

This book is recommended for upper-elementary and middle-school history collections.  This volume will be accessible to most middle-grade readers.  

Immigration – United States                                                                                    --Pat Naismith          

Ingold, Jeanette Paper Daughter

Ingold, Jeanette Paper Daughter
Harcourt Brace/Houghton Mifflin 2010 210p 17.00
978-0-15-205507-3 ms/jr Multicultural VG-BN
Just before Maggie started her internship at the newspaper, her father’s tragic death has placed a burden on her heart. Then as she begins to go through his papers she discovers that the family she thought she had is not real. Her father lied to her. Now angry and upset at the turn of events Maggie must make sense of her life as it relates to her father. Maggie’s internship at the newspaper is exciting but she feels like there is a dark cloud over her as she ponders her father’s lies about his family. Then by coincidence on one of the assignments with one of the newspapers reporters, Maggie is able to link her father’s death with the incident they are investigating. This turn of events forces Maggie to face the problem of her father’s missing family and sends her on a search for the truth. What she discovers is a tale worth telling.
The beginning chapters are very slow to catch your attention but the side story of the Chinese immigrant paper son in the early part of the century is interesting even if it seems that it is unrelated. It isn’t until much later that
Maggie begins to connect the dots the stories start to interrelate. Then the pieces start to fall in place and the reader is told how the how both stories are connected. Maggie’s family history begins to unfold and we see how the past is connected to the present. The real interesting story is in the past and due to greed, envy, murder and fear we see how two generations was lost without a connection to their family until Maggie discovers the truth and brings them home. The past has the star-crossed lovers and it is only in the recognition of the past that brings healing to all in the present.
Slow to start but picks up speed as you go along. The immigrant part of the story was much more interesting that the present. Diaz, Magna