Continuing my read of American Girls released after I aged out of the demographic. Meet Rebecca is a solid introduction, as we're immediately tossed into her large, multi-generational household while dealing with the feeling of wanting to be treated like a grownup. WWI is on the horizon and there's concerns about her paternal uncle's family in Russia. The other immigration story in AG is Kirsten, but hers doubles as pioneer life, so it will be interesting to see Rebecca help her cousins come to America in the next several books. ( )

Rebecca starts out being upset that she doesn't get to light the candles and say the prayers like her older sisters. She just wants to grow up, so she hatches a plan to buy her own candles so that she can have the opportunity to say the prayers. She starts selling pieces of her trousseau to make money while helping at her father's shoe shop. She does not buy the candles, but realizes that she can use her money to help get her relatives to America from Russia where they are in danger. Really growing up for her meant giving up a selfish desire to contribute to a selfless one. ( )

Rebecca is originally form Russia. She moved to New York City in the USA. Soon she finds out that her cousin, Ann is very sick back in Russia. She tries to raise money for her cousin Ann. When her mother finds out, she is a bit mad. Then Rebecca gets the whole family, to help raise money for Ann. You will be on the edge of your seat to find out if they can raise enough money to save Ann.

Meet Rebecca is a great historical fiction book. You will learn a lot about what a 9 year old girls life is like in 1914. I think it is cool how they help save Ann with the help of the entire family. The members of the family make for very interesting characters to read about. I can't wait to read the follow up book, "Rebecca and Ann." ( )

I read this story and was very pleased with plot . The book focuses around a nine year old named Rebecca who wants nothing more than to be considered grown up. Rebecca struggles with conflict of buying her own Shabbat candles or saving the money to give to her father helping him buy boat tickets to send his family over. She also has internal conflict with the way she is making her money. Rebecca is selling her sheets, napkins and dollies she made for herself when she marries. However, Rebecca knows she is not doing the right thing selling her work and she feels even worse for hiding from her family. I like this book because it shows reader no one is perfect, people have selfish thoughts, wishes and desires. Rebecca is human and her struggle of proving she is growing up, but not there yet carries a great meaning. ( )

This is a likeable story that effectively weaves in various aspects of Jewish culture and early twentieth-century New York life into the storyline. It also captures the common immigrant experience of the younger generation adopting different customs and negotiating the pulls between Old World and New. In the end, Rebecca's idea to sell her handiwork is recognized by the family as a Russian tradition in that it is another example of a youngest daughter solving the family's riddle as told in the famous Russian tale of Clever Karina.

In addition to researching any of the popular culture or historic figures and events mentioned in the back of the text, this book could be used as a jumping off point for students to research their own family history. They could interview older relatives to find out the story of when their family came to the United States (or even to a certain region in the US) and why. They could find out what challenges and changes the family faced by the move. These could become polished writing and presentation pieces to share.