Really liked this one, as it went into the immigrant experience in 1914. Rebecca's paternal uncle and his family arrive from Russia, but her 15 year old cousin Josef is detained on Ellis Island because he hurt his leg on the boat and immigration officials consider anything less than perfect health as a potential reason to deport people back from where they came.

Ana is of an age with Rebecca and starts school with her, and though she knows some English she still has an accent and is teased for it. Mama encourages assimilation because truthfully, they're about to be Americans now, and assimilation is a survival tactic. My own grandparents faced similar choices growing up in the 1920s midwest- Yeh-yeh intentionally did not teach his own children Cantonese because he recalled being picked on for it as a child. Still, Rebecca wants to sing "You're a Grand Old Flag for the school assembly on the new flag (Arizona and New Mexico!)- whatever will she do with her cousin?


There's children-appropriate discussion of housing issues for immigrants as well as work issues and patriotism. ( )

Nine-year-old Rebecca Rubin eagerly helps her cousin Ana, newly arrived from Russia, to adjust to life in New York City, but when their teacher says the two must sing together at a school assembly, Rebecca worries that her big moment will be ruined. ( )