Ellis Island: New Hope in a New Land
Grade 4-7-- A brief history describing the building of the immigration facility, the millions of people who passed through it, and its eventual deterioration and renovation as an historical site. The book also covers the immigration experience, including reasons for coming to the U. S., conditions on ships, the rigors of being accepted for residency, and an historical overview of immigration laws. Throughout the text, Jacobs captures the hope and determination that drove those millions to leave their countries and come here. The excellent black-and-white photos help convey Jacobs' message by providing a look at the conditions on ships and at Ellis Island. Overall, however, this book suffers from a lack of focus. It is impossible to discuss adequately both the history of Ellis Island and the experiences of millions of people in 19 pages of text. The resulting overgeneralization will limit its usefulness. Heaps' The Story of Ellis Island (Seabury, 1967; o.p.) is not as attractive, but gives a more in-depth look at Ellis Island. Caroli's Immigrants Who Returned Home (Chelsea, 1990) provides a better look at the immigrant experience. An additional purchase for libraries with a strong need for material on this subject. --Mary Mueller, Rolla Junior High School, MOCopyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.