Bridge to America: Based on a True Story [Hardcover]

Linda Glaser (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 4 and up

The year is 1920 and the setting is a shtetl, a small village in northern Poland, where Fivel and his family live in fear of the ruthless Cossacks and unpredictable pogroms. As he and his mother, brother, and sisters struggle to stay alive, nine-year-old Fivel is hungry, is cold, is a rascal, is goodhearted, longs for his father, and is afraid for their lives. Will the money from America ever come? Has their father forgotten about them, perhaps even found another family? When will the next horrific Cossack raid come?

Here is an absorbing, ultimately hopeful novel that creates an unforgettable portrait of a family, a time, and the bridging of two worlds.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 4-7–Based on the childhood of a Polish immigrant, this accessible novel reveals the hardships of the shtetl and its striking contrast to life in America. The youngest of five children, Fivel, about eight years old, lives with his mother and siblings in a hut. His father left for America years earlier, and the family has been waiting to hear from him ever since. Barely surviving on watery soup and terrorized by the brutal Cossacks, the family depends upon the kindness of neighbors to get by. Only the mail wagon offers the promise of a brighter future. When the long-awaited package finally arrives, it is a framed photograph of Pa, which the boy's mother angrily throws into the fire. ‘We're starving…Are you meshuggeneh? We can't eat a picture!' Luckily, Fivel spies the green bills carefully hidden in the frame--enough money to get them to Pa in Minnesota. Though a simple rag peddler, he has a house with electricity, flush toilets, and plenty to eat. While Fivel is eager to be an American, he realizes that he will always be a boy with two worlds inside. An author's note includes photographs of the protagonist, both as a child in Poland and as an adult. Even reluctant readers will enjoy this riveting account and sensitive portrayal of what it means to be an immigrant.–Barbara Auerbach, New York City Public Schools
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Gr. 3-5. Young Fivel, left behind in his Polish shtetl while his father in America earns passage for the rest of the family, endures extreme hunger and the terrifying threat of Russian pogroms before the money finally arrives. Upon stepping off at Ellis Island, however, Fivel's joy commingles with an uncomfortable sense of having "left . . . easy belonging behind," particularly when kids jeer at his ragged clothing and he must learn to answer to a new, all-American name. Seasoned picture-book author Glaser offers a compelling historical novel here, which an endnote explains was loosely based on the life of a member of her community. The factual and fictional elements don't always seem smoothly braided, but, overall, readers will appreciate Fivel's direct, unaffected perspective on the hardships of the old country and the often-messy process of adjusting to an alien culture. Also included are photos of the real Fivel and his family, a historical note on Poland, and pronunciation guides to the Yiddish vocabulary. Jennifer Mattson
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Hardcover: 208 pages
• Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children; None edition (October 24, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0618563016
• ISBN-13: 978-0618563012
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #775,126 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Linda Glaser's grandparents emigrated from eastern Europe in the late 1800's to New York City, where they first saw the huge statue. Also the author of the immigrant novel, BRIDGE TO AMERICA, Ms. Glaser lives in Duluth, MN.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An unusual immigration novel, July 5, 2006

By 

Heidi Estrin (The Book of Life podcast, www.jewishbooks.blogspot.com) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Bridge to America: Based on a True Story (Hardcover)

Fivel and his family survive life in a Polish shtetl, waiting for the day Pa will send for them to come to America. After seven years, the money arrives and the family endures the difficult journey, ultimately reuniting with Pa and making a new life for themselves in Minnesota.

While somewhat fictionalized, the characters and events are based on the true story of Phil (Fivel) Myzel. The author has captured the realistic personalities of the family members, making the characters believable and lively. While the Myzel family experiences much that is typical of the era, the story also includes unusual incidents that make it uniquely interesting, such as when Benyomin escapes death at the hands of Cossacks because of his hat.

Rather than begin with arrival in America as so many immigration stories do, the first half of Bridge to America takes place in the old country. This sets the stage and helps readers understand who the characters are and what their life is like before they face enormous changes. It also helps readers perceive the sharp contrast between the shtetl and the new world.

Jewish content is expertly integrated into the narrative so that it is an essential but not overwhelming aspect of the tale. The Jewish experience of life in the early 20th century is accurately and sympathetically explored. In the final chapters of the book, Fivel/Phil struggles to embrace both his old and new identities, a poignant and relevant theme not often addressed in children's literature, but dealt with skillfully here.

The book is written with heartfelt respect and love for the characters and for the generation that braved the hardships of immigration. This attitude gives the story an inner glow and brings it to life. Glaser loves the people she writes about, and she makes readers love them too. This comes through even more strongly in the audio interview with both Glaser and Myzel, available on The Book of Life podcast's July episode at www.jewishbooks.blogspot.com.

Bridge to America was named a 2006 Notable Children's Book of Jewish Content by the Association of Jewish Libraries. Recommended for Grades 4-6.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The real Fievel!, March 23, 2011

By 

reading intelligently - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bridge to America: Based on a True Story (Hardcover)

Great story, intended for a younger audience but will captivate even adults if you enjoy biographies! This is the story of the real Fievel who came to America.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars I highly recommend this book!, January 20, 2011

By 

A Customer - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bridge to America: Based on a True Story (Kindle Edition)

I had to read this for a book report and finished it in about a week. So I would recommend this book for almost anyone.