Customer Reviews

Hannah's Journal: The Story of an Immigrant Girl

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Ten-year-old Hannah is a young Jewish girl living with her mother, father, and six brothers in a small Russian shetl in 1901. For her birthday, Hannah is given a journal. She writes witty observations of the world around her and draws clever pictures in the margins. After a violent attack on the Jews in the village, Hannah's parents decide that she should use her dead cousin's never used ticket to America. So with her other cousin, fourteen-year-old Esther, Hannah boards a train for the port and Hamburg, and then a boat for the voyage across the sea. In the face of difficult conditions, Hannah holds on to her dreams of building a better life in America and getting a real education. Highly reccomended if you enjoyed the previous two books in this series, Young American Voices, which is like a younger version of the Dear America series.

We discovered these books when our 1st grader brought Rachel's Journal home from the library. After starting to read it to her, I couldn't put it down. When she had to return it, I went looking on line and bought 4 of the different journals. They are very educational and fun at the same time. It really showed our daughter how a journal can be more than a list of the day's events. THEN I realized the same author did some other books we had, the Amelia's Notebook series. Our daughter is writing in her journal every day now!

Marissa Moss has done it again! In HANNAH'S JOURNAL, as in her other historical diaries, Moss expertly braids fascinating,factual detail with a child's personal story. Hannah's perceptive, poignant voice gives the account of her travels from Lithuania to New York City total freshness and immediacy. I can think of no more enjoyable way to teach history -- the conditions on board a ship in "steerage," the ordeal of Ellis Island, the terrifying, exhilerating experience of starting life in a new country and world. Hannah's (aka Moss') beautifully executed watercolors and drawings also bring Hannah's journey and journal to life. This book is a gem.

I love this book! It's an excellent tool for the classroom when teaching immigration. The kid's really relate to the story and the doodles in the margins make it feel authentic. I highly recommend this book for both teachers and students covering immigration.