Customer Reviews

Home at Last: Sofia's Immigrant Diary, Book Two (My America)

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Nine-year-old Sofia has finally been reunited with her family after a month in quarantine on Ellis Island, and now they have traveled to Boston to build their new life in America. Sofia's father finds a job in a grocery store, and Sofia begins attending school. She enjoys learning English and making new friends, although she misses her best friend from quarantine, Maureen, whose family has settled in New York City. Sofia describes in her diary her life over seven months as her family adjusts to their new lives in America and sees their dreams begin to come true. I recommend this book to readers who enjoy the My America series and have read Hope in My Heart, Sofia's first diary.

I was excited to find this book, as my grandfather came to America as a young boy from Italy around the same time that this story takes place. While there are many features of the story that accurately reflect the Italian immigrant culture of that era, there were some comments that were more reflective of present day ideologies. Religion is important in the Italian culture. While its prominance was indicated in the story, there were some comments that were uncharacteristic of their faith. I was disappointed when the doctor, a prominent character, tells the young girl "I believe in all gods...I see God in that tortellini." It was also disturbing to read Sophia suggesting that "hard hoping" was better than praying in difficult situations. Strong faith sustained and encouraged so many Italian immigrants and I felt the story portrays a distortion of their religious beliefs.