Sandler, Martin W. (2004). Island of Hope: The Story of Ellis Island and the Journey to America. New York: Scholastic. 144 pp.

Grade Range: 6-9

Genre: nonfiction

Summary and Critique

Martin W. Sandler nonfiction account depicts the gripping tale of immigrants traveling to the United States and their experiences with the immigration process at Ellis Island. Sandler's account describes the difficulties in reaching America, the struggles and fears in completing the examination processes, and the deep sorrow when immigrants were sent back to their home countries. For example, immigrants were subjected to physical inspections, mental examinations, and legal examinations, each of which brought on a new list of challenges for the immigrants struggling with health problem, language barriers, and limited finances. However, he also captures the hope of the immigrants and the stories of conquering obstacles in the path to entering the country.

Sandler uses quotations and captioned photographs to effectively personalize the immigrants'experiences at Ellis Island. All of the photographs correspond to the adjacent narrative. In addition, Sandler includes additional bits of factual information in bordered subsections. The immigrants'journeys are organized in sequential order, and the reader gains a deeper understanding of the struggles and triumphs that occurred on Ellis Island.

Themes/Topics

Families

Generations

Race, Ethnicity, and Culture

Challenges and Triumphs

The Individual vs. Society

Adventure

Author/Illustrator/Editor Information

Throughout his career, Martin W. Sandler has written over forty books, one of which received a Boston Globe-Horn Book Award Honor and two of which received Pulitzer Prize nominations. A former teacher of American history and the history of photography at the Smith College and the University of Massachusetts, Sandler often combines the areas of photography and American history in his books. Also, Martin W. Sandler has done work in television, winning several Emmys as a creator, co-writer, and producer.

For more information on Martin W. Sandler:

http://www.MartinSandler.com Web site includes a biography, book information and selected excerpts, and news about the b4teens_author.

Media Connections

Movies/Documentaries

24/7: Airport (2002) This documentary explores the operations of the international airport in New York. It investigates the complex task of running the airport and the people who work there.

A Million to Juan (1994) This comedy tells of a Mexican immigrant without a green card who is trying to make ends meet in the United States. When he receives a million dollar check, he believes his luck will change.

The Haunted Mansion (2003) The Evers family travel together to investigate a real estate investment, and an adventure through a haunted mansion ensues. In the end, the family learns the importance of staying together.

Romance in Manhattan (1935) Karel Novak is a Czechoslovakian immigrant who, after being rejected entrance to the U.S. at Ellis Island, sneaks into America where he finds work, love, and betrayal.

Star Trek: First Contact (1996) Set in the 24^th century, Captain Picard and the crew of the Enterprise must fight the Borg in order to prevent the enemy from changing Earth's history and preventing the Earth's population's initial contact with alien's.

The Terminal (2004) Viktor Navorski is traveling to the United States from his home in Eastern Europe. He is forced to wait in the airport terminal for entrance into the U.S. because his country was overtaken and no longer exists.

Television

Perfect Strangers (any episode) Explores the themes of family relationships, cultural diversity, and travel to the United States from a foreign country

Star Trek (any episode) Explores themes cultural diversity, challenges and triumphs, and adventure

Music/Audio Recordings

"Ellis Island." Performed by Mary Black. Lyrics by Noel Brazil. From Looking Back. Curb Records, 1995. (Discusses saying goodbye to loved ones leaving for Ellis Island)

Online Resources

http://www.loc.gov/rr/print/list/070_immi.html This site from the Library of Congress offers images of Ellis Island from 1880-1920.

http://www.ellisisland.org/ The Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation, Inc. has developed a Web site all about Ellis Island. It includes a passenger search function, information about genealogy, and a wealth of information about Ellis Island.

http://www.pbs.org/inthemix/immigrants_index.html In The Mix by PBS presents a companion site to their program,"Teen Immigrants: Five American Stories." The Web site includes statistics about immigration, a description of the show, resources relating to immigration, myths and facts, a timeline, a transcript of the episode, and ordering information.

http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/ndlpedu/lessons/97/oh1/ammem.html The Library of Congress presents a teacher lesson plan entitled,"Learning About Immigration Through Oral History," prepared by Barbara Wysocki and Frances Jacobson. The lessons are appropriate for middle school or could be adapted for high school.

http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/immigration/index.htm Scholastic has developed a Web site for teachers entitled,"Immigration: Stories of Yesterday and Today." This excellent site includes stories, teaching ideas, an interactive tour of Ellis Island, and several online activities.

Related Texts

Brownstone, David M., Irene M. Franck, and Douglass Brownstone. (1986). Island of Hope, Island of Tears. New York: Penguin Books, 307pp. Stories of immigrants fleeing to the United States come alive when told in their own words. This book has many similar characteristics to Island of Hope: The Story of Ellis Island and the Journey to America, and the two books could be compared and contrasted.

Freedman, Russell. (1980). Immigrant Kids. New York: Dutton, 72pp. Freedman combines nonfiction narrative accounts of boys and girls immigrating to the United States from Europe with photographs of the children to produce an interesting and inspiring historical work.

Hesse, Karen. (1992). Letters From Rifka. New York: Henry Holt, 148pp. Rifka is a 12 year old girl from Russia who writes her cousin a letter about her family's exodus from Russia and attempt to immigrate to the United States. This novel tells of Rifka's detainment in Belgium and her experiences at Ellis Island. Letters From Rifka has received several awards including the Christopher Award, ALA Notable Book, ALA Best Book for Young Adults, and School Library Journal Best Book of the Year.

Hughes, Pat. (2004). The Breaker Boys. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 247pp. Nate is an American boy whose family owns a coal-mine. He makes friends with a Polish American boy named Johnny, but their friendship is difficult because Johnny and his family are immigrant laborers working in the coal-mines. This book explores the life of immigrants after they enter the country.

Little, Jean. (1997). The Belonging Place. New York: Viking Penguin, 124pp. Elspet Mary and her family emigrate from Scotland to Canada. The Belonging Place explores the topics of family, losing loved ones, and traveling across an ocean to begin a new life.

Nye, Naomi Shihab. (2002). 19 Varieties of Gazelle: Poems of the Middle East. New York: Greenwillow, 142pp. In this collection of poetry, Nye presents themes of family, immigrants, and of being Middle Eastern in America.

Taylor, Theodore. (1996). Rogue Wave: And Other Red-Blooded Sea Stories. San Diego: Harcourt, 184pp. This collection of short stories about sea travel and adventure would provide an interesting introduction to the method of transportation to Ellis Island.

Tolliver, Ruby C. (1999). Sarita, Be Brave. Austin: Eakin Press, 132pp. Sarita's family successfully makes the long journey from Honduras to Texas only to be faced with more trials upon arriving. Sarita must make new friends, learn a new language, and learn how to live in a new country.

Teaching Ideas

(1)"Create Your Own Test" Instead of writing a book report, have students create their own test for an assigned reading. The student's exam must include an essay portion and a short answer portion. At least ten true/false, ten matching, and ten multiple choice questions should be included in the short answer section. In addition, the essay section should focus on main ideas rather than obscure details. The student should also write clear directions and include an answer key for the short answer section and a list of key points for the essay section.

[Adapted from "One, Two, Three-Testing" by Clifford Milo in Ideas Plus Book 1. Urbana, IL: National Council of Teachers of English, pp. 11-12.]

(2)"Newspaper Poster" The goal of this assignment is for students to create a newspaper poster based upon the book's content. The paper will include the following elements: main news story, editorial piece, human interest, book review, and ads. A creative name for the paper should be chosen. After examining several examples of newspapers, the student should develop their own version based upon the information presented in the assigned b4teens_book.

[Summarized from "History Makes the News" by Marianne Rossi in Ideas Plus Book 4. Urbana, IL: National Council of Teachers of English, pp. 53-54.]

(3)"Poetry: Common Fears" Have students create a list of things that most people value, face, worry about, experience, or care about, regardless of race, nationality, or culture. Once the brainstorming is completed, students will select an idea from the list and write an essay about their feelings regarding that particular idea. Then, they will find a published poem that includes that specific concept. Next, the students will compose a poem on the same topic. Have each student read their essay, their selected poem, and their own original poem aloud to the class. Have the student discuss similarities and differences between the three pieces. Finally, create an anthology that combines all of the students'essays and personal poems.

[Summarized from "Step by Step towards Fear-less Poetry" by Judy Sunday in Classroom Notes Plus. Urbana, IL: National Council of Teachers of English. November 1989, p. 8.]

(Review written by Janna Vaughan and edited by Jennifer E. Moore)