Rebecca and Ana

Really liked this one, as it went into the immigrant experience in 1914. Rebecca's paternal uncle and his family arrive from Russia, but her 15 year old cousin Josef is detained on Ellis Island because he hurt his leg on the boat and immigration officials consider anything less than perfect health as a potential reason to deport people back from where they came.

Ana is of an age with Rebecca and starts school with her, and though she knows some English she still has an accent and is teased for it. Mama encourages assimilation because truthfully, they're about to be Americans now, and assimilation is a survival tactic. My own grandparents faced similar choices growing up in the 1920s midwest- Yeh-yeh intentionally did not teach his own show more children Cantonese because he recalled being picked on for it as a child. Still, Rebecca wants to sing "You're a Grand Old Flag for the school assembly on the new flag (Arizona and New Mexico!)- whatever will she do with her cousin?


There's children-appropriate discussion of housing issues for immigrants as well as work issues and patriotism. show less

In the old American Girls format, this book would be 'Rebecca Learns a Lesson' and that is what she does, so I am not sure why the title format was changed. Regardless, this was a good book, and it's hard to not sympathize with Rebecca with how out of place she feels in the family and her enthusiasm for having a companion who understands her. There is some culture shock for her cousin and her family, but as this is an American Girl book, this works out in the end as well as anyone who is familiar with AG might expect.

At last, cousin Ana has arrived at Ellis Island, and Rebecca can't wait to meet her. She's sure they'll be just like sisters, doing everything together. It's crowded with two families in one small apartment, but Rebecca is happy to share everything with Ana, even her clothes! At school, Rebecca is determined to help her cousin learn English and keep up in class, in spite of the other kids' teasing. But when the teacher tells her to include Ana in a special performance, Rebecca panics--Ana's broken English will ruin the show! Rebecca realizes this is one thing she does not want to do with her cousin. But how can she explain this to Ana?

At last, cousin Ana has arrived at Ellis Island, and Rebecca can't wait to meet her. She's sure they'll be just like sisters, doing everything together. It's crowded with two families in one small apartment, but Rebecca is happy to share everything with Ana, even her clothes! At school, Rebecca is determined to help her cousin learn English and keep up in class, in spite of the other kids' teasing. But when the teacher tells her to include Ana in a special performance, Rebecca panics--Ana's broken English will ruin the show! Rebecca realizes this is one thing she does not want to do with her cousin. But how can she explain this to Ana?

Nine-year-old Rebecca Rubin eagerly helps her cousin Ana, newly arrived from Russia, to adjust to life in New York City, but when their teacher says the two must sing together at a school assembly, Rebecca worries that her big moment will be ruined.