Happy Belated National Reading Day

National Reading Day

Book Review!

January 23 was National Reading Day. While we are behind you know we love to read and the best way we found to celebrate is to post a book review...Meet Rebecca by Jaqueline Dembar Greene.

Xyra got her copy at the Harleysville Books, LLC store near our house. The copy we passed around was from the American Girl Doll School Kit.

Haley

Well, this was very interesting. I've never been to New York City, but could easily picture it by the author's descriptions. (Plus I looked up images of New York City 1914.) 

Kaya

I could relate to Rebecca's wanting to do the things that her family didn't think she was ready to do. It is hard to be patient in those situations. I'm looking forward to the rest of her story.

Kirsten

Rebecca's family relocating to the United States...I could totally get into that part of the story. Trying to keep your family together against all odds can be tricky. Travel was not as easy then as it is now; it was easier for the Rubins than it was for the Larsons, but not by much.

Lanie

While learning about the Rubins and their heritage was interesting, this was not my favorite AG historical story. I will read on to see if that changes.

Melody

I liked and didn't like this story. I liked the part about her family heritage and culture. I didn't like that they didn't mention World War I. I don't remember what time of 1914 this takes place, but the war in Europe started in April. Maybe they get into that during the second book. We'll see.

Xyra

Meet Rebecca by Jacqueline Dembar Greene
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
As American Girl books go, this was a really good "Meet" story. In it we meet Rebecca Rubin and her family. They are Jewish and have immigrated from Russia.

We see that three generations live in their home and how they live, work, and worship together. Well, we don't see them at synagogue, but we get to see how they start celebrating Sabbath and some of their traditions.

We get an idea of the struggles the family went through to get to the United States and how much they are worried about the family still in Russia. They are not wealthy and need $175 to get their family here. [Doesn't sound like much, but that's like $4,087 now. Still doesn't sound like a lot? It translates to 37 American Girl dolls (no outfits or accessories).]

Rebecca, the youngest daughter (but not the youngest child), comes up with an idea to raise money so she can purchase something for herself and decides the proceeds would be better used by her family. [It was very interesting since I just read how a little girl is selling her Saige doll to help raise money to send care packages to service men and women overseas.]

While the glimpses we get are not all that deep, they set the foundation for the rest of her story and we get a clear idea what our ancestors may have gone through to get here.

The installment made me think of the movie/play Fiddler on the Roof.

In the back of the book is a "Looking Back" section that gives even more information about New York City and those emigrating from Europe.

Have you read the American Girl historical books? If yes, which is your favorite?