“This is the story of Francie and her family, all of whom live in Brooklyn. Francie’s father has an Irish heritage, and he’s a sweet, sensitive man who was born to be a singer, but has trouble finding and keeping work which will feed his family. Survival is a central point of this work, written 50 years ago, which centers around the immigration experience in this country. There are various levels to look at in this classic, and it’s valuable to think about how little has changed since that time.
This book presents some wonderful characters, and gives a good look inside each of them. There are some amazing, strong women, and they add levels of complexity as their stories intersect. It’s fascinating to observe the family dynamics -- both Francie’s and her mother’s family -- and both are explored in depth, and with fullness.
This book is a classic for good reason, and it should be mandatory reading for all high school age kids of both genders. It adds a multi-leveled experience of our country and of the immigration experience for all of us to explore, and to think about whether or not we wish it to change.”
Linda C wrote this review Saturday, September 13 2008.
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