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Dreams in the Golden Country
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Dear America: Book 24

Dreams in the Golden Country (1998) (edit title/settings)

The Diary of Zipporah Feldman, a Jewish Immigrant Girl, New York City, 1903

by Kathryn Lasky (Author) (edit contributors)

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Description edit see section history

Twelve-year-old Zippy, a Jewish immigrant from Russia, keeps a diary account of the first eighteen months of her family's life on the Lower East Side of New York City in 1903-1904.

Summary edit see section history

Zipporah Feldman, a 12-year-old Jewish immigrant from Russia, uses diary entries to chronicle her family's activities as they acclimate to life on New York City's Lower East Side. The hopes and dreams of a young girl are beautifully portrayed through Lasky's eloquent and engaging narrative.... read more (warning: may contain spoilers)

Zipporah Feldman, a 12-year-old Jewish immigrant from Russia, uses diary entries to chronicle her family's activities as they acclimate to life on New York City's Lower East Side. The hopes and dreams of a young girl are beautifully portrayed through Lasky's eloquent and engaging narrative. Readers are quickly drawn into Zipporah's world of traditional Jewish ritual and celebrations and will identify with the girl's desires to aspire to greatness in her new home. She absorbs the freedom of America, wanting to share her enthusiasm with her parents, encouraging her father to pursue his love of music and trying to persuade her mother to shed some of her strict religious ways. The story's historical significance is evident in the Feldman's arrival at Ellis Island and the subsequent procedures immigrants had to endure, and in the description of the factory fire in which Zipporah's friend dies, which is based on the famous Triangle Shirtwaist Factory of 1911. Characters are portrayed as strong individuals, and their motives are believable. Readers learn in an epilogue that Zipporah pursued her love for the theater and eventually rose to stardom. Archival photos, accompanied by a recipe for hamantaschen and the traditional Jewish song to welcome the Sabbath, bring the reality of the novel to light. A story of hope and of love for one's country.

Characters/People edit see section history

  • Zippy: A strong-willed girl that is a Jewish immigrant.
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First Sentence edit see section history

I am sitting here on the wood suitcase, the one with the metal straps.

Series & Lists edit see section history

This is book 24 of 41 in Dear America. (publisher series)

Preceded by A Coal Miner's Bride, and followed by Hear My Sorrow.

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

  1. Kathryn Lasky (Author)

First Edition edit see section history

Original Language: English
Publisher: Scholastic
Country: Add the country of publication.
Publication Date: 1998
ISBN: 0590029738
Page Count: 192

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