Helpful Score: 2
During the 1920s in rural Ireland, Ellie marries John, her childhood sweetheart, they are very poor but happy and hopeful for the future. John is seriously injured during his participation in the Irish Republican Army. With no money coming in they are in dire straits to make ends meet. There is an operation will allow John to walk again but it is terribly expensive. Seeing no other way to restore their hope for a good life, Ellie decides to immigrate to America where she can make ten dollars a week working as a housemaid and she can send money home for her husband's operation. After a while in America, she gets the opportunity to go to school to become a typist, which pays a lot more than a housemaid, and by this time she has gotten caught up in the whirl and glitz of 1920s New York City. Meanwhile, John is begging her to come home and and she's begging him to come to America. This is her dilemma and the plot of the book. Will she stay in America or will she go home to her husband and family?
I did like the story even though the writing was very simple, perhaps a middle school level. Also, I expected the novel to have a little more background and history of early US immigration than it did because that is the title of the book. In reality, it covered the subject in a fast couple of pages and that was it, which left me a little dumfounded as to why the book is titled "Ellis Island". I liked the description of New York City in the 20s because that is one of my favorite time periods that I like to read about and the story gave me the ability to almost experience the excitement of the progressive, bustling city. It's an entertaining fast read although not what I expected.
I did like the story even though the writing was very simple, perhaps a middle school level. Also, I expected the novel to have a little more background and history of early US immigration than it did because that is the title of the book. In reality, it covered the subject in a fast couple of pages and that was it, which left me a little dumfounded as to why the book is titled "Ellis Island". I liked the description of New York City in the 20s because that is one of my favorite time periods that I like to read about and the story gave me the ability to almost experience the excitement of the progressive, bustling city. It's an entertaining fast read although not what I expected.
Helpful Score: 1
If you enjoy historical fiction with an excellent main character, this book is absolutely not to be missed.
I loved the historical fiction aspects of this novel, I loved the character of Ellie. She is resourceful and smart, plucky and very determined. She's a dutiful wife but also clear on the fact that she needs to do more than take care of her home and her husband. Her courage in going to America by herself is inspiring and the fact that she assimilated so well and so quickly is pretty amazing. I loved reading this story about her and from her perspective. She was truly the perfect heroine of this novel and I honestly loved everything about her.
I loved the historical fiction aspects of this novel, I loved the character of Ellie. She is resourceful and smart, plucky and very determined. She's a dutiful wife but also clear on the fact that she needs to do more than take care of her home and her husband. Her courage in going to America by herself is inspiring and the fact that she assimilated so well and so quickly is pretty amazing. I loved reading this story about her and from her perspective. She was truly the perfect heroine of this novel and I honestly loved everything about her.
