Sign in with Facebook
Loading...
441st out of 535 books
—
552 voters
Shutting Out the Sky: Life in the Tenements of New York, 1880-1924
by
Deborah Hopkinson (Goodreads Author)
In a stunning nonfiction debut, award-winning author Deborah Hopkinson focuses on five immigrants' stories to reveal the triumphs and hardships of early 1900s immigrant life in New York.
Acclaimed author Hopkinson recounts the lives of five immigrants to New York's Lower East Side through oral histories and engaging narrative. We hear Romanian-born Marcus Ravage's disappoin...more
Acclaimed author Hopkinson recounts the lives of five immigrants to New York's Lower East Side through oral histories and engaging narrative. We hear Romanian-born Marcus Ravage's disappoin...more
Hardcover, 144 pages
Published
October 1st 2003
by Orchard Books
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
Community Reviews
(showing
1-30
of
131)
A brief look at what it was like for immigrants coming to the United States (particularly New York) in the late 19th and early 20th century. Hopkinson chose five children to follow, and weaves each story throughout the book. The book is divided into different sections, and each child contributes a little to each section: information on life before coming to America, what they experienced once they got here, how everyday life fell into a routine and what became of each child. Loaded with photogra...more
The way the language is structured and the focus on the experience of immigrant children (and their families, though at least one of the stories is of a young man who immigrated to the United States on his own at the age of sixteen) makes it obvious that the author intended it for a younger audience, which I didn't realise when I ordered it.
That said, however, it's still a good read if you're interested in the immigrant experience in New York around the turn of the 20th century, which is why I...more
That said, however, it's still a good read if you're interested in the immigrant experience in New York around the turn of the 20th century, which is why I...more
Ages 10 and up Children's Literature
An amazing insight of immigrant's lives in the tenements of Manhatten's Lower East Side during the 1880 - 1924 immigration. The stories of 5 immigrants chronologically walk the reader through their dreams and reality of coming to America. This book will quiet most readers who think their childhood was or is rough. An eye opener and a great piece on U.S history. I give this book a 4.5. For those who have been to the Lower East Side of Manhatten, you will now se...more
An amazing insight of immigrant's lives in the tenements of Manhatten's Lower East Side during the 1880 - 1924 immigration. The stories of 5 immigrants chronologically walk the reader through their dreams and reality of coming to America. This book will quiet most readers who think their childhood was or is rough. An eye opener and a great piece on U.S history. I give this book a 4.5. For those who have been to the Lower East Side of Manhatten, you will now se...more
A nice introduction on immigration and the history of child labor for upper elementary school aged children. Hopkinson features moving accounts of immigrant children from the turn of the 20th century, their struggles in assimilating to a new culture, to help their families survive, and what they made out of their lives. A good conversation starter for discussing current issues in immigration.
Upper elementary school.
Upper elementary school.
Hopkinson creates an excellent balance between telling a story and imparting factual information. She personalizes the historical period by following a group of immigrants through common experiences. Hopkinson utilizes images well to enhance the text. Back matter includes chapter notes, bibliography, further reading, index. Great resource for a middle school library.
This was an interesting read, but it wasn't something that I'll rave about. It's nonfiction, which isn't my cup of tea, yet I was still intrigued and wanted to keep reading and finish the book. So that's something.
The real strength of this book lies in the beautifully laid-out contemporary photos: they do a phenomenal job of making the voices heard throughout the text completely real. Hopkinson tells readers what growing up in a tenement on the Lower East Side was like, primarily through the words of four people who later became successful in different fields & wrote memoirs.
307.76 Hopkinson
The story of 5 immigrants and their families as they adjust to life in the new world. The NYC tenement housing and how each immigrant overcame severe obstacles to make the US there home.
The story of 5 immigrants and their families as they adjust to life in the new world. The NYC tenement housing and how each immigrant overcame severe obstacles to make the US there home.
Good juvie nonfiction book about the tenements in NYC at the turn of the century. Good introduction to the hardships immigrants faced.
Dec 28, 2012
Libby
added it
Read this for my child lit class. Loved it. Very sad and eye opening stories of those who lived in tenements.
This book taught me a lot about how tough immigrants lives were.
Five young people come to America from various places abroad. All with the same dream, to find the streets of gold they have all heard about and have a better life. This book tells of the dreadful conditions they all find when they arrive. Unsanitary, unsafe, and unbelievably cruel are the living and working conditions they find in this land of plenty that they have fought so hard to get to. The lesson in this book matches all of our grand mothers' words. You can do anything if you work hard eno...more
This book made me want to trace my family roots. So very, very interesting to learn where our ancestors came from and what life was like for them.
I enjoyed the photos and the description of the lives of immigrants to NYC's Lower East Side from the point of view of children. One of my grandfathers came here alone at age 11 and I thought of him especially while I read this book.
Although written for juveniles, this is a fascinating look at NYC immigrants from 1880-1920. Gives accounts of daily life and working conditions. Easy, interesting read.
Very interesting.
May 07, 2013
Emily Myhren
marked it as to-read
May 02, 2013
Abigail
marked it as recommended-cals-library-booklists
Apr 03, 2013
HVA Library Nonfiction
marked it as to-read
Mar 26, 2013
Joan Stoltman
marked it as to-read
Mar 13, 2013
Helena Pires
marked it as to-read
Feb 10, 2013
Nancy
marked it as to-read
There are no discussion topics on this book yet.
Be the first to start one »
I am the author of historical fiction picture books, nonfiction, and middle grade fiction. I also review books for Bookpage.com, and work full time as vice president for advancement (that means fundraising!) for Pacific Northwest College of Art (PNCA) here in Portland.
Titanic: Voices from the Disaster was named a 2013 Sibert Honor Book and a 2013 YALSA Excellence in Nonfiction Finalist. Annie and...more
More about Deborah Hopkinson...
Titanic: Voices from the Disaster was named a 2013 Sibert Honor Book and a 2013 YALSA Excellence in Nonfiction Finalist. Annie and...more
Share This Book
No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »
