Dreams In The Golden Country: the Diary of Zipporah Feldman, a Jewish Immigrant Girl, New York City, 1903 (Dear America Series)

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Dreams In The Golden Country: the Diary of Zipporah Feldman, a Jewish Immigrant Girl, New York City, 1903 (Dear America)

by Kathryn Lasky

3.8 of 5 stars 3.80 · rating details · 1,857 ratings · 61 reviews

New dreams and old traditions flourish and clash when a Jewish girl and her family emigrate from Russia to America.

Paperback, 188 pages

Published January 1st 2000 by Scholastic (first published 1998)

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May 02, 2011 Melissa rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction, young-adult

I've read two Dear America books now, this being the 2nd. I had heard great things about them, but so far, I found them merely average. These are children books, but that doesn't mean adults can't like them, and I usually like children's novels.

Zipporah and her family are new immigrants to America. Here they are starting over with a new life, but they have to make sure they are adjusting to life appropriately as it is very different from what they are used to. While her sisters each have somethi...more

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Feb 24, 2013 Rummana rated it 4 of 5 stars

Zippora or what people call her "Zippy" has just come to America. She and her family are going to go stay with their dad. Their dad had been away in America for a long time, trying to earn enough money for them to come. Well after Zippy, her two sisters, and her mother have to wait to get a check up to see if they have any diseses. When someone came to check Zippy's eyes, she wrote something on her back. Zippy's sister took Zippy's jacket and put it inside out.
When they saw their dad, they were...more Zippora or what people call her "Zippy" has just come to America. She and her family are going to go stay with their dad. Their dad had been away in America for a long time, trying to earn enough money for them to come. Well after Zippy, her two sisters, and her mother have to wait to get a check up to see if they have any diseses. When someone came to check Zippy's eyes, she wrote something on her back. Zippy's sister took Zippy's jacket and put it inside out.
When they saw their dad, they were surprised to see that he looked different. He looked more American. Zippy also had to start school from first grade since she didn't know English. Her two sisters went with her dad to go work in the factory. Zippy's teacher said that if she wants to catch up with her standard grade, then she will have to study and try to master the English language. Zippy took her things and would study for a long time. She kept going from one grade to the next until she reached seventh grade.
While this happened, Zippy's mother became pregnant and was going to have a baby. Zippy's sister Miriam fell in love with a non Jew and they want to marry. But Miriam doesn't want to break the rule. And Zippy's sister Tovah has now organized a women's union in which they talk about the society. But what will happen next? Will Tovah's union get women's rights back? Will the baby make it alive? Or will Miriam's love story finally come to an end? You will have to read this interesting book to find out.

Just as the book is interesting, so is the author. Kathryn Lasky created this book and I believe that she did a wonderful job. She put some sorrows in the book and also some happy moments. She really played with my feelings when I read this book. She shows us what a life of a Jew can be. And it was interesting. I love the way this diary started and i loved the way it ended.

I would give this book a four out of five stars because I really enjoyed it, but I didn't think that it was finished. It should have had some more towards the ending. I like all the dreams that were presented and how they were accomplished. But I didn;t really like all those sad and unhappy moments. This book is in the middle of good and okay so it deserves four stars.(less)

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Jun 07, 2011 Jaye Smith rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: dear-america, own

*NOTE* Some spoilers.
This was a great book - an accurate depiction of what life was like for immigrants coming to American and life for them on the Lower East Side at the turn of the century.
Twelve-year-old Zipporah Feldman keeps a diary from 1903-1906 - we join her at her first days in America at Ellis Island where she writes totally in Yiddish. She improves in school, her English-written entries in italics. Her family has many struggles - a smelly, interesting boarder, her older sister Miriam...more

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Jul 27, 2011 Sherrie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: already-read, 2011-reading-challenge

This book is written like a diary. Zipporah is the one doing the talking. She is 10 years old when her family immigrates from Russia to America. She keeps a diary for about 18 months. All her hopes, dreams and tragedy's are written here. The first thing she has to do is go to school. Since Zipporah can't speak English very well they put her in with the first graders. But she learns fast and moves up through the school system. Zipporah's one big dream is to become an actress in the theater. Does...more

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Nov 03, 2011 Alex Blose rated it 5 of 5 stars

This is the diary of Zipporah Feldman. Zippy's family came over to America in 1903 in hopes of a better life. Her father has already come over and established a life for himself and his family. Zippy has two sisters, Tovah, who becomes very involved in the unions, and Miriam, who falls in love with an Irish boy.

Zipporah wants to do what is best for her family and help out whenever she possibly can. Her Mama and Papa will not let her work though, on account of her age, so Zippy must go to school....more This is the diary of Zipporah Feldman. Zippy's family came over to America in 1903 in hopes of a better life. Her father has already come over and established a life for himself and his family. Zippy has two sisters, Tovah, who becomes very involved in the unions, and Miriam, who falls in love with an Irish boy.

Zipporah wants to do what is best for her family and help out whenever she possibly can. Her Mama and Papa will not let her work though, on account of her age, so Zippy must go to school. Since she is so behind in America, she must start at grade three and work her way up. Zipporah meets Blu, and together these two girls come up with a plan to be in the eighth grade in a short time.

Zippy's plans don't seem to go as she planned though when her family cannot get along, Miriam runs off with her boyfriend, Blu's father runs away and Blu falls behind in school, and Mama doesn't want to leave her old ways behind and become a true American. Zippy seems to push through everything as best she can in hopes of pursuing her dream of becoming an actress. Will things work out for Zippy in the end? Or will she be left with hanging dreams and never become who she has always wanted to be?

I liked this book, especially the way that it was set up. It was neat to read a book that was written like a diary, and this made it very easy and quick to read. The historical aspect of the book is greatly accurate, which makes this all the better to read because of how informational it is. Even though it is written in 1903 by a Jewish immigrant, it is even very easy to read because it is written in an eleven-year-old's language from 1903, but in a way that people of today can understand it very easily.

As a future teacher, I would use this book and probably anyone in the series for any historical unit I was teaching. I think that it would give the students a great look into how life would have been for them if they had been alive during this time period, and it will make them feel more connected to the reading because the character is around their age. Also, the fact that it is written like a diary so the pages are not completely full with text will make it more enjoyable by many students. Because it is a historical fiction book, this would be a great book to use to introduce this genre to students.(less)

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May 18, 2012 Eva Leger added it · review of another edition

Shelves: b-fiction, essays-diaries-stories-letters, y-a

I forget where I picked this up at but I finally read it less than two months ago. I have a friend or two who are slowly reading and/or collecting the Dear America series. I have no interest in doing the same but every once in awhile I read one that interests me for a specific reason.
Since I read a lot about the Holocaust and how the Jewish people survived, and in many cases didn't survive, this caught my eye because of the title. Of course, the date is also on the cover so I knew what I was get...more

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Feb 22, 2011 Ana Mardoll rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Dreams in the Golden Country (New York City) / 0-590-02973-8

It seems I like all the Dear America books, and this one is no exception. Although I was expecting something a little more along the lines of "The Jungle" and a little less along the lines of "Fiddler on the Roof", this book does manage to neatly encapsulate the life of an immigrant to America in the early 1900s.

The author skims briefly over their stay at Ellis islands, the perfunctory and frightening medical exams, and the cramped apa...more Dreams in the Golden Country (New York City) / 0-590-02973-8

It seems I like all the Dear America books, and this one is no exception. Although I was expecting something a little more along the lines of "The Jungle" and a little less along the lines of "Fiddler on the Roof", this book does manage to neatly encapsulate the life of an immigrant to America in the early 1900s.

The author skims briefly over their stay at Ellis islands, the perfunctory and frightening medical exams, and the cramped apartment living that waits them in the new world. This is dealt with in a light vein, and the overall tone is never dim or depressing. The life of the family is never terribly hard - the mother starts a sewing business more to stay occupied than to bring in money, and the father is offered a position at the local university teaching violin.

Because the "immigrant hardships" are toned down so much, the conflict in the book comes from the social changes within the family: one daughter becomes involved in unions and suffrage activities, another daughter romances and marries a non-Jewish boy, and the father slowly stops following the Orthodox manner of dress and grooming, to the mother's horror and consternation. As the family is absorbed into this new culture, they have to decide which traditions are sacrosanct and which traditions can be abandoned for the new ways.

Parents might want to be aware of some of the themes presented here, depending on the age and maturity of the child. Although the theme of "immigrant hardships" is largely ignored, the book does feature two sudden deaths - one a newborn infant, and the second a worker who dies from unsafe working conditions involving a warehouse fire. The imagery is moved over as swiftly as possible, but the concepts are disturbing. One of the daughters routinely sneaks out at night to see her non-Jewish boyfriend, although there is never any indication that the young lovers are doing anything more than holding hands and kissing. Lastly, the mother can come off as an unsympathetic character, as she routinely and openly alienates several members of the family for not being "religious enough". Although this issue is resolved by the end, the mother can come across as caring more about her religion than about her family, depending on your own point of view.

~ Ana Mardoll(less)

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Jan 18, 2010 Elijah Bender rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: december-january-shelf, my-25-books

This Book is about a 12 year old girl who immigrated from Russia to the Lower East Side of
New York. Like others in the Lower East Side her family are Orthodox Jews. Her sisters are learning to live the American Life, but it seems hard for there mother.

I can connect to this book in similar ways that I connected to The Diary of Anne Frank. My Family both my grandparents on my Dads side are Jewish and grew up on the lower east side and moved to Coney Island as did there parents and Grandparents. M...more

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Dec 17, 2009 Madeline S rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction

Dear Diary... That's the first thing I read in this book, kind of like a diary(just so you know, I'm kinda into these 'Dear America' books right now). It's about a jewish immigrant named Zipporah Feldman, which I think is a really unique name. Anyway, they she and her family just moved to america to a crowded apartment where all the people have to SHARE a toilet. Ugg. So Zipporah goes through that, while her family is growing away from being seriously jewish. Except her mother. A really great bo...more

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May 17, 2011 Amanda rated it 5 of 5 stars

I absolutley loved reading these books when i was younger, and actually remember historical events that occured because of these books. The pictures at the back of the book of the time period and event were great, and I would often stare at them for an endless amount of time. I think this was one of my favorites, the description of the triangle factory fire amazed me, and to this day I remember what happened and what the triangle fire was and what it did for the US. Awesome book overall :D

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Jan 30, 2013 Pam rated it 3 of 5 stars

Fictionalized diary of a young girl's experiences in nyc at the turn of the century. Touches on Triangle Shirtwaist Factory, which is the event that most interests me in that time period. Ashes of Roses by Mary Jane Auch (teen), or Triangle by Katherine Weber are two well written novels about the fire. Triangle:the Fire that Changed America by David von Drehle is a good nonfiction account.

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Jul 09, 2009 Monica rated it 4 of 5 stars

My mother-in-law gave me this children's novel after we visited the Tenement Museum on the Lower East Side. The guided museum tour was fantastic (and highly recommended), and the experience helped me visualize the family's apartment and neighborhood in the novel. The main character, Zipporah, is a lovable, hardworking girl that you just want to root for. Go, Zippy!

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Mar 26, 2010 Rebecca rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: diaries, historical-fiction

It's 1903, and Zipporah Feldman, her older sisters Miriam and Tovah, and their mother have come to join Papa in New York City, fleeing the persecution of Jews in their small Russian village. As she struggles to adjust to the American way of life, fit in at her new school, and learn English, Zippy, as she is calld, writes in her diary of how her father is becoming more American every day, Miriam is in love with a Catholic boy, Tovah is obsessed with fighting for better labor condition, and Mama a...more

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Sep 24, 2009 Meadow rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: diary, historical, jewish

Zipporah (Zippy) Feldman is a Jewish Immigrant to America, she has heard of all the great opportunity in America, and is eager to take some. Zippy runs into all the greatness of America, as well as some of her downfalls. She starts school, makes new friends, and watches her sister, Miriam fall in love.

This book was sweet. It is a true account of what Jewish Immigrants felt. It was well written, and full of information. I loved the sisters, even when different belifes seperated them. They still...more

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Sep 09, 2010 Laura rated it 4 of 5 stars

I enjoyed this book, and not just because the sister's name was Tovah, which made me think of my friend's sister, Tova! I like reading about what it might have been like for immidgrants to this country in the early 1900s, and I didn't really know anything about Russian Jewish immigrants before reading this story.

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Sep 18, 2012 Andd Becker rated it 3 of 5 stars

A twelve-year-old girl writes a diary from September, 1903 to March, 1905. The girl is a Jewish immigrant living in New York City. Her life is quite ordinary. What makes the diary extraordinary is the girl's truthfulness. This is how a diary should be written -- with candor.

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Mar 18, 2013 Jenna Hannibal added it

Shelves: children-s-lit

Audience- intermediate, mostly targets girls

Appeal- Written as diary, real photographs in the back

Application- I would use this book to give children an example of what coming to America through Ellis Island was like and how the transition for families was.

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Sep 29, 2012 Amanda rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical, ya

I read this book several times. I really loved the Dear America series. I think they still have a place in YA literature today, and I think more girls should read them because it gives an opportunity to make connections to the past in a personal way.

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Dec 13, 2012 Katie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: kid-lit

This was my favorite Dear America book! I read it so many times, and I recommended it so many times. I think it's the only one I still have, too. I should give it another read to see if it's as good as I thought it was at the time.

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Dec 06, 2009 Ccaffinit rated it 5 of 5 stars

It was great. I felt the words the author used were swell. Not to mention I love the series. The book great and anyone should read it. learned from the book that you you can't stop change, change is good and not bad. loved the book.

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Jan 23, 2012 Ag*hunger games rocks* rated it 5 of 5 stars

This is wonderful! Zipporah is nicknamed Zippy! I love it! My friend would call me that if I told her! The movie is terrible! At least read this before watching the dreadful movie.

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Feb 19, 2011 Ash E. rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: young girl readers

Recommended to Ash by: Kirsten Bros.

Shelves: young-historical-fiction, review-complete

REVIEW COMPLETE

The Dear America books are easily-accessible historical fiction for young readers, especially girls (the My Name is America books, I've been told, are very similar, only for boys).

Dreams In The Golden Country is the story of Jewish immigrant Zipporah Feldman's journey from her homeland to New York City in the land of freedom.

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Oct 15, 2012 Carolina rated it 5 of 5 stars

I like this book. Zippy immigrated to America and do things in her new life. It was a great story and inspired by people who immigraded long time ago.

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Nov 03, 2010 Kate S. rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 8th-grade

Wow! This book was very good! Although I have already read it, it felt like I was reading it for the first time! If you like historical fiction, or books in journal-form, then this is this book for you! Even though it is a light read, I enjoyed it anyway. It covered serious topics such as the horrible incident at the Triangle Diamond Shirtwaist Factory. It also covered jewish immigrants coming to Ellis Island in search of a better life. I would definitley read this book again, and I reccommend i...more

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Mar 16, 2010 Annaka rated it 4 of 5 stars

It was OK...I read it because we had to read a historical fiction book to get an A in Social Studies. It was one of the better ones I've read.

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Dec 24, 2009 Molly Giddens rated it 5 of 5 stars

Another vote for the 'Dear America' series! Great story of a Russian Jew at the turn of the century. Lots of culture embedded. Awesome book.

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Dec 29, 2012 Kate rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: the-diary-of-zipporah-a-jewish-imig

This has been a great book so far and really makes you feel like you are in that time period and I do not think that anything was incorrect in my knowiedge

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Jun 08, 2010 Deidre rated it 3 of 5 stars

A pretty simple read; I read these along time ago, and would probably enjoy it more if I was younger. More like 2.5 stars.

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Nov 05, 2010 Ellen is currently reading it

i LOVE these darn books always have and always will! I LOVE DEAR AMERICA BOOKS!

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May 05, 2009 Julia rated it 4 of 5 stars

hey this girl is Jewish!! maybe its another one of those Ann Frank stuff!

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About Kathryn Lasky

Kathryn Lasky is the American author of many critically acclaimed books, including several Dear America books, several Royal Diaries books, 1984 Newbery Honor winning Sugaring Time, The Night Journey, and the Guardians of Ga'Hoole series. She lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Her latest book, Guardians of Ga'Hoole Book 15: The War of the Ember, was released on November 1, 2008. Guardians of Gahoo...more

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Dreams In The Golden Country: the Diary of Zipporah Feldman, a Jewish Immigrant Girl, New York City, 1903 (Dear America)

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