The Sound of Applause: A Rebecca Classic Volume 1

American Girl: Rebecca #1-3

by Jacqueline Dembar Greene, Juliana Kolesova (Illustrations), Michael Dworkin (Illustrations)

Rebecca Rubin is growing up in the bustling city of New York in 1914. She dreams of being a star on the silver screen, but her performance this year is on the stage at school. She has to share the spotlight with her cousin Ana, though, and Rebecca fears the audience will laugh instead of applaud. Will Ana hurt or help the performance? Then, being included in a special plan fills Rebecca with joy. But what act of kindness teaches her the true meaning of the holiday season?

Genres: Historical Fiction, Middle Grade, Historical, Jewish, Childrens, Chapter Books, Realistic Fiction

208 pages, Paperback

First published August 28, 2014

About the author

Ms. Greene is an American author of more than 30 books and stories for young readers. In addition to her American Girl series, some of her notable books of fiction include: Out of Many Waters, a historical novel about the first Jewish settlement in America.

Reviews

[Bronwyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Listened to on April 1, 2025.

A month ago I finally bought a Rebecca. I’d wanted her since she was new when I was in grad school, but it always seemed frivolous and silly. Then they changed her outfit (the purple one seen on the cover here) and I didn’t want to buy a new doll with that dress. But I found an original Rebecca, only missing her hair clip, on marketplace, cheaper than a new doll would be, and I had to finally get her. She’s beautiful, and I’m so glad to have fulfilled this silly little dream, but then figured I should read her books rather than just go off the time period and how lovely the doll is.

This was such a good story. (I’m curious how this was originally broken up into three books, and may buy them if I come across them used.) I loved Rebecca wanting to be more grown up, helping in her father’s store, raising money to help their Russian family come to New York. I love Rebecca and Ana’s relationship and all the complications of immigration and jealousy. I always loved the historical context at the end of other AG books and did here too.

This book really highlights what American Girl can do so well - telling these hard and complicated stories in a very accessible way - and reminds me why I loved PC/AG in the first place. I’m glad I finally read some of Rebecca’s story.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Rebecca and I really enjoyed this book but I was so surprised and disappointed that there were no illustrations!

[Neva · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book!!!!! My mom now needs to buy me Rebecca (the American Girl Doll) after reading this awesome book. It takes place in 1914. It is about a Jewish girl named Rebecca who lives in New York. Rebecca is 9 years old. Her cousin Ana who lives in Russia is sick and she and her family need to come live in America. Rebecca and her family (her older sisters who are twins, her younger brother, older brother, mom, dad, bubbie her grandma, and her grandpa) need to save up to buy Ana’s family’s boat tickets. Read this book to find out if Ana makes it and Rebecca and her family saves up enough money in time.

[寿理 宮本 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second doll book I've read, and I have to admit the authors definitely put effort into it when they could have phoned it in! This story truly feels like a biography of a real Jewish immigrant girl growing up in 1914 America.

My complaint is how they make fun of Ana for having an accent when singing, "You're a Grand Old Flag"—how can anyone tell the difference when someone is singing "fleg" instead of "flag", especially if even one other person is singing the correct words at the same time? I expect the hecklers were reading the eye dialect instead of listening to the words.

Otherwise, a cute story, and a good lesson in being a good friend. It DOES feel a bit odd that her family so easily forgives the things Rebecca does that she feels is wrong, but I'd worry about a family that punished her for those specific things. (Spoiler why, but ultimately about wanting to help/not wanting to offend.)

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was pleasantly surprised when my son wanted to read more American Girl books after we a few of the mysteries (he's really into mysteries and starting to like historical fiction quite a bit, and we found there was enough action to keep his interest). He liked Maryellen and then we moved on to Rebecca. I haven't become acquainted with the American Girls who have joined the collection since my childhood in the '80s and I really enjoyed meeting Rebecca. I've been involved in dance and theater since I was a kid, and I loved the glimpses into the early days of cinema and Rebecca's desire to be an actress and well as the way the experience of her Jewish immigrant family is woven in (the chapter with her father at his shoe store, and the mitzvahhe performs warmed my heart and brought a tear to my eye). I was somewhat annoyed to find that these say they are abridgements, though these felt full and rich as I read them, so I'm not sure how much was actually edited out vs. separating (or, perhaps, consolidating) other volumes?

[Amanda Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the american girl doll books so much! I used to read them all the time as a kid. I only found out about this doll when my parents got it for my birthday when I was about 10 but this girl is the best one so far (besides Kirsten). The only thing I didn’t like about rebecca is that she can get selfish at sometimes like when she didn’t want to sing with her cousin because she thought it would ruin her singing and the view of her class. Also she wants to be a actress and this is very fitting because in her time period movies where only starting to be a thing in america. I do miss the pictures It really does give you a visual of whats going on.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was my first time reading the story about Ana. As a separate book like AG books used to be, it makes sense. But when it is in this combined edition, you end up wondering what happened and where they are. Her family doesn't even show up for Hanukkah! Rebecca's character is endearing and switches from acting young and acting mature. Her attitude about wanting to light the candles is almost annoying. I wish there were more historical notes in the back and just incorporated into the story. It is an interesting topic.

[Meredith · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book came with the Rebecca doll. The fact that my 7 year old was already super excited about Rebecca when we read the book helped her get in to the story. I was pleasantly surprised with the amount of history we learned while reading an enjoyable story. We felt like we really understood what it might have been like for a family of Russian immigrants in NYC in 1914.

[Ven and Albedo Kriedeprinz · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Charming and easy read. I remembered this being my favorite American Girl series as a kid so I revisited it as an adult. Rebecca is instantly like-able, and the setting of her family's cramped New York apartment filled with her relatives is very interesting.

[ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

rebecca was MY american girl growing up and i love how much of this story i remembered (even specific lines because i read the books so many times). i wish the new packaging didn’t cut parts of the story out!

[Suhaani Mehta · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a little kid I used to love this paperback. It was a fantasy world for me. Although, now I still carry these memories every single year!

[Lynette · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really love this how book. I like how you get to chose how you want the beginning to the ending to be like. It gives you options to figure out what you want the main character (Rebecca) to become.

[Chelsea Daniels · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was hoping for a little more historical information, but did really like getting a peek into Jewish holidays and the immigration theme. Hoping the second book gets into WW1 a little more though...

[Jericca Crow · Rating 5 out of 5]

My seven year old really loved it! We had a lot of fun studying the time period and learning about Rebecca's life.

[Chaya · Rating 5 out of 5]

(Five stars bearing in mind it’s a book for eight to twelve year olds)

[Katie F · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! Good message and educational.

[Avery Denault · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like that she was very kind and helped her cousin come to america

[tilly · Rating 5 out of 5]

i am fulfilled

[Alia · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.75

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.6

[Charlie - disableddaydreamer | itsbarbieparis (looking for mutuals) · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was my rebecca introduction and i really liked it!

[Kathryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Being the avid doll collector that I am, I decided recently to wade into the world of American Girl's historical line. The dolls are beautiful, and each one comes with a book featuring three stories about her, her family and friends and her time period. I'm not big on historical fiction unless it also falls into the category of mystery. I am also well beyond the age group that these stories are intended for. But I already owned it anyway, so I figured I may as well read it. I had fun.

Rebecca Rubin is an engaging character. She's fun-loving, shrewd and oh-so-theatrical. Unlike some other characters that I have read (*cough*Flavia de Luce*cough*) Rebecca is a believable child and not a grown woman crammed into a child's body. We get to see her childish problems set against a backdrop ridden with uncertainty and calamity. It's surprisingly interesting.

I won't be buying any of the other books in the series. Again, I only read it because it came with the doll. But as far as children's historical fiction goes, this book is not half bad.

[Leah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Winter/Spring 1914-1915 - Lower East Side, NYC, New York
This is about family and immigration and patriotism. WWI was a minor part of the story.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

okay there still might be hope for the new AG good story

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

love it