Brooklyn Doesn't Rhyme

by Joan W. Blos

At the request of her sixth grade teacher, Edwina Rose Sachs records events in the lives of her Polish immigrant family and their friends living in Brooklyn in the early 1900s.

Genres: Historical, Fiction

Paperback

First published January 1, 1994

About the author

Joan Winsor Blos was an American writer, teacher and advocate for children's literacy. Her 1979 historical novel A Gathering of Days won the U.S. National Book Award in the category of Children's Books and the Newbery Medal for the year's most distinguished contribution to American children's literature. She lived in Ann Arbor, Michigan

Reviews

[Josiah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Joan W. Blos isn't famous for much besides A Gathering of Days: A New England Girl's Journal, 1830-32, which won the 1980 Newbery Medal, but Brooklyn Doesn't Rhyme is one of her better-known works, historical fiction that illuminates an unfamiliar corner of the American experience. Rosey Sachs is in sixth grade in 1907 when Miss Edgecomb, her young schoolteacher, assigns each student to write a composition about their family history. Rosey's family has stories, but they seem more incidental than monumental to her. She is the family's best storyteller, but only when she begins writing of her parents, siblings, and extended family does she see the beauty in their lives as Polish immigrants to New York City. In revisiting the moments that made her family, Rosey discovers herself anew.

We hear about Uncle Benny and his wife, Tante Ruth, who were born in Poland but met and fell in love in America. And Uncle Mendel, a favorite of Rosey's whose vigor for life takes some quirky forms. Rosey recalls the day her sister Sadie was born; she bought the new child a bag of chocolates but couldn't resist gobbling them all herself before she ever met Sadie. Rosey's parents have risen to the middle class and make a decent income, so they always have a hired girl to keep house. These girls have come and gone, usually immigrants looking to forward their own American dream, but Rosey fondly recalls Bogdana and her four-year-old son Charlie. Bogdana came to the United States from Poland full of pride and ready to work. Her husband Johnny already worked in Chicago, where Bogdana and Charlie hoped to join him after he saved some money. A long time passed with no message from her husband to come to Chicago; would Bogdana's family ever be reunited?

There are reminiscences about Pyro, briefly the Sachs family dog before Uncle Benny took him in. Rosey tells how her own brother, Arnold, met his friend Itzy Carnitzsky, and teamed up to circumvent a new rule from the man who sold ice for iceboxes. A requirement to buy ten cents' worth every time was a hassle, but Arnold and Itzy cleverly dealt with the problem. Rosey relates a humorous anecdote from when her family moved out of their small flat to the nice house they live in now, but on the day of the move her father forgot and returned to the old flat after work. Yonkeleh is Rosey's cousin, a smart, articulate boy the family long assumed would attend college and accomplish big things. Rosey has a story or two demonstrating his sturdy character as well as his intelligence. Sadie was proud when she learned to neatly write her own name at age four and receive a library card, and Rosey's Momma felt more at home in America once she became involved in Brooklyn politics. Conversing with old friends like Itzy feels different as Rosey nears her teen years, boys she's known all her life looking at her as they never used to. Even in America tomorrow is uncertain, but Rosey is ready to see what awaits her beyond sixth grade. Her future, she's pleased to realize, is rooted in the family history she's reminded of in small ways every day.

The stories in Brooklyn Doesn't Rhyme are short and not particularly emotional, but they're interesting, the sort of material you might hear if you ask an elder about childhood moments that stand out in their memory. This book isn't in the same class as A Gathering of Days, but I might rate it the full two stars. If you like quiet historical fiction, settle in and spend a few hours with Rosey.

[Stephanie Fitzgerald · Rating 3 out of 5]

Any fan of Sydney Taylor’s “All of a Kind Family” books would fall in love with this one!
Rosey is growing up in Brooklyn in the early 1900’s. She has a loving family, extended by many aunts, uncles, and cousins, who are about frequently. Through young Rosey’s eyes, the reader can enjoy Jewish holidays, delicious foods, and delight over new inventions like the telephone and automobiles!
This would be a great book for younger readers beginning to take interest in historical fiction.

[Kristen · Rating 3 out of 5]

An older book, this one would not fly off the shelf for today's young readers, but I liked it. I love glimpsing a slice of life from the past. Rosey is nobody famous, nothing too exciting or momentous happens. It's simply the day to day observances of a young Jewish girl in turn of the century Brooklyn. I would have liked this book as a kid.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice little kid’s book. It’s short, old, and full of interesting details from life in 1900s Brooklyn.

[Catherine Mustread · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grades 3+. At the request of her teacher, Edwina records the events in the lives of her Polish immigrant family and their friends living in Brooklyn in the early 1900s.

[Isaure · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet book that does exactly what it's supposed to: give the reader an insight into the life of a young Jewish girl growing up in Brooklyn at the turn of the century. To be read out loud to young kids - will be enjoyable for adults as well.