bkish's review against another edition
4.0
I am jewish and I read many many books about the experience of being a Jew in different times especially during the nazi german reign and also Russian rule. This is a fine childrens book and it is based on a true story that happened in the writer's family.
The main person here is a child who has left Russia for its persecution of the Jewish people and taken boat to US to meet her uncle Mendel. Her mother couldnt go so she is very much alone. It is about a journey and about a child and about kindness
The drawings are just wonderful from someone other than the writer by Amy June Bates
Judy
The main person here is a child who has left Russia for its persecution of the Jewish people and taken boat to US to meet her uncle Mendel. Her mother couldnt go so she is very much alone. It is about a journey and about a child and about kindness
The drawings are just wonderful from someone other than the writer by Amy June Bates
Judy
derby5's review against another edition
5.0
Beautiful illustrations, for a beautiful story. Gittel's Journey is a powerful story of a young girl's solo journey to America.
writingwwolves's review against another edition
5.0
Gittel’s Journey is a little too long for the children I work with, however I adored it & believe it’s an incredibly special book. Gittel is a Jewish girl from Russia/Poland who travels to America on her own; the book shows the strength of young girls & tells a memorable real-life story. It’s historical, educational & heartfelt. I loved it.
I was sent this book Abrams Books for Young Readers in return for an honest review
Extended Review to follow.
I was sent this book Abrams Books for Young Readers in return for an honest review
Extended Review to follow.
readingthroughtheages's review against another edition
4.0
A story to add to your immigration collection.
muddypuddle's review against another edition
4.0
This is a touching story, one that has been told in some version over and over. This time, however, it's not a family coming to a new land, it's one single nine-year-old girl. I can't even imagine, but it's based on a true story, although the "true story" girl was a few years older. Local illustrator Amy June Bates did a wonderful job with the illustrations, which include some lovely block prints (I do enjoy block prints!) Quite a bit of text, but the story is told well so that even quite young children will understand.
stenaros's review against another edition
3.0
Read for Librarian Book Group
Gittel is sad to leave her home to sail to America with her mother. She is even sadder when her mother has to send her on alone. The illustrations feel period-appropriate.
Gittel is sad to leave her home to sail to America with her mother. She is even sadder when her mother has to send her on alone. The illustrations feel period-appropriate.
agudenburr's review against another edition
5.0
A beautiful story about a Jewish child who travels to America by herself in the early 1900's. The story is based on a true story of two family members of the author's family. This book is a great reminder of what the Statue of Liberty means to immigrants, the sadness felt when families are separated, and a hope for a better future in America.
leslie_d's review against another edition
4.0
Gittel had already been prepared to leave her belongings, her best friend Raisa and her goat Frieda behind, that—at 9 years of age—she’d have to sail to America without her mother was unexpected. It isn’t safe to stay until Mama can pass the medical evaluation—and we can conclude why. The story opens with her mother bidding Gittel to come in to light the candles with her for Shabbos.
As her mother tells her she must go, she gives Gittel a paper with cousin Mendel’s name and address and the candlesticks. She would keep the tall white candles.
“She had Mama’s candlesticks but no candles. Mama had candles but no candlesticks. Candles and candlesticks belonged together just as she and Mama belonged together.”
In this scene we see Mama and Gittel apart, rendered with the same color palette in watercolor, engaged in the same act of closed-eyes, singing “the Sabbath blessing softly to herself.” The theme of light, flame, guidance, welcome/invitation is extended to the appearance of the Statue of Liberty. Note, too how the candlesticks peek from Gittel’s bag the way candles peek from Mama’s bag, both with the Stature and her torch lifted in the background.
Amy June Bates work is always stunning. The woodblock stamped frames and title page illustrations are gorgeous. Bates literally frames the text with a sense of the historic and cultural. The portraiture in Gittel’s Journey is remarkably effective in translating the feeling of something past while experiencing all the emotion in the present. Families shouldn’t have to flee, be separated, or be kept so vulnerable when they do and are. The Interpreter is a hero.
Newman introduces a compelling tension in the way Gittel tracks the paper her mother gave her. We understand its import and we fear alongside Gittel that she’ll lose it. While she has found kindness on the ship, will there be kindness to greet her at Ellis Island? Will she find Mendel as effortlessly as her mother made it seem?
I love Gittel’s invitation at the close. Her journey was incomplete without Mama and those tall white candles. And it is now her turn to call her mother home and to the lighting of the candles.
Gittel’s Journey is a treasure in text and illustration; two masterful portrait artists capturing a time so presently felt.
https://contemplatrix.wordpress.com/2019/05/07/the-lighting-of-candles/
As her mother tells her she must go, she gives Gittel a paper with cousin Mendel’s name and address and the candlesticks. She would keep the tall white candles.
“She had Mama’s candlesticks but no candles. Mama had candles but no candlesticks. Candles and candlesticks belonged together just as she and Mama belonged together.”
In this scene we see Mama and Gittel apart, rendered with the same color palette in watercolor, engaged in the same act of closed-eyes, singing “the Sabbath blessing softly to herself.” The theme of light, flame, guidance, welcome/invitation is extended to the appearance of the Statue of Liberty. Note, too how the candlesticks peek from Gittel’s bag the way candles peek from Mama’s bag, both with the Stature and her torch lifted in the background.
Amy June Bates work is always stunning. The woodblock stamped frames and title page illustrations are gorgeous. Bates literally frames the text with a sense of the historic and cultural. The portraiture in Gittel’s Journey is remarkably effective in translating the feeling of something past while experiencing all the emotion in the present. Families shouldn’t have to flee, be separated, or be kept so vulnerable when they do and are. The Interpreter is a hero.
Newman introduces a compelling tension in the way Gittel tracks the paper her mother gave her. We understand its import and we fear alongside Gittel that she’ll lose it. While she has found kindness on the ship, will there be kindness to greet her at Ellis Island? Will she find Mendel as effortlessly as her mother made it seem?
I love Gittel’s invitation at the close. Her journey was incomplete without Mama and those tall white candles. And it is now her turn to call her mother home and to the lighting of the candles.
Gittel’s Journey is a treasure in text and illustration; two masterful portrait artists capturing a time so presently felt.
https://contemplatrix.wordpress.com/2019/05/07/the-lighting-of-candles/
lize_barclay's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
4.0