“America,” the girl repeated. “What will you do there?”
I was silent for a little time.
“I will do everything there,” I answered.

Rifka knows nothing about America when she flees from Russia with her family in 1919. But she dreams she will at last be safe from the Russian soldiers and their harsh treatment of the Jews in the new country. Throughout her journey, Rifka carries with her a cherished volume of poetry by Alexander Pushkin. In it, she records her observations and experiences in the form of letters to her beloved cousin she has left behind. Strong-hearted and determined, Rifka must endure a great deal: humiliating examinations by doctors and soldiers, deadly typhus, separation from all she has ever known and loved, murderous storms at sea—and as if this is not enough, the loss of her glorious golden hair. And even if she does make it to America, she’s not sure America will have her.

Praise

“Hesse’s vivacious tale colorfully and convincingly refreshes the immigrant experience.”—Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

“What especially raises it above docu-novel is the emerging sense of Rifka’s personality. Bald from the ringworm, poor and needy, she proves she’s no greenhorn; she has a gift for languages, she’s brave and clever, and if she talks too much, so be it.”—Booklist

“Told with unusual grace and simplicity, an unforgettable picture of immigrant courage, ingenuity, and perseverance.”—Kirkus Reviews, Pointer

“Based largely on the memories of the author’s great-aunt, this historical novel has a plot, characters, and style that will make it an often-requested choice from young readers. A vivid, memorable, and involving reading experience.”—School Library Journal, Starred Review

About the Author(s)

Karen Hesse

Karen Hesse calls Letters from Rifka “a gift to my grandparents and to my heritage, and to people like Rifka who have made the passage between two worlds.” The acclaimed writer of more than twenty books for children, she has received numerous honors for her writing, including the Scott O’Dell Historical Fiction Award, the MacArthur Fellowship “Genius” Award, the Christopher Award, and the Newbery Medal. Ms. Hesse is also the author of Phoenix Rising and Wish on a Unicorn, both will be available from Square Fish, and her newest book, Brooklyn Bridge was published by Feiwel and Friends in Fall 2008. She lives in Brattleboro, Vermont.