Russian Immigrants, 1860-1915 ANNOTATION
Discusses the reasons Russian people left their homeland to come to America, the experiences the immigrants had in the new country, and the contributions this cultural group made to American society. Includes sidebars and activities.
FROM THE PUBLISHER
From 1820 to 1920, more than 3 million people left Russia to come to America. Many former Russian peasants found work in factories and coal mines. They hoped to return to Russia and buy land with their earnings. More than half of these immigrants did return to Russia. Other Russian immigrants left their homeland for political reasons and permanently settled in America. Russian immigrants established roots in their new land that would influence generations to come.
FROM THE CRITICS
School Library Journal
Gr 3-6-Only the most basic and briefest of information is included here. Six short chapters cover early immigrants, life in the old country, the trip over, arriving and surviving in America, and keeping traditions. Other similarities include a map of the routes taken by most immigrants, three projects (one food recipe, one craft, and information on how to make a family tree), and a few English words that have their roots in the respective language. The information provided will enable students to answer basic questions but there is not enough here for in-depth reports. Captioned black-and-white or full-color photos or reproductions appear on nearly every page, and quotes in the margins give firsthand immigration experiences. "Words to Know" sections define featured words, but these words are not highlighted in the texts or indexed, which makes them difficult to find in context. Jane M. Leder's A Russian Jewish Family (Lerner, 1996) focuses on one family's experiences. Meg Greene Malvasi's The Russian Americans (Lucent, 2002) is similar in scope but for a slightly older audience. There is less available on Greek immigration. Purchase where needed to introduce students to other cultures and/or immigration.-Kathleen Simonetta, Indian Trails Public Library District, Wheeling, IL Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.
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