From: Monica R. Edinger <edinger>
Date: Tue, 26 Mar 2002 13:46:36 -0500

I was very curious about this book for a couple reasons. I am the daughter of German refugees and I was raised in Germany and here, always in a very German environment. I also was interested for curricular reasons; my fourth graders spend the year focused on immigration and historical fiction as well. So I'm always on the lookout for quality immigrant stories. This one especially intrigued me because the orientation seemed to me more that of the emigrant than immigrant, a refreshing change I felt. So it interested me to read that you
(translator, editors, etc.) felt the original German version was incomplete and needed more about their time in America.

I must admit that I was disappointed at the title change. I liked the original German title much more than the US one. Did you decide to change it because it was more accessible to an US audience?

Other than that little quibble I liked the book very much. I wish I could be more specific about it, but it is at school and I am at home and my memory is quite dreadful. However, I will be using it (as will the other four fourth grade teachers) next year along with Esperanza Rising and other quality immigrant historical fiction. Thanks for publishing it!

Monica

Monica Edinger The Dalton School New York NY edinger at dalton.org monicaedinger at yahoo.com
Received on Tue 26 Mar 2002 12:46:36 PM CST