When war came to Poruset, Russia, in 1916, Rachel Weinstein decided it was time to move her young children, Yehuda and Esther, to a new home in America. But their journey on foot across war-torn Russia was treacherous. Along the way they got caught in a crossfire and Yehuda's hand was badly wounded. Even after he fully recovered at a hospital in Kiev, the family worried they would be turned back at Ellis Island, in spite of the fact they had an older son waiting for them in New York City. This highly visual account of the experiences of one Jewish immigrant family is told from the point of view of 11-year-old Yehuda, the author's father. His realistic worry that his weakened arm will be a problem, along with his anticipation about meeting an older brother he has only heard about, add dramatic tension to an already compelling story. Family pictures, documentary photographs of Ellis Island immigrants and artifacts, and original bronze-colored drawings illustrate Jehuda's story. (Ages 7-12)

Combining a moving story with family photographs and evocative illustrations, this narrative follows seven-year-old Julius Weinstein and his mother and sister as they travel to the U.S. after having escaped from a pogrom in their Russian village in 1917. The family's experiences on Ellis Island and Julius's determination to get into the country create an inspiring story of courage and offer young readers a poignant real-life account of the American immigrant experience.